WEST SACRAMENTO -- Seeking a spark as they returned from the All-Star break amid a dreadful nine-game losing streak, the Athletics made a flurry of roster moves on their first day back.
Before Friday's 23-4 loss to the Nationals at Sutter Health Park, the A’s revamped their Major League roster. Here’s the full breakdown:
• 3B/1B Tommy White (A’s No. 7 prospect), RHP Yunior Tur (No. 27 prospect) selected from Triple-A Las Vegas, LHP Brady Basso recalled from Triple-A
• 1B Joey Meneses, RHP Mason Barnett, C Brian Serven optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas
• INF Donovan Walton added to active roster
• DH/OF Brent Rooker transferred to 60-day injured list
• RHP Aaron Civale designated for assignment
The headliner here is White’s big league arrival. A second-round Draft pick out of LSU, White is now the fourth member of the A’s 2024 Draft class to reach the Majors, joining college teammate Gage Jump, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Nick Kurtz.
Having scored just 10 runs in their last seven games, the A’s need to find a way to ignite their slumping offense. White, known as “Tommy Tanks” in college, certainly brings that capability as a hitter. In 76 games between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas this season, the 23-year-old slashed .303/.353/.465 with 29 extra-base hits, including 10 home runs, and 64 RBIs. His elite bat-to-ball skills were also on full display, with just 48 strikeouts in 346 plate appearances.
“Tommy White is a big addition,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “A young player who has had a really good, solid year throughout the Minor League system. He can hit. He’s shown that throughout his Minor League career so far. I’m excited about giving him this opportunity.”
White was equally lauded for his advanced bat as he was criticized for his subpar defense at the time he was drafted. Over the past year, however, the A’s have been pleased with the strides he’s made both at third base and first base.
With Kurtz still sidelined due to a right thumb injury, White -- who was in Friday’s starting lineup at first base and smacked a double in the eighth for his first Major League hit -- will see most of his time at first in the interim, though the A’s will not shy away from giving him a look at third as well, if necessary.
“He’s shown a lot of growth and improvement in his defense,” Kotsay said. “This is a runway here with Kurtz on the IL for him to help us win some games.”
White showed up to Sutter Health Park on Friday still in a bit of shock. He felt like he was performing well enough at Triple-A to at least merit consideration for a callup, but he was still surprised when he got the call from Las Vegas manager Fran Riordan on Wednesday informing him of the news as he was hanging out with his family back home in St. Pete Beach, Fla.
“I was on the golf cart just going to get some stuff for the boat,” White said. “It was just me driving the golf cart. Fran called me from Las Vegas and said, ‘You’re going up to the big leagues.’ It was, like, a ‘drop everything’ moment. I was at home, so I got to tell my parents in person. They broke down crying. It was really cool. … This is something I’ve dreamed of and talked about since I was a little kid.”
The A’s hope White and the rest of Friday’s additions can provide a boost, but it will require a lot more than those players to turn around an ugly stretch in which they’ve dropped 10 games in a row and 18 of their past 21. Now eight games back of first place in the AL West and 7 1/2 games back of the third Wild Card spot, these next couple of weeks before the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline will be pivotal.
They certainly will have to play better than Friday night’s ugly performance.
“We played really bad baseball tonight all around,” Kotsay said. “This was not a great showing tonight. We’ll see how they respond. I expect a lot out of this group tomorrow when they come out to play the game.”