WEST SACRAMENTO – Ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Angels at Sutter Health Park, manager Mark Kotsay was asked what would constitute a successful final homestand for the Athletics. His answer was simple.
“Put up a winning homestand,” Kotsay said. “These next two games against the Angels and then four against Houston are all important to us. We want to go out and show the fans that there’s something to be hopeful about next season.”
Tuesday night’s inspired effort should lend some optimism for 2027. Facing a six-run deficit in the sixth inning, the A’s offense exploded late for a 9-7 comeback victory over the Halos.
Following a three-run seventh that brought the A’s within a run, the comeback was completed in the eighth on a pair of two-run home runs. The first came from Carlos Cortes, who launched a Statcast-projected 386-foot no-doubt go-ahead blast to right. The second was by Zack Gelof, who provided some insurance with his blast that traveled a Statcast-projected 411 feet to left.
For Gelof, the homer was his 20th of the season, a number that seemed unlikely for him to reach heading into the year.
After the A’s traded for Jeff McNeil this offseason, Gelof – coming off an underwhelming campaign in 2024 and injury-riddled ‘25 – entered Spring Training seemingly on the outside looking in. He expanded his versatility in hopes of increasing his chances of making an impact on the big league club in a utility role.
Fast-forward seven months, and Gelof has reemerged as a key piece of the A’s future. The 26-year-old has set career highs in homers, RBIs (52) and runs (71). He’s achieved that feat despite having missed 34 games on two separate stints on the injured list due to a couple of freak injuries.
“It’s been quite a year to this point for him,” Kotsay said. “Coming out of spring and going to Triple-A, then getting back here to the big leagues, he’s taken full advantage of the opportunity and is having the successful year that we knew was in there. He’s just going to continue to make small adjustments and continue to get better.”
The only question left with Gelof now is his long-term position. He’s proven himself to be a solid defender wherever he plays, having started games at third base, second base and all three outfield spots. The position may be unclear, but Gelof clearly will have a role next year and beyond.
“It’ll be cool to reflect on after the season,” Gelof said. “Starting the year in Triple-A with not a real clear future with the team, I came in and kind of just changed my career in a season where I’m playing multiple positions and refining my game offensively to try to be a more all-around player. Hitting 20 homers is awesome, and to do it in a win is even better.”
It was a win that required all hands on deck. In relief of Brady Basso, who was pulled in the third inning with no outs, five A’s relievers – Scott Blewett, Seth Johnson, Drew Rom, Luis Medina and Hogan Harris – combined to allow just two runs in seven innings.
Offensively, the A’s practically emptied the bench. One of those late subs was Cortes, who entered as a pinch-hitter for Denzel Clarke in the seventh and sparked a three-run rally with a triple. Cortes went on to make history, becoming the first player in A’s history to hit a homer and triple in a game he did not start.
“That’s pretty crazy,” Cortes said. “I don’t expect to come off the bench and hit a triple. That was a cool moment.”
Cortes’ greatest contribution, however, may have been in the top of the eighth, when he made an impressive leaping catch on the run to rob Zach Neto of an RBI and extra bases.
“When it left the bat, I thought it was a double for sure,” Kotsay said. “I think it surprised [Cortes] that he caught it, to be honest. Great run-saving play there and kept the game at one run, which really helped.”