OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s reinstated outfielder JJ Bleday from the injured list and optioned infielder Kevin Smith to Triple-A Las Vegas, the club announced today.
Bleday began the season at Las Vegas but was recalled by the A’s on May 3 and hit .203 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI and a .687 OPS in 77 games before he was placed on the injured list Aug. 15 retroactive to Aug. 14 with a sprained left knee. He began a rehab assignment with the Aviators on Friday and went 5-for-10 (.500) with three runs, a double, home run, four RBI and three walks in three games. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter made one appearance each at left field, designated hitter and right field on his rehab assignment. With the A’s, he has made 33 starts in left field, 27 in center field, six in right field and two at designated hitter.
Smith was recalled from Las Vegas on Sept. 5 and went 7-for-41 (.171) in 15 games during his third stint with the A’s. He is batting .185 with five home runs, 11 RBI and a .546 OPS in 49 games overall with Oakland and also hit .324 with 16 home runs, 46 RBI and a 1.025 OPS in 42 games with the Aviators.