The Oakland A's selected right-handed pitcher Chris Smith from Triple-A Nashville and reinstated catcher Josh Phegley from the paternity list, the club announced today. To clear space on the roster, the A's optioned Franklin Barreto to Nashville and designated catcher Ryan Lavarnway for assignment.
Smith was 4-3 with a 3.16 ERA and .265 opponents batting average in 15 games, including 12 starts, with Nashville. He is a Pacific Coast League Midseason All-Star and ranks third in the league in ERA. The 36-year-old right-hander will be making his first Major League start tonight and will become the oldest pitcher in Athletics history to make his first start. Smith has made 63 relief appearances in four seasons with Boston (2008), Milwaukee (2009-10) and Oakland (2016) and is 1-0 with a 4.58 ERA.
Phegley was placed on the paternity list on Wednesday and missed three games. He is batting .200 with three home runs and seven RBI in 43 games with Oakland.
Barreto was recalled from Nashville June 24 and batted .190 with two home runs and four RBI in 11 games. He went 4-for-32 (.125) over his final nine games after going 4-for-10 (.400) over his first two contests. Barreto is hitting .281 with eight home runs and 32 RBI in 68 games with Nashville.
Lavarnway was selected from Nashville Wednesday when Phegley went on the paternity list and went 0-for-2 in his only game with Oakland, a start at catcher last night. He has a .274 average, four home runs and 20 RBI in 61 games with the Sounds.