Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers left Friday’s game against the Miami Marlins with a left thumb contusion during a 12-5 defeat in West Sacramento, California.
The injury happened in the first inning when Langeliers went to catch a pitch thrown by Jack Perkins. The ball struck the thumb area of his glove and bounced away, allowing Miami to score a run on the play.
Despite the injury, Langeliers stayed in the lineup initially. However, he was pulled from the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, replaced by pinch hitter Jonah Heim. He had struck out in each of his two at-bats before being removed.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay confirmed after the game that Langeliers had X-rays taken and said, “We’ll evaluate him again tomorrow.”
The timing of the injury is particularly significant for Langeliers, who is set to find out Saturday whether he will serve as the starting catcher for the American League in the July 14 All-Star Game in Philadelphia. He and Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk are the two finalists for the AL spot.
Through 80 games this season, Langeliers is hitting .264 with 20 home runs and 44 RBIs. Among AL catchers, he leads the pack in both home runs and hits, with 87 hits on the year.
