Rosenthal's spring debut for A's delayed due to groin strain

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New A's closer Trevor Rosenthal was on track to make his spring training debut Monday against his former team, the Kansas City Royals.

It didn't happen.

After the A's lost 10-3 to the Royals in Surprise, Ariz., manager Bob Melvin told reporters that Rosenthal suffered a "slight groin strain." According to MLB.com's Martin Gallegos, Rosenthal felt the injury during a bullpen session on Saturday.

“We don’t have a target date for him to throw yet,” Melvin said (H/T MLB.com). “We think it’s minor in nature, but you want to be pretty careful with those types of injuries. He’s been feeling it the last two days.”

After losing Liam Hendriks to the White Sox in free agency, the A's signed Rosenthal to a one-year, $11 million contract in February, though the money will be paid out in deferred payments over three years.

In 23 games with the Royals and San Diego Padres in 2020, Rosenthal posted a 1.90 ERA with 11 saves and 38 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings.

RELATED: Why Rosenthal decided to sign with A's

While the A's have to be disappointed their new closer won't get on the mound for a little while, the good news is that there still are three weeks until Opening Day, so Rosenthal has time to recover and get his arm in shape for the regular season.

If the injury is worse than expected and Rosenthal is forced to miss the beginning of the regular season, the A's likely would slide Jake Diekman into the closer's role.

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