Rookie's Unbelievable Grit
Hot-Hitting Athletics Rookie Kuroda-Grauer on IL After Injury, Praised for Playing Through Pain
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Key Points
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In the fifth inning, Kuroda-Grauer fouled a ball up and in from Diamondbacks pitcher Mitch Bratt into his groin, but stayed in the at-bat, notched a single, and played another inning before leaving.
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Athletics manager Mark Kotsay publicly praised Kuroda-Grauer's toughness, saying he might be the only player in history to rupture a testicle, stay in the game, get a hit, and play another half inning of defense.
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The A's defeated the Diamondbacks 5-2 in the game during which Kuroda-Grauer was injured and placed on the IL.
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Prior to the injury, Kuroda-Grauer was rated the A's No. 8 prospect and had eight multi-hit games in 16 MLB appearances, batting .417 with 25 hits in 60 at-bats and hitting his first major-league home run shortly before the incident.
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Hayden Juenger was recalled to make his Athletics debut, joining Las Vegas via a trade from Toronto; he carried a 7.50 ERA over six Triple-A innings prior to his call-up.
Oakland Athletics rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer is on the 10-day injured list after undergoing emergency surgery for a ruptured testicle — caused by a foul ball he hit off his own groin during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to TSN. He was just 23 years old and one of MLB's hottest hitters at the time of the injury.
What made the story even more remarkable: Kuroda-Grauer stayed in the at-bat, collected a single, and played another half inning of defense before leaving the field. The A's still won the game 5-2, Washington Post reported.
How a Foul Ball Ended His Breakout Stretch
In the fifth inning, Diamondbacks pitcher Mitch Bratt threw a pitch that Kuroda-Grauer fouled hard into his own groin. Most players would have crumpled immediately. He did not. He stayed in the at-bat, lined a single, then played another full inning in the field before finally exiting, according to WTOP.
Manager Mark Kotsay did not hold back in his praise. He said Kuroda-Grauer might be the only player in baseball history to rupture a testicle, stay in the game, get a hit, and play another half inning of defense. Emergency surgery followed shortly after.
Kuroda-Grauer Had Been Tearing Up the Majors
The timing could not have been worse. Before the injury, Kuroda-Grauer was one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball. In 16 MLB games since his call-up, he posted a .417 batting average — 25 hits in 60 at-bats. He had hits in 15 of those 16 games, including eight multi-hit performances, according to Washington Post.
He also hit his very first major-league home run just before the incident. Rated the A's No. 8 prospect entering the season, the 23-year-old was quickly becoming one of Oakland's most important bats. His slash line stood at .417/.435/.583 at the time he went on the IL.
Roster Moves: Muncy In, Leiter Jr. Out
To fill Kuroda-Grauer's roster spot, the Athletics recalled infielder Max Muncy from Triple-A Las Vegas. The team also moved right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. to the 15-day injured list with a right hip impingement, according to WTOP.
To cover the pitching loss, Oakland recalled Hayden Juenger for his Athletics debut. Juenger came to Las Vegas via a trade from Toronto. He posted a 7.50 ERA over six Triple-A innings before his call-up — not exactly an inspiring number, but the A's needed arms fast.
Return Timetable Unclear as Oakland Absorbs the Loss
Kuroda-Grauer was placed on the 10-day IL, but that is just the minimum window. Recovery from surgery for a ruptured testicle does not follow a predictable timeline. The A's have not given a firm return date, and questions about how long Oakland will be without him remain open, according to Washington Post.
Despite the painful situation, those close to the team have noted Kuroda-Grauer's upbeat attitude. His toughness on the field was already on display — staying in the game after the injury may have cemented his reputation with teammates and fans alike. For now, Oakland waits and hopes for a smooth recovery.
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