Here's why Muncy is the odd man out as Soderstrom returns

DETROIT -- It was another day of roster movement for the Athletics on Wednesday, and this set of transactions carried an equal amount of significance for the player coming in as it did for the one sent down.

Tyler Soderstrom was activated from the injured list and back in the starting lineup against the Tigers at Comerica Park. With Soderstrom following the returns of Zack Gelof and Jacob Wilson over the past week, the A’s are now about as close to full strength from an offensive perspective as they’ll be all season, factoring in Brent Rooker’s absence for the rest of 2026 due to season-ending left knee surgery.

“Sodey has been a big part of the middle of the order,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “His absence has been felt a little bit, so it’s great to have him back. … There will be a play progression for him based on not having played in 10 days and coming back from a leg injury, but it’s really good to have his bat in the lineup.”

To clear space for Soderstrom on the active roster, the A’s optioned Max Muncy to Triple-A Las Vegas. These decisions are never easy for a club, and this one was particularly difficult. Muncy, a 2021 first-round Draft pick and former top prospect, is a player the A’s entered the season with high hopes for.

The belief in Muncy is still there, but a few circumstances led to him being the odd man out. Let’s take a look at those:

Lack of production
Muncy was batting .210 with a .683 OPS and five extra-base hits in 20 games since his return from the IL on June 8. Grading out as a below-average defender at third base, Muncy was here for his bat, which has shown flashes of his slugging potential as a big leaguer at times. With that element of his game missing lately, it became harder to roll him out there consistently.

JKG’s arrival
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer had essentially usurped Muncy on the infield depth chart. Originally called up to debut last week when Wilson landed on the IL, the A’s No. 9 prospect has forced himself into an everyday role by swinging a hot bat. Kuroda-Grauer entered Wednesday batting .462 with a 1.058 OPS through his first seven Major League games.

Defensively, Kuroda-Grauer has shone with his versatility. He’s already played four games at second base, three at third base and one at shortstop, showcasing a strong glove at all three spots.

“The biggest part in the decision right now is KG got here and has played really well,” Kotsay said. “There’s not a specific place for Max right now in terms of playing time. As young as he is, I think the benefit of him going down and getting everyday at-bats, there’s some things for Max to still improve on.”

The Gelof effect
Gelof has re-emerged as a key player for the A’s, both as a hitter atop their order and a plus defender at multiple positions, including third base. He’s another player who has worked himself into everyday playing time.

The A’s still view Muncy as part of their future. But for now, at least, the 23-year-old will go down to the Minors with a list of areas for improvement. Offensively, the A’s would like to see him improve his swing decisions by focusing on in-zone swinging, which is when he does most of his damage. That should help improve his career .278 on-base percentage in the Majors, which is well below the A’s expectations for him.

Defensively, Muncy could see more of a utility role in Triple-A. With the presence of A’s No. 8 prospect Tommy White at third base down there, Kotsay indicated that Muncy could see time as an outfielder with Las Vegas.

“He can be moved around the infield,” Kotsay said. “But for Muncy, getting him in the outfield and seeing whether or not he’s talented to go out there and do it will be something we look into for Triple-A.”

Third base is a spot the A’s would eventually like to see Gelof settle into. But with the strong defense he’s shown in the outfield -- an area of weakness for the club lately -- the hot corner could see a rotation of Gelof, Kuroda-Grauer and Alika Williams.