CHICAGO – The loss of two veteran arms in the past week has brought the Athletics two of their top prospects to the big leagues.
With a couple of spots in the rotation opening up in the aftermath of Luis Severino landing on the 15-day injured list over the weekend and Jacob Lopez getting optioned to the Minors, the A’s called up right-hander Kade Morris from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday. Rated the club’s No. 12 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Morris joined the team for Tuesday night’s series opener against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Morris is the second top pitching prospect called up by the A’s in the span of a week. Following Aaron Civale’s placement on the 15-day IL last week, the A’s brought up Gage Jump (A’s No. 3/MLB No. 40 overall), who made his second Major League start on Tuesday against Chicago.
While Jump was immediately inserted into the rotation, Morris and Mason Barnett (A’s No. 17 prospect), who was also recalled from Triple-A, were both available out of the A’s bullpen as the club looks for fresh arms after a rough series with high bullpen usage against the Yankees over the weekend. Both Morris and Barnett have a chance to make a start later this week, depending on how the bullpen is utilized over these first two games.
“Both these young guys that got called up today, they’ll be down in the bullpen,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “Coming off a tough weekend against the Yankees with an injury and a short start, we’ve worn the bullpen down a little bit. They’ll provide some length right now, and we’ll make a decision on which one of them gets an opportunity going forward to fulfill one of the vacancies in our rotation.”
Morris, who was acquired by the A’s in the July 2024 deal that sent Paul Blackburn to the Mets, can throw up to seven different pitches. His main arsenal, however, consists of a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. That mix has led to solid results in the pitcher-friendly Pacific Coast League this season with Triple-A Las Vegas, as he’s posted a 4.45 ERA in 11 starts with 49 strikeouts and 26 walks in 60 2/3 innings.
“He’s throwing the ball well,” Kotsay said of Morris. “He’s a pitcher who pitches with a lot of emotion. I’m sure when he steps on that mound for the first time, there’s going to be a lot of energy and a lot of excitement. … We saw him in Spring Training, and we were impressed with what he was able to do. This’ll be fun to get him out here and give him an opportunity.”