The Pirates have reinstated outfielder Ka’ai Tom from the 10-day injured list and designated him for assignment rather than adding him back to the active roster, per a club announcement. Pittsburgh claimed Tom off waivers from the A’s earlier this season. He was Oakland’s Rule 5 pick out of the Indians organization and must now be offered back to Cleveland if he goes unclaimed on outright waivers.
Tom, 26, hit the injured list earlier this month with a lower back strain that has now apparently healed sufficiently. He scarcely got a look in Oakland before being designated for assignment there, but the Bucs have given him a lengthier leash in Pittsburgh before making today’s decision. In 117 plate appearances since being claimed by the Pirates, Tom struggled to a .152/.308/.261 batting line.
It hasn’t been an auspicious MLB debut for the Hawaii native and 2015 fifth-rounder, but Tom has a strong track record in the upper minors with Cleveland, so it’s easy to see why multiple outfield-needy clubs have been intrigued. He’s a .296/.362/.558 hitter in 229 Triple-A plate appearances and has also posted a .261/.351/.444 slash in 827 plate appearances at the much more pitcher-friendly Double-A level.
Tom has walked at a robust 11.1 percent clip in his minor league career to date against a manageable 19.5 percent strikeout rate. He slugged a career-best 23 long balls between Double-A and Triple-A in his most recent full season, in 2019, and has five seasons with double-digit stolen base totals under his belt — including a career-best 23 swiped back in 2017. He obviously hasn’t produced much yet in the big league opportunities he’s gotten this season, but the Bucs claimed him earlier in the season with one of the top waiver priorities in the game.
Other teams will at least have the opportunity to add him and hang onto him for the final few weeks of the season. Should a team choose to do so, Tom has enough time on the active roster this year that his Rule 5 restrictions would be lifted in 2022. In other words, any team that claims him and hangs onto him for another six weeks would be able to freely option Tom in 2022 — though they’d also have to carry him on the 40-man roster all offseason.
top 5 names in baseball
Pirates have so many outfield options…. an embarrassment of riches
Sarcasm so deep that I’ll need a backhoe to dig out.
Thought for sure they would hold onto the rest of season since they are trying to win anyway then have him in the minors for depth
4 months too late
I honestly feel bad for most Rule 5 guys. They’re almost always not ready for the majors, and many of them end up getting passed around by multiple teams doing roster gymnastics trying to keep them. It probably ruins the development of some to mostly sit on the bench and watch for a year and to be overmatched when they do get to play.
On the other hand, they do actually get a shot in the majors that they might otherwise never get, so there is that.
Akil Baddoo says wassup.
This guy was raking in the high minors a few years ago before the virus hit. Between that and his age, there’s no reason to not give him a chance now.
They earn a major league salary instead of the pittance that minor league players earn, so I doubt the rule 5 selections are terribly upset about it.
Also a fair point.
Someone needs to claim this kid and give him some consistent at-bats. Diamondbacks?
he looked out of place the games i saw
He had a nice spring for Oakland and made the club but he looked over matched in his at bats once the real season began. He still worked the at bats and drew some walks so his on base was ok but that was it. I would watch him with Pittsburgh and saw no real progression
Just a little Tom foolery going on…..
I always liked him coming up through the minors with the Indians, and I was hoping he’d get an opportunity in the majors with their outfield situation being as bad as it’s been.
They need to start consolidating some of their fringe options into starting quality players, but with a longer leash it’s possible Tom could be an option. I believe he still has another season before he’s eligible for minor league free agency, so they could theoretically take a look at him for another year plus without needing to dedicate a 40 man roster spot.
Long overdue. He knows the strike zone but just can’t hit MLB pitching.
Dodgers. He’s just as good as Billy McKinney with WAY more upside.and he also has speed and good at bats, can play all three OF positions.
Tom the tank engine did his job. Trade deadline is over so he is no longer needed. The bullpen can carry the team the next month and half.