The Athletics optioned Opening Day third baseman Max Muncy to Triple-A Las Vegas this afternoon. That was the corresponding move to activate Tyler Soderstrom from his minimal stint on the injured list. That follows recent returns from Jacob Wilson and Zack Gelof, putting the A’s lineup pretty close to full strength — aside from the season-ending absence for Brent Rooker.
It’s the first optional assignment of the season for Muncy. The former first-round pick spent some time in Triple-A on a rehab assignment working back from a broken finger. He has otherwise been up since June 2025. Muncy is hitting .227/.303/.396 across 175 plate appearances. He’s striking out too often and has ugly defensive grades in a little over 350 innings at the hot corner.
Manager Mark Kotsay told Martín Gallegos of MLB.com that the A’s could get Muncy some outfield work in Triple-A. That would be his first professional outfield action. Muncy was drafted as a shortstop and has moved mostly to second or third base over the last couple seasons. He hasn’t graded well defensively anywhere on the dirt. Muncy is an above-average runner, so he might end up being a better fit in the outfield.
Gelof was at third base today. He has bounced around defensively this year while hitting well enough to force his way into an everyday lineup spot. Gelof has dramatically reduced his formerly untenable strikeout rate and is hitting .274/.328/.478 with 11 homers in 66 games.
Rookie infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer has collected 15 hits in his first eight MLB games. He’ll remain in the lineup for as long as he’s hitting. Kuroda-Grauer has started games at each of second, third and shortstop within his first week-plus as a big leaguer. There’s not going to be much shortstop work available now that Wilson is back. If Gelof settles in mostly at third base, that’d leave the keystone primarily for Kuroda-Grauer.
That seemingly sets up a reduction in playing time for Jeff McNeil. The former batting champion was out of the starting lineup tonight for the third consecutive game — two of which have been started by right-handed pitchers. McNeil came off the bench when Nick Kurtz was forced out by illness but appears to be dropping into a backup role.
Acquired from the Mets last offseason, McNeil is hitting just .228/.293/.305 across 288 trips to the plate. He was a league average hitter in April but has a .194/.250/.261 line since the beginning of May. Among hitters with at least 150 plate appearances in that time, only Daniel Schneemann and Ildemaro Vargas have been less productive offensively (by measure of wRC+). The A’s took on $10MM of McNeil’s $15.75MM salary this season. New York will pay the $2MM buyout on a $15.75MM club option that the A’s will surely decline at the end of the year.
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