Matt Chapman to undergo season-ending hip surgery

The Oakland Athletics have announced star third baseman Matt Chapman will undergo hip surgery on Monday. The operation, which will be performed by Dr. Marc Philippon, is expected to be season-ending.

The team, citing a strained right hip, placed Chapman on the 10-day injured list for the time being but will likely shift him to the 60-day injured list once he’s officially declared out for the year. In a corresponding move, the A’s promoted outfielder/first baseman Seth Brown to the big-league roster.

While a star, Chapman’s production has declined this year. After slashing .278/.355/.508 in 2018 and .249/.342/.506 in 2019, the third baseman posted just a .232/.276/.535 clip in 37 games this season. While his 2020 batting average and on-base percentage represent career-worsts, his slugging percentage is the best of his MLB career.

Chapman also posted his career-worst walk (5.3 percent) and strikeout (35.5 percent) rates this year. However, his 10 home runs in 152 plate appearance (one home run in every 15.2 trips to the plate) represent the highest such clip of his career; his previous best home run-to-plate appearance ratio was one-to-18.6 (2018).

Chapman had 22 runs scored and 25 RBI prior to going down with his hip ailment. He finishes the year with a .291 BABIP, .334 wOBA, 115 wRC+, and 1.3 fWAR (7.4 fWAR/162 games).

Chad Pinder is expected to take over as the starting third baseman, though Oakland could plug Tommy La Stella into the hot corner role less than one month after acquiring him from the Los Angeles Angels.

At 28-15 (.651), the Athletics have the best record in the American League and the second-best in baseball behind the Dodgers. They’re expected to make the postseason but will surely miss the presence of their talented third baseman down the stretch.