The Athletics announced a series of roster moves today, recalling right-hander Angel Felipe and selecting the contract of outfielder Cody Thomas. In corresponding moves, outfielder Esteury Ruiz was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder subluxation while right-hander Rico Garcia was designated for assignment.
Ruiz appeared to injure himself while diving back into first base in a game earlier this week. To this point, the A’s haven’t provided any kind of timeline on his expected absence, but the diagnosis is potentially significant. To use a recent example, Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell suffered a subluxation in April and required surgery that he likely won’t be able to come back from this year. That’s not to say that the same thing will happen to Ruiz, but it demonstrates the potential seriousness.
Acquired from the Brewers as part of the three-team Sean Murphy trade, Ruiz has had a season that more or less lines up with preseason expectations. One of the fastest players in the league, his baserunning is his standout trait, which has been on display this year. Offensively, he’s hit just one home run and walked at a paltry 3.8% clip, with his .257/.310/.329 batting line amounting to a wRC+ of 85. But he’s been on base enough to try stealing a base 51 times, succeeding in 43 of those, placing him two ahead of Ronald Acuña Jr. for the major league lead.
Despite his excellent speed, advanced defensive metrics are conflicted about his glovework. Defensive Runs Saved has him at -15 for the year, Ultimate Zone Rating at -7.6 but Outs Above Average is far kinder at +1. The A’s are the worst team in baseball right now with a record of 25-64, meaning this injury won’t impact their nonexistent competitive chances, but it’s surely unwelcome for a young player with excellent natural gifts to potentially be missing out on important development time.
Thomas, 28, was selected to Oakland’s 40-man roster going into 2022. He got that roster spot on the heels of a huge .289/.363/.665 showing at Triple-A in 2021. Unfortunately, he missed most of 2022 due to Achilles tendon surgery, only taking 32 big league plate appearances on the year and 39 more in Triple-A.
He was designated for assignment in the offseason and outrighted, sticking with the organization in a non-roster capacity. This year, he’s been mashing in Triple-A again, launching 17 home runs and producing a .308/.367/.576 batting line. That performance will get him back to the show for another crack at hitting against big league pitching. He’s capable of playing all three outfield spots but has spent more time in the corners. JJ Bleday played center yesterday and could perhaps get an extended audition there with Ruiz out.
Garcia, 29, signed a minor league deal with the A’s in the offseason and was selected to the big league roster in May. He has an 8.31 ERA in 8 2/3 major league innings this year but a much more palatable 3.20 ERA in 25 1/3 Triple-A innings. He’s struck out 29.2% of hitters in the minors this year but walked 18.6% of them. The A’s will now have a week to trade him or pass him through waivers. He has a previous career outright and would therefore have the right to elect free agency in the event he clears waivers.
Felipe, 25, will be making his major league debut as soon as he gets into a game. He’s only been with the A’s a short time, having been claimed off waivers from the Padres about two weeks ago. He had a 6.20 ERA in Triple-A when the Padres designated him for assignment but has a much nicer 1.80 ERA since being claimed. He posted huge strikeout numbers in both organizations but his walk rate fell from 14.9% with El Paso to 5.9% with Las Vegas. Control has been an ongoing concern for him so it remains to be seen if that’s a small sample blip or if he’s made some kind of adjustment.
Angel Felipe has 8 hands!?
If they trade him to Baltimore, they have eight arms in their bullpen now. Eight arms plus 8 hands equals a good start on 4 humans.
Octi-dextrous?
Enough to make Antonio Alfonseca jealous.
Losing Esteury Ruiz is significant for the rebuilding young A’s. Hopefully now it’s Cody Thomas his chance to prove himself in the bigs.
Why is it significant in your opinion? He has a negative WAR. Below replacement level.
It’s a development year for one thing. I don’t watch the A’s very much but the metrics are split on his glove work. He has a ton of physical talent that could be developed. Certainly very unfortunate
Its definitely unfortunate. Anytime a player gets hurt it is. Stolen bases are fun to watch. Either its a development year or its significant for a team that is the worst in baseball.
Was kind of hoping to see Ruiz play in the series in Fenway starting tonight. Hopefully he isn’t out for too long. He’s on pace for well over 80 Stolen Bases which hasn’t been done since Rickey Henderson stole 93 bases in 1988 and no one has come close since Jose Reyes stole 78 in 2007
MVP votes? Umm no. He has a .310 OBP and an OPS+ of 85. He’s fast, fun to watch and a good base stealer, but he’s not even in the top 50 in AL MVP consideration this year.
Ronald Acuña has 41 so he could clear 80 this year but that’s unlikely in my opinion.
Negative WAR won’t get MVP votes no matter what team he’s on!
Esteury Ruiz = Billy Hamilton v2.0
Except this guy can’t catch a fly ball
Yes, v2.0–The new bot has some flaws.
Hit more. Glove, no.
He’s a younger Billy Hamilton with a little bit better bat. Considering OAK chose him over William Contreras, I’ll never know. Yes, they have ample catchers (inc. Langeliers), but they could have easily transitioned Contreras to a 1B/DH/backup C role since his bat plays.
Agreed.
William Contreras, not Brent Rooker, would probably be headed to the All-star game if he’s in OAK instead of MIL.
about freakin’ time they called up Cody.
stop playing Tony Kemp in the Outfield. he’s a freakin’ 2nd Baseman.
You ain’t nobody if you don’t make the IL in 2023.
A guy who’s a “younger Billy Hamilton with a better bat” would be an all star in my opinion, especially since the original Billy Hamilton lasted 12+ years and is still playing.
He almost was an AS, coin toss with Rooker, since every team, even terrible ones, have to repped. Hamilton hasn’t been a regular since 2019 bouncing around teams as a late-game replacement. Respectable career, but career 66 OPS+ despite speed and defense is telling. Considering Ruiz is 85 OPS+ (still not avg), is part why I said he’s, so far, a little better than Hamilton. That’s not more valuable than a catcher with above average pop (like William Contreras).
Jokeland blew the chance to take control of the worst record in history when they went on that big winning streak. They’re on pace for a 46-116 record which is pretty respectable amongst the worst records in baseball. They may beat the 2018 Orioles record.
Ruiz has made this season interesting because of all his stolen bases, but he isn’t contributing to his team winning games. He has a below replacement level -0.1 WAR.