LHP Easton Lucas and OF Lawrence Butler Optioned to Las Vegas
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s reinstated Zack Gelof from the 10-day injured list and recalled left-handed pitcher Brady Basso from Double-A Midland, the club announced today. The A’s also optioned left-handed pitcher Easton Lucas and outfielder Lawrence Butler to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Gelof was batting .196 with three home runs, seven RBI and a .597 OPS in 24 games when he was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to April 24 with a strained left oblique. He began a rehab assignment with Las Vegas on Saturday and went 1-for-8 with a home run, two RBI and a walk in two starts at second base at Round Rock.
Basso will be making his Major League debut after beginning the year at Midland. He was 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in six starts with the RockHounds before he was promoted to Las Vegas on May 8. The 26-year-old left-hander made one start with the Aviators last Thursday at Round Rock and allowed nine runs on 10 hits in 2.1 innings for the loss in his Triple-A debut before being sent back to Midland the next day. Basso is 1-2 with a 5.53 ERA in seven minor league starts overall but has walked just four batters in 27.2 innings, an average of 1.30 per nine innings. Originally a 16th round selection by the A’s in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, Basso has pitched in just 49 games due to the pandemic and July 9, 2021 “Tommy John” surgery. He is 7-8 with a 3.27 ERA in 49 games, including 29 starts, as a professional. Basso has 163 strikeouts in 137.2 minor league innings (10.66 per nine innings) and has walked 34 (2.22 per nine innings) for a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.79.
Lucas has a 14.73 ERA in three relief appearances over two stints with the A’s. He was selected from Las Vegas last Wednesday, optioned on Saturday and recalled yesterday when Blackburn went on the IL. Lucas is also 2-0 with a 2.87 ERA and .699 opponents OPS in 11 games, including one start, with the Aviators.
Butler was on the A’s Opening Day roster but was hitting just .170 with two home runs, seven RBI and a .537 OPS in 41 games. He started 29 games in right field and had 40 appearances overall in right plus two in center field.
