# Kuroda-Grauer returns after emergency surgery

> The A's prospect makes an improbable comeback from a rare injury that nearly ended his season.
- Title: Kuroda-Grauer returns after emergency surgery · Mlb | Shortify
- Summary: The A's prospect makes an improbable comeback from a rare injury that nearly ended his season. Kuroda-Grauer returned to play just two months after emergency…
- Keywords: joshua kuroda-grauer, oakland athletics, injury recovery, ruptured testicle, emergency surgery, mlb debut, los angeles angels, infielder, second base, las vegas triple-a, mark kotsay, sports
- Source: Mlb — https://mlb.com/news/joshua-kuroda-grauer-activated-from-injured-list
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: joshua kuroda-grauer, oakland athletics, injury recovery, ruptured testicle, emergency surgery, mlb debut, los angeles angels, infielder, second base, las vegas triple-a, mark kotsay, sports
## Rare injury sidelines prospect
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer underwent emergency surgery on July 20 to repair a ruptured testicle, an injury so uncommon the Athletics had almost no timeline for his return.

> When it happened, I thought my season was over.
## Only one recent comparison
The Athletics looked to Adrian Beltre, who suffered a similar injury with the Mariners in 2009 and missed 5.5 weeks, as their only reference point for Kuroda-Grauer's potential timeline.
## A month of sitting still
Kuroda-Grauer spent about a month mostly sedentary to allow swelling to go down before beginning baseball rehab in mid-August, frustrated by the forced inactivity.

> It was like a month of just sitting around, just because it was such a unique injury.
## Hot start before injury
Kuroda-Grauer was batting .417 with 25 hits in his first 16 games after debuting June 29, tying an Athletics record for most hits by a player in their first 16 games.
## Improbable return to play
Kuroda-Grauer was activated from the injured list before Tuesday's game against the Angels after three rehab games with Triple-A Las Vegas, returning to start at second base.
## Looking ahead to 2027
Manager Mark Kotsay said Kuroda-Grauer earned the chance to finish the season, and the prospect is confident the comeback will help him compete for a prominent role next year.

> It gave me a lot of confidence in knowing that I can be up here and compete.
## Key takeaway

Kuroda-Grauer returned to play just two months after emergency surgery for a ruptured testicle, defying expectations set by the only comparable case in recent baseball history.