A's Select LHP Jose Torres and IF Joey Wendle

The Oakland A's selected left-handed pitcher Jose Torres from Single-A Stockton and infielder Joey Wendle from Triple-A Nashville, the club announced today. To clear space on the 40-man roster, the A's designated left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad and outfielder Craig Gentry for assignment.

Torres pitched for the A's Single-A affiliates at Beloit and Stockton last year and combined for a 4-5 record, eight saves and a 2.56 ERA in 47 relief appearances. He struck out 84 batters and surrendered just four home runs in 77.1 innings while holding the opposition to a .203 batting average. The 22-year-old left-hander was originally signed by the A's July 2, 2010 as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela and pitched exclusively in relief for the first time in 2015. Torres is 11-19 with a 3.47 ERA in 99 career appearances, including 39 starts, in five professional seasons.

Wendle was acquired from Cleveland in the Brandon Moss trade following the 2014 season and spent all of last year at Triple-A Nashville, where he batted .289 with 10 home runs and 57 RBI in 137 games. He led the Pacific Coast League in hits (167), tied for second in doubles (42), ranked third in extra base hits (60) and total bases (255) and fifth in triples (8). The 25-year-old right-handed hitter appeared exclusively at second base on defense. Wendle was originally selected by the Indians in the sixth round of the 2012 draft and is a .291 career hitter in four professional seasons.

Abad compiled a 4.15 ERA in a team-leading 62 relief appearances with Oakland last year after logging a 1.57 ERA in his first season with the A's in 2014. He allowed a career-high 11 home runs and matched his high by walking 19 batters. Gentry was on the A's Opening Day roster but got off to a slow start and ended up spending most of the season at Triple-A Nashville. He batted .120 with two triples and three RBI in 26 games over three stints with Oakland and .256 with five home runs and 25 RBI in 101 games with the Sounds.