A’s injuries: Mark Canha progress, Mitch Moreland out a while longer

The Oakland A’s offense is in a funk right now, but there’s hope on the horizon as one star hitter is nearing a return to action.

Outfielder Mark Canha has resumed batting and baseball activities, and it’s not out of the question that he could be back from his hip injury before the end of the week, reports Matt Kawahara of the S.F. Chronicle. The previous word last week had been that Canha returning before next week’s All-Star break would be “probably a stretch,” so this newest update is even better than expected.

It’s especially welcome considering the situation. Canha has been one of the best hitters on the team this year, using his patience and on-base skills to thrive in the leadoff spot while still supplying plenty of power. His .375 OBP and 135 wRC+ are both second on the club, as are his seven stolen bases, and his 11 homers are tied for third, all while alternating between all three outfield positions on defense.

In his absence, the A’s have played 10 games and scored just 36 runs, with a .205/.276/.450 line (66 wRC+). One player doesn’t make or break an entire lineup and they’d also been struggling for a week before Canha got hurt, but now that they’re here it sure would help to get him back.

Fortunately there’s no structural damage in the strained left hip that sent Canha to the injured list on June 25, and it was later diagnosed as tendinitis. He has a history of surgery on this same hip.

Meanwhile, DH Mitch Moreland probably won’t return before the All-Star break, per Kawahara. The lefty is on the injured list for undisclosed reasons.

Here’s the updated injury report:

• RHP Mike Fiers, 60-day IL, elbow (no structural damage; shut down for July)
• RHP Trevor Rosenthal, 60-day IL, thoracic outlet surgery (begin throwing late-June?)
• OF Mark Canha, 10-day IL, hip (no structural damage; return before All-Star break?)
• DH Mitch Moreland, IL, undisclosed (likely out past All-Star break)