OAKLAND -- The A's placed rookie third baseman Matt Chapman on the disabled list on Thursday morning with left knee cellulitis (retroactive to Monday).
It was done in conjunction with the A's designating catcher Stephen Vogt for assignment. Oakland recalled catcher Bruce Maxwell and first baseman/outfielder Matt Olson from Triple-A Nashville.
Chapman, who is rated as the A's No. 4 prospect per MLBPipeline.com, made his Major League debut on June 15 and played in the first four games of Oakland's homestand before sitting out during the Astros' series. The A's aren't exactly sure when the infection occurred, but manager Bob Melvin thinks the DL stint will allow him to focus on recovering.
"The medication that they were giving him plateaued, so to speak," Melvin said. "They're going to be a little more aggressive with it and give him a drip as far as the antibiotics to be more aggressive and speed it up. Having said that, it's probably prudent to put him on the DL and not try to rush him back."
Melvin said on Wednesday that Chapman was feeling better but that he didn't have his full range of motion, leaving the A's unsure when they'd be comfortable playing him in the field. Chapman won't travel on the A's road trip that starts in Chicago on Friday, but they are hopeful he's fully recovered by the time the 10 days end.
"We'll see how he does in the coming days, and if he feels great, we can potentially get him a game in Stockton or wherever," Melvin said. "The 10-day DL, in a situation like this, is a bonus.
"He's been swinging the bat really well. We're trying to find a way to get him in the lineup. Obviously Yonder [Alonso] is going to play first, and he's been good enough in right field and played out there enough to be comfortable there."