OAKLAND -- The A's promoted prospect Matt Olson on Sunday, rewarding the first baseman for his ongoing production at the plate, where he's belted 14 home runs in 47 games for Triple-A Nashville.
Right-hander Daniel Mengden, charged with four runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Nationals on Saturday, returned to Nashville to make room for Olson, who arrived at the Coliseum just ahead of game time. Hours later, Olson pinch-hit for Trevor Plouffe in the ninth inning and drew a bases-loaded walk in the A's 11-10 loss.
Mengden's departure paves the way for the return of right-hander Jesse Hahn, who is set to come off the disabled list Tuesday for a start against the Blue Jays, A's manager Bob Melvin announced.
Olson, an excellent defender at first base, has spent the majority of his time with the Sounds at the position, but he's also clocked time in right field in recent seasons to diversify his skill set. The 23-year-old is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the organization's No. 15 prospect.
"We'll see where he fits in the next couple of days, but it's great to reward a guy who's a big-time prospect for us who's playing really well right now and got off to a great start," Melvin said. "He's swinging the bat well, getting on base, hitting homers, doing everything well, and obviously you always know at first base you're going to get terrific defense out of him, too."
The left-handed hitter, a first-round pick of the A's in 2012, was batting .285 with a .374 on-base percentage with Nashville, including a .338 batting average with nine homers over his last 20 games. He's enjoyed three four-RBI games this season.
This is Olson's second stint with the A's this season, his first spanning just six days in late April. Olson also appeared in 11 games (2-for-21) as a September callup last year, with four of his six starts coming in right field.
"I was a little reluctant to begin with, especially because he's such a good first baseman, and then we ran him out there a couple times and he looked comfortable," Melvin said. "I don't know anywhere you would put him on the diamond he would look like he's nervous, because that's just not who he is, but he handled right field better than I expected and certainly makes it an option for us to use him there."
Mengden was recalled from Nashville on Monday and compiled a 10.13 ERA in two starts.
Worth noting
• Outfielder Mark Canha was scratched from the starting lineup Sunday because of the stomach flu, per Melvin. Khris Davis, originally pegged for a day off, was back in action in left field in Canha's stead.