Rule 5 pick Walsh returned to A's from Crew

PHILADELPHIA -- The Colin Walsh era came to a formal end on Saturday, when the A's accepted the Rule 5 Draft pick back from the Brewers.
The Brewers designated Walsh for assignment on Tuesday to make room for waiver claim Neil Ramirez. The infielder cleared waivers and was offered back to the A's, who reinstated the 26-year-old to their Minor League system.
Walsh posted a respectable .317 on-base percentage and led the Majors (minimum 60 plate appearances) with a 23.8 percent walk rate, but he logged only four hits in 63 plate appearances for a league-worst .085 batting average.
"Anytime you start with Rule 5 picks, it's a tough spot to begin with," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "In the end, the way our roster shook out and playing time shook out, we weren't really able to give him consistent at-bats."
The A's paid the Brewers $25,000 -- half of the original fee when the Brewers selected Walsh in December's Rule 5 Draft -- to take him back.
Last call
• Right hander Michael Blazek and lefty Chris Capuano, each on the disabled list with elbow injuries to their respective throwing arms, long tossed on Saturday, as they continued making progress in their comebacks. Capuano was pleased with his work from 120 feet, and said he hopes to resume throwing off the mound by the end of the coming week.
• The Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers reinstated outfielder Trent Clark from the disabled list on Saturday. Clark, No. 5 on MLBPipeline.com's list of the top Brewers prospects, had missed time with a right hamstring injury.