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Matt Chapman to undergo surgery, lost for 2020

By David Hill

OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 22: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics fields during the game against the Los Angeles Angels at RingCentral Coliseum on August 22, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Angels defeated the Athletics 4-3. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 22: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics fields during the game against the Los Angeles Angels at RingCentral Coliseum on August 22, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Angels defeated the Athletics 4-3. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) /
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The Oakland A’s received the worst news they could have as Matt Chapman has been lost for the year.

Something was obviously wrong with Matt Chapman. The Oakland A’s third baseman had been in a terrible slump at the plate, with ten strikeouts in his last 11 at bats. When he left during Sunday’s game due to an ailing hip, and an MRI was needed, everyone feared the worst.

Those fears were confirmed on Saturday. Chapman will need surgery on his hip and is out for the rest of the season.

It is possible that the hip had been an issue before he was removed from the game on Sunday. Chapman did not look like himself at the plate, posting a .232/.276/.535 batting line with ten homers and nine doubles in his 152 plate appearances. His OPS of .812 was a bit below his career marks, but he had a career best slugging percentage.

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Where these issues were most notable were in regards to his plate discipline. Chapman had walked just eight times, his 5.3% walk rate far below his career 9.7% mark. Meanwhile, Chapman has struck out 54 times, with his 35.5% strikeout rate far worse than his career 24.9% clip.

Chapman was also notably worse on defense. The premier defensive third baseman over the past three seasons, he had saved a total of 40 runs heading into 2020. This year, he had cost the A’s a run at third base while showing below average range. As the American League leader in both categories over the past two seasons, this sudden dropoff was concerning.

At least now the A’s have answers. Chapman’s disappointing season makes more sense given his impending hip surgery. Those issues could have been a major factor in his disappointing season, both at the plate and in the field.

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Matt Chapman has been lost for the rest of the 2020 season. Hopefully, he will be back and ready to be himself again in 2021.