Hiroyuki Nakajima (hamstring) and Adam Rosales (intercostal) are nearing rehab assignments.

Both players have been taking swings lately with no issues. Nakajima had already lost the shortstop job before getting injured, so he'd likely be used in a utility role once healthy.

Athletics placed SS Hiroyuki Nakajima on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 27, with a strained left hamstring.

It's not the way Nakajima was hoping to start his major league career, but he shouldn't be out that long. The 30-year-old shortstop signed a two-year contract with the A's in mid-December after batting .311/.382/.451 with 13 home runs, 74 RBI and seven stolen bases in 136 games last season for the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball. He may carry some AL-only fantasy value when he gets back to full health.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin indicated Friday that Hiroyuki Nakajima will probably begin the season on the disabled list.

Nakajima tweaked his left hamstring on Tuesday and hasn't been able to progress quickly enough to return to action, and was already ruled out for the entire weekend series against the Giants. It's also possible that he sees some time at Triple-A Sacramento after he's healthy, with Jed Lowrie more than capable to man the shortstop position in Oakland in the meantime.

Hiroyuki Nakajima (hamstring) has been ruled out for this weekend's three-game exhibition series against the Giants.

It's no surprise, as Nakajima tweaked his left hamstring Tuesday and will probably need DL stint to start the season. "I do know he will not play in this series, and then after that I'm not 100 percent sure," manager Bob Melvin said, "but I'll probably have a better indication after the game." Once he's healthy, it's possible Nakajima could be optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.

A's manager Bob Melvin acknowledged Wednesday that Hiroyuki Nakajima (hamstring) may need a 15-day DL stint.

Nakajima left Tuesday's Cactus League game with a tweaked left hamstring. The Athletics can backdate the disabled list stint so that he will only miss about a week.

Hiroyuki Nakajima left Tuesday's game with a possible left hamstring injury.

Nakajima broke an 0-for-22 Cactus League slump with a single, but he then came up limping and had to be removed for a pinch-runner. The A's should update his status shortly.

John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Athletics are "seriously considering" starting Hiroyuki Nakajima in the minors to begin the season.

Nakajima hasn't had a hit in eight straight Cactus League games, dropping his average down to .150. He has just one extra-base knock (a double) in his 47 plate appearances. At the very least, Nakajima is looking at a bench role to start the season, though he would probably be better off playing every day at Triple-A Sacramento as he tries to become comfortable in the states. The A's figure to go with Jed Lowrie at shortstop and Scott Sizemore at second base on Opening Day.

Hiroyuki Nakajima's spring training struggles continued against the White Sox on Friday, as he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

The Japanese veteran is now hitting a paltry .162/.279/.189 on the spring, and is having an admittedly difficult time adjusting to the major changes of living in the United States. A's skipper Bob Melvin won't make a decision on his starting middle infielders until the end of spring, but there's a very real possibility that he could be surpassed by Jed Lowrie on the depth chart.