GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Zack Gelof did a double take as he walked by a video board inside the Athletics' clubhouse at Hohokam Stadium that listed him as the starting center fielder for Sunday’s game against the Guardians.
“It says number eight next to my name. What does that mean?” Gelof joked.
At the start of Spring Training, manager Mark Kotsay floated the possibility of Gelof getting some center field reps in addition to his usual spot at second base. After finishing up the final stages of his rehab from a dislocated left shoulder, he finally got his first chance to play the outfield in an actual game this spring.
Kotsay was hopeful that Gelof would “get tested” at some point on Sunday, and in the fifth inning of a 12-6 loss at Goodyear Ballpark, that moment presented itself.
Having not seen a single ball hit to him through the first four innings on a sun-drenched afternoon that saw outfielders on both teams misread fly balls, Gelof’s first opportunity to make a play was a doozy on a well-struck drive in his direction by David Fry to lead off the fifth.
Gelof appeared to be tracking the ball well before losing it in the sun for a second at the warning track. Luckily for him, right fielder Colby Thomas was nearby to provide some guidance.
"Colby was talking to me the whole way through,” Gelof said. “I feel like he had a controller and was literally telling me where to go.”
Regaining sight of the ball, Gelof timed a leaping catch to rob Fry of a hit as he crashed his left shoulder into the center-field wall. The highlight-reel play was the only play he saw in the outfield all day, serving as the perfect introduction to his new position.
"We’ve watched him out there shag balls and work on footwork,” Kotsay said. “There’s a lot of similarities to what Tyler [Soderstrom] was able to do [when he moved to the outfield]. … Time will tell, but there’s definitely actions to be able to go out there and do it.”
Since getting drafted by the A’s in 2021, Gelof had only played outfield once in a game as a professional -- a full nine innings as the center fielder for Double-A Midland on May 19, 2022.
This offseason, the A’s traded for Jeff McNeil to be their everyday second baseman. Looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2025, Gelof’s best shot to make an impact in the big leagues could be this new utility role, which is why the A’s plan to get him as many looks in contests as possible over this final week of spring games -- and not just in center, but also in the corner outfield spots.
"Versatility in today’s game is always an added bonus,” Kotsay said. “Zack was a good second baseman, and he still will be. But to have the ability to transition to the outfield, it would be huge.”
From an offensive standpoint, Gelof has worked on the mechanics of his swing to make it “a little bit more level” and said he has not felt as comfortable at the plate as he does now since 2023, when he broke out as a rookie by hitting .267 with an .841 OPS, 14 home runs and 20 doubles in 69 games with the A's.
On Sunday, Gelof lined a single to right off Tanner Bibee at 104.4 mph off his bat and is now hitting .357 (5-for-14) through four spring games.
“I feel like I’ve found my starting position [at the plate],” Gelof said. “My direction feels really good. Right now, I’m just focusing on approach, trusting my process and trying to hunt the right pitch to stay through the middle of the field.”
The A’s will break camp after next Monday’s Cactus League finale against the White Sox and head for Toronto, where they’ll open up the season against the Blue Jays on March 27.
At this point, it’s unclear whether Gelof will be part of that group heading north of the border for Opening Day. But based on what the A’s have seen from him in games over the past week, Gelof is putting himself in good position to contribute to the A’s, whether it be now or later in the season.
"Just keep getting better pregame,” Gelof said of his goals for the next week. “Then in-game, find my approach and be consistent. Be the same player every day and try to just keep getting better and add value any way I can to help the team win.”