SEATTLE -- The Athletics announced their Opening Day roster ahead of their first game of the season on Thursday against the Mariners.
Second base will look a bit different, at least to start out. With Zack Gelof beginning the season on the 10-day injured list after undergoing surgery for a hamate bone fracture, A’s No. 7 prospect Max Muncy earned himself a spot on the roster and is in line to see plenty of time at second along with Luis Urías and Max Schuemann.
Here’s the A’s 26-man roster:
Catcher (2): Shea Langeliers, Jhonny Pereda
Displaying strong durability by appearing in 254 games behind the plate over the past two seasons, Langeliers is entrenched as the A’s primary catcher. Pereda, whom the A’s claimed off waivers from the Marlins in February, begins the year as his backup.
First base (1): Tyler Soderstrom
Soderstrom generated some momentum for himself last season by slashing .250/.310/.485 with eight home runs and 21 RBIs over his final 37 games. After limited playing time over his first two big league seasons, the 23-year-old Turlock native is in line for more of an everyday role in 2025.
Second base (2): Max Muncy, Luis Urías
Muncy will have a golden opportunity for regular playing time at second base in Gelof’s absence. Urías was signed to a Major League deal early in spring and will provide backup at second, third and short.
Third base (1): Gio Urshela
Urshela has consistently graded out as an above-average defender at the hot corner over the past several seasons, making him an ideal candidate to man third base on an everyday basis for an A’s club that went through multiple players at the position last season and struggled to find a consistently reliable option.
Shortstop (1): Jacob Wilson
After slashing .401/.446/.606 over 337 Minor League plate appearances, Wilson got his feet wet in the Majors last season and demonstrated his impressive tools -- both offensively and defensively. He should hit the ground running in 2025 as the A’s starting shortstop.
Outfield (5): Brent Rooker, Miguel Andujar, Seth Brown, JJ Bleday, Lawrence Butler
Rooker emerged as one of the game’s elite hitters last season by hitting .293 with a .927 OPS, 39 home runs and 112 RBIs, all while playing through a forearm injury that required surgery after the season. Now fully healthy, he is expected to see more time in left field this season. Brown is a versatile left-handed power threat who should see time at the corner outfield spots and first base. Bleday and Butler enjoyed breakout campaigns and will enter the year with starting spots in center and right. Andujar and Langeliers could alternate with Rooker at designated hitter.
Utility (1): Max Schuemann
Schuemann went through a stretch as the A’s starting shortstop last season prior to Wilson’s arrival and ultimately demonstrated his value as a super-utility player by logging time at second, third and all three outfield spots.
Starting pitchers (5): Luis Severino, JP Sears, Jeffrey Springs, Osvaldo Bido, Joey Estes
The A’s addressed their rotation in a major way this offseason by adding a pair of veterans in Severino and Springs. Sears, Bido and Estes round out the rotation. Left-hander Ken Waldichuk is recovering from Tommy John surgery and could enter the rotation picture later this season.
Relievers (8): Mason Miller, José Leclerc, Tyler Ferguson, T.J. McFarland, Justin Sterner, Noah Murdock, Hogan Harris, Mitch Spence
All-Star closer Miller headlines an A’s bullpen that combined for a 3.83 ERA in 2024 -- 13th-lowest in the Majors. The relief corps was bolstered with the addition of Leclerc, who likely slots in as the top setup option. Other high-leverage relievers include Ferguson, McFarland, Rule 5 Draft pick Murdock and Sterner, a waiver claim from the Rays this offseason who earned his way onto the team this spring by not allowing an earned run in his 10 outings while striking out 17 batters and walking only two in 12 innings. Harris and Spence both can provide length, though manager Mark Kotsay also feels comfortable utilizing both in higher leverage roles if needed.