SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The ultra-versatile Tyler Ladendorf, who was enjoying a fantastic spring at the plate with the A's, was sent down with infielder Max Muncy to Triple-A Nashville on Monday.
Neither was expected to break camp with the club, and their return to the Minors signals a time of spring when there simply aren't enough at-bats with the big league team to go around, but Ladendorf surely left his mark in the form of a .364 average.
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The infielder/outfielder reached base at a .417 clip in 24 plate appearances and hit one home run with seven RBIs. Just days ago, A's manager Bob Melvin said, "I have not seen him play better than he's playing right now."
Ladendorf made his first Opening Day roster last year in the wake of injuries to Coco Crisp and Josh Reddick, but he stayed with the club for only a week before he was optioned and, after spending most of the season on the disabled list, returned to play five games as a September callup.
It will likely take another injury bug to their 25-man roster for the A's to beckon Ladendorf again, and the same applies for Muncy, who hit .200 in Cactus League play. Three of his five hits across 25 at-bats were doubles.
The A's are left with 39 active players in camp, having cut nine players since the conclusion of Sunday's game. The club's top prospect, shortstop Franklin Barreto, was one of seven reassigned to Minor League camp, after batting .217 with three home runs in 23 plate appearances.
"It was nice to be able to see what we've heard about, and he performed beautifully," Melvin said. "Usually for a guy that just turned 20 years old, they're going to have some nerves, and it never looked like he had nerves. Out in the field, he looked real comfortable. At the plate, certainly comfortable too. There's a certain confidence that comes with him. He knows he's a good player."