From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser at Phoenix Muni



Prized prospect Addison Russell won’t play for at least a week because of a right hamstring strain, so the A’s are borrowing Hiro Nakajima from minor-league camp today.

Nakajima has had a strange year or so – he was signed in splashy fashion to be Oakland’s everyday shortstop before last season, and had a memorable and delightful press conference during which he called A’s GM Billy Beane “super sexy and cool.” But it became clear during spring training that Nakajima was not going to be ready to handle big-league defensive duties; the track record of Japanese infielders transitioning to the big leagues is spotty because the fields are so different, and like several other Japanese infielders, Nakajima hung back on balls too much and wasn’t aggressive around the bag.

So after being signed to a two-year, $6.5 million deal, Nakajima missed the first month with a hamstring injury and then remained at Triple-A Sacramento the entire season, playing second and third base. Scouts believe third base might be his best option, but he is still a real longshot ever to play in the big leagues. Manager Bob Melvin said today that it would have to take a few injuries for Nakajima to be called up.

As Melvin noted, Nakajima, 31, easily could have chosen to return to Japan, where he is a star, for this season, but he elected to come back to the A’s even without an invite to big-league camp. He’s determined to improve and potentially get an opportunity with Oakland, and this injury to Russell at least will allow the A’s coaching staff a chance to see what strides Nakajima has made since last spring.

There never has been any doubt about Nakajima’s character, though. He was friendly and cheerful all last spring, a fun personality in the clubhouse despite his limited English skills, and Melvin said that the reports on Nakajima at Sacramento were excellent.

“From everything I heard, he was terrific,” Melvin said. “He worked hard, he never complained. … He’s a very good kid.”

Russell is not expected to be on the Opening Day roster, but he is certainly a possible callup during the season, at the very least in September. Melvin said that Russell had been scheduled to play “a lot” this spring. There is no chance the A’s will take any risks with this hamstring injury, so it’s possible we might not see much more of Russell before the team breaks camp. Melvin said that Nakajima could be borrowed frequently this week.

In other A’s news today, Derek Norris (back) could be available to play tomorrow, but Daric Barton (hamstring) is still several days away, Melvin said. Craig Gentry (back) hit off a tee yesterday and he is increasing his activity but there is no timetable for him to get into a game. (I still believe there is a strong chance Sam Fuld will be on the Opening Day roster, with Gentry potentially on the DL the first week.)

Ryan Cook (shoulder) and Eric O’Flaherty (Tommy John surgery) are throwing bullpen sessions today; O’Flaherty’s is his first bullpen session truly off the mound because last time he just threw off the front of the mound, not the pitching rubber. Fernando Rodriguez (Tommy John) is throwing a simulated game tomorrow.

The hot topic this morning was the finale of “The Bachelor,” which Brandon Moss, for one, could not stop talking about. According to a magazine clipping on the wall of the A’s clubhouse, reliever Evan Scribner once dated last night’s runner-up, Clare Crawley.