Shea Langeliers torn meniscus could end Athletics catcher’s 2026 season
ESPN reports Shea Langeliers may miss the rest of 2026 after a knee injury, likely halting trade chatter around the A’s All-Star catcher.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Shea Langeliers torn meniscus news has landed hard on the Athletics: the All-Star catcher could be done for the 2026 season after hurting his knee on the bases, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Langeliers, 28, is weighing whether to have surgery to repair the tear, according to ESPN. If he has the operation, which ESPN reported is expected, he would be sidelined for the rest of the year.
That would remove one of the Athletics’ few bright spots from a season that has already been battered by injuries and poor pitching. ESPN reported that the club is 44-60 with a minus-122 run differential, the worst mark in MLB, and that its pitching staff has a 5.37 ERA.
How long will Shea Langeliers be out?
ESPN reported that Langeliers would miss the remainder of the 2026 season if he undergoes surgery to repair the torn meniscus. The decision had not been finalized in ESPN’s report, but surgery was described as the expected outcome.
The injury also appears likely to shut down any trade conversation involving Langeliers before the Aug. 3 deadline, according to ESPN. The Athletics were not planning to deal him, ESPN reported, though multiple teams were hoping the club might change course before the deadline.
Langeliers’ value is not hard to spot. ESPN described him as one of baseball’s top catchers and reported that he has hit .263 with a .332 on-base percentage and a .497 slugging percentage across 93 games this season, with 23 home runs and 51 RBIs.
His defense has been part of the package, too. ESPN reported that Langeliers has thrown out 11 runners on 35 stolen-base attempts this season, making his arm a major part of his game behind the plate.
The Athletics’ lineup had already taken hits before Langeliers went down. ESPN reported that Brent Rooker had season-ending knee surgery, while Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson have also dealt with injuries.
Langeliers came to the Athletics from the Atlanta Braves in the 2022 Matt Olson trade, according to ESPN. He was drafted ninth overall out of Baylor in 2019 and has since become one of the standouts from that draft class.
Power has made him stand out at a demanding position. ESPN reported that Langeliers had been on track to become the third catcher in major league history to post at least 29 home runs in three straight seasons.
Since becoming the Athletics’ regular catcher in 2023, Langeliers has hit 105 home runs, according to ESPN. Only Cal Raleigh has more among catchers in that span, ESPN reported.
Jonah Heim is now in line for the full-time catching job, according to ESPN. Heim, a former All-Star, has played well when Langeliers has been out this season and had also been viewed as a possible trade candidate, ESPN reported.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.