OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics recalled catcher/infielder Jonah Bride from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned infielder Kevin Smith to Las Vegas, the club announced today.
Bride began the season at Double-A Midland and was batting .315 with four home runs and 22 RBI in 19 games when he was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on May 25. He hit .392 in 14 games with the Aviators and is batting .347 with five home runs, 29 RBI and a 1.024 OPS in 33 games overall in the minors. The 26-year-old right-handed hitter was on the injured list with the RockHounds from April 27 to May 12 with a strained right hamstring and will be making his Major League debut. Bride was originally selected by the A’s in the 28th round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft and is a .283 hitter with 27 home runs and 170 RBI in 284 games in four seasons in the A’s farm system. He has played 169 games at third base, 57 at first base, 15 at second base and 11 at catcher.
Smith was on the A’s Opening Day roster and was batting .180 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 47 games with Oakland. He started 36 games at third base and five at shortstop. Smith was one of three players acquired from Toronto on March 16 in the Matt Chapman trade.
