OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics designated right-handed pitcher Austin Pruitt for assignment, the club announced today.  The move clears a spot for right-handed pitcher Joel Payamps, who was claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Royals Saturday.

Pruitt was selected from Triple-A Las Vegas on May 28 and was 0-1 with a save, a 4.78 ERA, .247 opponents batting average and .746 OPS in 27 relief appearances with the A’s.  He walked eight and struck out 27 in 37.2 innings.  Pruitt is also 1-0 with a save and a 3.27 ERA in 12 relief appearances with the Aviators.

Payamps has spent the entire season with Kansas City with the exception of a three-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha at the end of June.  He is 2-3 with a 3.16 ERA, .274 opponents batting average and .771 OPS in 29 relief appearances with the Royals.  The 28-year-old right-hander has struck out 33 and walked 16 in 42.2 innings.  Payamps made his Major League debut with Arizona in 2019 and is 3-6 with a 3.33 ERA in 70 career appearances, including one start, in four seasons in the majors with the Diamondbacks (2019-20), Blue Jays (2021) and Royals (2021-22).