Oakland’s Chad Pinder was looking forward to this weekend’s Giants-A’s series. Not because it’s a grudge match between the Bay Area sides, but because it meant he was playing baseball again.
“I wanted to get back for any series that was the quickest for me to get back and play,” said Pinder, who was reinstated before Friday’s series opener after missing six weeks with a strained right hamstring.
That the A’s are adding an accomplished position player to a team that lost outfielder Ramón Laureano to a performance-enhancing drug suspension — not to mention starter Chris Bassitt to facial injuries — could be a significant boost for a team on a playoff mission.
Manager Bob Melvin batted Pinder eighth and made him the right fielder, and the versatile player — who has started games at six different positions this season — is expected to play more in the outfield because the A’s added infielder Josh Harrison at the trade deadline.
“Obviously, it’s a long time not playing,” Pinder said. “No real concerns. My body feels good. Just not trying to do too much right away. Trying to have good at-bats. It’ll slowly come.”
To create roster space for Pinder, outfielder Seth Brown was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. Brown, batting .205 with 16 homers, had been optioned on Aug. 1 and recalled Aug. 6 after the Laureano suspension. Brown homered four times in 12 games since then.
Much has happened since Pinder had last played. Laureano’s suspension, Bassitt’s injury, the deadline acquisitions, the return of Khris Davis, who’s playing for Las Vegas.
Pinder was rehabbing with Las Vegas when hearing the Bassitt news.
“Terrible, terrible. Just a (bad feeling) in my stomach when I saw it happen,” Pinder said. “For being such a huge part of the clubhouse and a really good friend, it’s just tough to see.”
As for losing Laureano, who denied knowingly taking a banned substance, Pinder said, “That was really tough, a blow to the team to lose someone not only that big on the field but in the clubhouse. But as a teammate, someone I have to stand behind, I believe in him, and I believe him.”
Pinder, who’s likely to continue drawing starts against left-handed pitchers, has grown a beard during his down time but said Friday, “It’s soon to be taken off. Everybody’s been giving me a hard time about it.”
Pinder got hurt July 7 running to first base on the last play of a game in Houston. He played four games on a minor-league rehab assignment with Las Vegas and went 4-for-16 with a home run.
Pinder also missed 35 games with a sprained left knee sustained making a leaping catch at the wall April 4.
“This year, as far as the injuries, has been a little bit of a disappointment,” Pinder said, “but all that matters now is this last month-and-a-half stretch where we’re fighting for a postseason spot, and any contribution I can give, I’m going to give a (full) effort.”
Moore, Gomez honored: Monte Moore, who broadcast the Swingin’ A’s during their championship years in the 1970s, threw out a ceremonial first pitch and received the inaugural Monte Moore Award, which will be given annually to an individual for broadcasting excellence.
Former A’s beat writer Pedro Gomez, who died in February, was the recipient of the Ron Bergman Award for Journalism, first given in 2019 and named after the heralded beat writer. Gomez’s son, Dante, accepted the award.
Matt Kawahara and John Shea are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mkawahara@sfchronicle.com, jshea@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara, @JohnSheaHey
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