WEST SACRAMENTO – What seemed like good fortune for the Athletics when they left Spring Training in Arizona free of any major injuries is starting to feel more like an ominous precursor to what they’re now dealing with on the health front.
The difficulty of this recent six-game road trip went beyond the 2-4 record posted by the A’s. They also lost three key players to the injured list during that stretch, starting with Zack Gelof (right hand contusion) earlier in the week and continuing with Jacob Wilson (right thumb inflammation) and Tyler Soderstrom (left hip impingement), both of whom were placed on the 10-day IL prior to Monday’s 9-4 loss to the Dodgers at Sutter Health Park.
The A’s pride themselves in having a deep lineup that does not rely on one or two big bats to get them going. But there’s only so many hits an offense can take. In addition to Gelof, Wilson and Soderstrom, there’s also Brent Rooker, who has been sidelined on the 10-day IL since June 9 with a left knee bone bruise.
“We had a great Spring Training, health-wise,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “We got out of there crystal clean. I’m not sure if that was a bad omen or what has led to the injuries, but it definitely has hit us at an inopportune time. We have to keep grinding. Guys are coming here to fill roles that maybe weren’t anticipated to be here yet.”
One of those guys is Joshua Kuroda-Grauer. Rated the A’s No. 9 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Kuroda-Grauer was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas as a corresponding move. Though his first call to the Majors is largely the product of losing Wilson, the 23-year-old infielder has nonetheless earned this chance. In 75 games between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas, Kuroda-Grauer is slashing a combined .323/.367/.478 with 34 extra-base hits. His 109 hits lead all of Minor League Baseball.
Kuroda-Grauer made an immediate impact, picking up an RBI single in his first MLB at-bat in the bottom of the second. Notching another single in the sixth and a double in the ninth, Kuroda-Grauer became just the fourth A’s player to record three hits in his Major League debut since the club moved to California in 1968, joining Mark Canha (April 8, 2015), Mike Rouse (June 9, 2006) and Ben Grieve (Sept. 3, 1997).
Not bad for a player who learned he was getting called up Monday morning, flew in from Salt Lake City and arrived at the yard about two hours before first pitch.
“For a young man to be prepared to have this type of performance says a lot about him,” Kotsay said. “Slow heartbeat. Obviously, he’s prepared for this moment his whole life. To go out and throw out three hits in his debut, it’s pretty special.”
Kuroda-Grauer also had his “Welcome to the Big Leagues” moments by interacting with a couple of stars. After his first hit, he was greeted at first base by Freddie Freeman, who gave him a congratulatory pat on the back. Later, while his double was under replay review, Kuroda-Grauer was joined by Freeman and Mookie Betts for a conversation.
“It was surreal,” Kuroda-Grauer said. “You play with these guys in video games and now you get to be on the field talking with them. Those are guys I’ve watched my whole life. Being on the field with them and hearing them congratulate me, great guys. … It was really cool.”
Kuroda-Grauer is also extremely versatile defensively. Starting at second base on Monday, he also brings the ability to play third base and shortstop, his natural position.
With Kuroda-Grauer debuting, the A’s are now the first team in MLB to have three players from the 2024 MLB Draft Class reach the Majors. All three were in Monday’s starting lineup, with first-rounder Nick Kurtz at first base and Competitive Balance Round B selection Gage Jump taking the mound as the A’s starting pitcher.
“It’s pretty remarkable,” Kotsay said. “You’re lucky to get three guys in a Draft class to make the big leagues. To have these three guys here with us right now says a lot about the scouting department and the player development department and the work they’ve put in. … There are a lot of guys that have been homegrown here on our roster, and that says a lot about the ability to identify young talent and mature them throughout the Minor Leagues to get them here.”