For Zack Gelof, the premature end to his 2025 campaign was unfortunately somewhat fitting given what he went through all year.
After diving for a ground ball during a game against the Pirates at PNC Park on Sept. 19, Gelof writhed in significant pain and was immediately pulled from the game. That night, X-rays revealed a dislocated left shoulder, which sidelined him for the final eight games of the season.
The shoulder dislocation capped what was an injury-riddled year for Gelof, who was looking to return to his 2023 rookie breakout form after a down ’24 campaign. After working hard in camp on making adjustments to address his swing-and-miss issues, Gelof sustained a hook of the hamate fracture as a result of getting hit by a pitch on his right hand during the final week of Spring Training. He then suffered a setback in May due to a stress reaction in his ribs while rehabbing in the Minors.
Making his season debut on July 4, Gelof was optioned back to the Minors after going 2-for-25 in eight games with the A’s and rejoined the club on Aug. 25 after finding his groove at Triple-A Las Vegas.
Limited to 30 games with the A’s, Gelof hit just .174 with a .502 OPS. To make matters worse, that shoulder issue is likely going to impact Gelof’s availability for the start of 2026 Spring Training.
“The shoulder resets him back a little bit when it comes to whether he makes the Opening Day roster,” said A’s general manager David Forst. “He’s going to be a little bit behind.”
A couple of years ago, Gelof was viewed as the A’s second baseman of the future and key member of the team’s young core with a chance for stardom.
A lot has changed since then. Now, he’s among a group of internal candidates for second base along with Darell Hernaiz and Max Muncy. The A’s are also exploring potential outside options for second through trade or free agency.
Still, despite the struggles, the A’s believe in Gelof’s dynamic abilities. They want to see him re-establish himself, and he will get that opportunity to bounce back once healthy.
“We need to get him back to where he was in that two-month stretch in ’23,” Forst said. “I talk a lot about figuring out that position. Zack is still absolutely a factor. … There's so much talent with this guy. We’ve got to figure it out.”