Chad Pinder was not going to be a part of the Oakland A’s outfield puzzle for at least some time. The versatile utility man had sprained his left knee while making a catch, leading to his placement on the Injured List. Nonetheless, the A’s had to hope he would be back soon.
That does not appear as though it will be the case. Pinder is being held out of all baseball activities and is currently considered week to week.
Chad Pinder is considered week to week. Currently being held out of all baseball activity with left knee sprain.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) April 8, 2021
Oakland A’s could use Chad Pinder as soon as possible
Despite not spending much time in the outfield, he has been impressive defensively. He has saved 14 runs in left in just 115 games, and has been credited with saving two runs this season with just nine innings at the position. He has also saved six runs in right, while being capable of playing center, second, third, and short at a respectable level.
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Pinder has also been a solid piece in the lineup. He has produced a respectable .245/.302/.432 batting line in his 1138 career plate appearances, hitting 45 homers and 55 doubles. His versatility, as well as his respectable power, has made him one of the key parts of the A’s roster over the past few years.
Losing his presence in the lineup, and his ability to play virtually anywhere on the diamond, is a major loss as the A’s look to rebound from a slow start. Pinder had been one of the few hitters actually producing in the early going, with three hits, including a home run, in his ten at bats. While his five strikeouts were concerning, he made his contact count.
Fortunately, this is not likely to be a major concern going forward. Pinder should be healthy in the relative near future, provided that he does not have any setbacks while working his way back to the lineup. The sooner he is healthy, the better for the A’s, especially considering everything that he brings to the table.
The Oakland A’s were hoping that Chad Pinder would miss minimal time with his sprained knee. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case.