Shea Langeliers (knee) starts hitting progression

It’s the worst-case scenario outcome after Langeliers hit the injured list over the weekend. The 28-year-old slugging backstop’s absence is a significant hit for fantasy managers heading into the final two months after delivering top-five production at the position. He finishes with a robust .263/.332/.497 slash line with 55 runs scored, 23 homers, 51 RBI and two steals in 416 plate appearances across 93 games. The only positive news here is that Langeliers should be ready for the start of spring training.

Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the devastating news on Sunday morning. It has yet to be decided whether or not Langeliers will require season-ending surgery to repair the tear. Brian Serven was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to take his spot on the active roster.

Langeliers suffered the injury while running the bases during Friday’s contest against the Twins. The 28-year-old backstop had been one of the A’s most prominent trade chips leading up to the trade deadline, and while they weren’t necessarily going to move him, interested teams had been making inquiries. The A’s have not yet decided whether Langeliers will undergo surgery to repair the tear, but if he does it would end his 2026 season. It’s a devasting blow for fantasy managers who simply won’t be able to recreate Langeliers’ power production from what’s available on the waiver wire.

Langeliers drew a walk in the first inning, then later cut into the D-backs’ lead with a solo homer off Ryan Thompson in the eighth inning. It was an absolute blast, coming off the bat at 110.7 mph and going 444 feet. The 28-year-old slugger is up to 23 homers, 55 runs scored, and 51 RBI while slashing .260/.330/.496 across 409 plate appearances.

Langeliers unclogged the bases with his double, and extended the A’s lead to 14-0 in the seventh. He also drew a pair of walks, and the three-reach game has the power-hitting backstop hitting .258/.327/.490 with an even 50 RBI on the year.

The lineup: CF Trout, DH Yordan Alvarez, C Shea Langeliers, 3B Junior Caminero, SS Bobby Witt Jr., RF Cody Bellinger, 1B Ben Rice, LF Riley Greene and 2B Ernie Clement. Langeliers’ placement is odd, given that he’s hitting .186/.261/.362 since May 15, but then he did go 6-for-12 with three homers in his one series against the Blue Jays this year. That’s probably what manager John Schneider remembers.

Langeliers hit a solo homer to give the A’s a 1-0 lead off Noah Schultz in the first inning. The White Sox would score the next nine. Still, it’s a good end to the first half for the backstop, one that sees him bring his homer total to 21 and 41 runs driven in with an .807 OPS. he should remain one of the better catching options for the remainder of the campaign.

Langeliers was on the short list of the AL’s best players a month and a half into the season, but his production fell off in mid-May and has really hit the skids lately; he’s hitting .172 with one extra-base hit and 24 strikeouts in his last 16 games, 13 of which have been A’s losses. Maybe it’s the usual assortment of catching bumps and bruises piling up, but he doesn’t look like an All-Star right now.

Langeliers is back in the lineup after missing Saturday and Sunday with a thumb bruise. The 28-year-old has been one of the best backstops in baseball in 2026, and he’ll hope to keep the good run going against Tarik Skubal and the Detroit bullpen.

Langeliers was removed from Friday night’s game due to a left thumb contusion and has now missed two consecutive starts. He’s still considered day-to-day. Brian Serven will start behind the dish for the Athletics and bat ninth against Eury Perez and the Marlins on Sunday afternoon in West Sacramento.