The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed a corner infielder off waivers from the A’s, reuniting with a player they originally drafted in 2017. After selecting him in the 13th round, the team previously traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a deal for Corey Dickerson.
Since then, the player has participated in 17 MLB games, batting a cumulative .152 with a .222 on-base percentage and a 45 wRC+. In 2024, he played for both the Miami Marlins and the Oakland A’s, where he had a combined batting average of .107 and a .194 OBP. However, his performance in Triple-A was better, as he hit .251 with a .322 OBP and a .789 OPS.
Currently, he is not projected to make the Pirates’ 26-man roster and is expected to return to the minor leagues, as he still has two options remaining.
For the A’s, there appeared to be an internal competition at third base between him and another player, both of whom were claimed off waivers within a week. While both played at first and third base, the other player also made appearances in left field during his time in Triple-A Las Vegas. The competition was to see who could solidify their role at third base leading into 2025, but while he received a call-up to the big leagues, it was the other player who remained with the organization.
This other player made his major league debut with the Kansas City Royals this summer, participating in four games and going 1-for-8 with three strikeouts. In 12 games with Las Vegas, he showcased a solid .294 average with a .410 OBP, hitting three home runs and driving in 14 RBIs. Even though some of his success could be attributed to a small sample size, he also had over 16 home runs and an OPS of .907 in 80 games with Omaha this year.
He seems like a player who just needs an opportunity to prove himself at the major league level, as the A’s often provide chances for those looking to establish themselves. The hard part remains convincing players to come and play in Sacramento.
Ultimately, the player acquired by the Pirates is Tristan Gray.
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