A's call up hot-hitting Smolinski for outfield depth
Jake Smolinski, an outfielder recently claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics, was called up on Tuesday after demolishing Triple-A pitching in his few weeks with the Nashville Sounds.
In exchange, right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt (who filled in admirably for new All-Star Sonny Gray while Gray dealt with bacterial gastroenteritis last week) was optioned back to Nashville.
Smolinski, who spent some time with the Texas Rangers in 2014, hit well with the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate Round Rock Express before joining the Sounds. As Susan Slusser of the SF Chronicle summed up in a Tweet:
Smolinski hit .422 at Round Rock before being claimed by #Athletics, then .432 at Nashville.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) July 7, 2015
Considering the A's currently run light-hitting Sam Fuld out there on a regular basis, it would make sense for them to give Smolinski a chance to show off his skills on their upcoming road trip, which begins Tuesday night in New York against the Yankees.