For a team hoping to play deep into the postseason, the worst-case scenario struck the A’s on Saturday.
Oakland announced that one of its top players, two-time Platinum Glove winner Matt Chapman, will miss the rest of the season after right hip surgery, which is scheduled for Monday.
“It’s hard,” said manager Bob Melvin, who described Chapman as “devastated” by the news. “It’s hard on him, it’s hard on us. … I think we’re all smarting a little bit right now and we want to carry the torch for him, keep winning, keep doing good things.”
Chapman saw renowned hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon in Vail, Colo., on Friday. Philippon has had strong success with hip surgeries, with most athletes returning to full strength, including Oakland outfielder Mark Canha. Philippon also repaired Buster Posey’s hip impingement and torn labrum, but Posey, a catcher, has had more difficulty regaining his previous form. There are no specifics about Chapman’s surgery yet, largely because Philippon won’t know the extent of the repairs required until he sees the damage. That also will determine the recovery time.
Chapman was batting .232 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs in 37 games, but hit .120 with 17 strikeouts over his last eight games after starting off with a .303 mark with seven home runs and 18 RBIs from Aug. 7-23. He was 0-for-11 with 10 strikeouts in the San Diego series last weekend before leaving the game after the fourth inning, when he felt discomfort in the hip while making a play on a grounder.
Oakland played a doubleheader at Houston Aug. 29 and then the team was off for five days, including two in quarantine, after a positive coronavirus test on the team, before resuming the season against the Padres on Sept. 4.
The A’s currently lead the AL West by seven games going into Saturday’s doubleheader at Texas.
“That cushion is helpful because there won’t be a panic if they go into a little slide,” an AL scout said. “It’s an adjustment period, but it will take this team less time than other teams, because they’re so used to moving guys around. Bob Melvin can handle it — he’s a manager who knows how to fix problems.
“It’s going to be a big hurt but they have a scrappy team that always seems to come together and play hard and find a way to win. It’s a big blow — but if anyone can handle it, they can.”
The team recalled outfielder Seth Brown from the taxi squad with Chapman going on the IL. With Chapman out, the A’s are likely to use Tommy La Stella, Vimael Machin and Chad Pinder at third base. Sheldon Neuse, who is at the team’s alternate site in San Jose, also might be a consideration at some point, but Melvin said the team is comfortable with the options on the current roster.
“They’ll find a way to make up for it somehow,” another AL scout said. “They are always resilient.”
Chapman, 27, was an All-Star last season, and he’s put up an 8.3 WAR each of the past two years. Since he came up in mid-June 2017, he has led the majors in defensive runs saved, with 82, according to Fangraphs, six more than Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons and 32 more than the next third baseman on the list, Chapman’s former high school teammate, Nolan Arenado of the Rockies.
“This one stings some, but we have to rally around it,” Melvin said. “You just have to get through.”
Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sslusser@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susanslusser