Manny Piña was supposed to return to game action on Tuesday, but according to Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle, he "felt something" taking swings in minor-league camp on Monday. He will have his left wrist examined.
The 35-year-old backstop missed most of the 2022 season after needing wrist surgery. If he isn't ready for Opening Day, the A's have one option to fill in immediately as Shea Langelier's backup.
Kawahara is also reporting that Paul Blackburn has a torn nail that will push back tomorrow's scheduled outing. This also puts Blackburn's availability for Opening Day in jeopardy.
The Brentwood native, "Pauly B," had to be one of the favorites to land the Opening Day start before this setback. Now the A's could be choosing between James Kaprielian, Drew Rucinski, and Shintaro Fujinami for the nod.
Finally, Freddy Tarnok, acquired along with Piña in the Sean Murphy deal, has been held from throwing after feeling some discomfort in his right arm. Martín Gallegos is reporting that he felt some tingling in his right thumb, which has kept him out of action since March 8. He is undergoing diagnostic testing and being evaluated.
Tarnok wasn't necessarily a favorite to win a starting job out of camp, but he was likely going to be near the top of the depth chart in Triple-A, providing upside along with depth.
With both Blackburn and Tarnok potentially out, the A's depth may be tested early.
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