Oakland Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman was not in the lineup in Kansas City on Thursday afternoon after being hit in the helmet by a pitch during Wednesday’s loss to the Royals.
A’s manager Bob Melvin told reporters after the game that Chapman will avoid the concussion protocol. On Thursday, Melvin said Chapman woke up with a mild headache.
Melvin said the team will proceed with precaution but expects to have him back in the lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Yankees in New York.
With one out in the first inning, Chapman was beaned by a 91 mph Jakob Junis sinker. He initially stayed in the game and scored Oakland’s second run of the inning.
Chapman took the field for the bottom of the first and batted in the second, lining out to center field, but was pulled from the game before the bottom of the frame.
A first-time All-Star this year, Chapman is batting .259 with 30 homers and 74 RBIs in 129 games. Over his past 13 games, he is 15-for-48 (.313) with five home runs and nine RBIs.
Chapman, 26, won a Gold Glove last year in his first full major league season. He was replaced in the lineup Thursday by Chad Pinder.
–Field Level Media
