A's Bassitt starting Thursday 5 weeks after being hit in head by liner
Oakland Athletics right-hander Chris Bassitt will come off the injured list and start Thursday against the Seattle Mariners barely a month after being hit in the head by a line drive, manager Bob Melvin announced, according to Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Bassitt suffered facial fractures and multiple lacerations when he was hit by Brian Goodwin's liner Aug. 17 in Chicago. He was carted off the field, hospitalized, and eventually needed facial surgery.
The 32-year-old threw 30 pitches during a bullpen session Monday, according to Shayna Rubin of the Mercury News.
The injury interrupted a remarkable breakout season for Bassitt, who earned his first All-Star berth in July. In 25 starts for the A's, he owns a 3.22 ERA, 3.33 FIP, and 1.05 WHIP with 154 strikeouts and one shutout.
James Kaprielian had been scheduled to start Thursday, but he'll likely move to the bullpen, Melvin said, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com.