INF Neuse Optioned to Las Vegas; RHP Markel Designated for Assignment
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics reinstated catcher/first baseman Stephen Vogt from the 10-day injured list and selected infielder Matt Davidson from Triple-A Las Vegas, the club announced today. The A’s also optioned infielder Sheldon Neuse to Las Vegas and designated right-handed pitcher Parker Markel for assignment.
Vogt was on the A’s Opening Day roster and was 1-for-14 in six games when he was placed on the 10-day injured list April 21 with a sprained right knee. He was assigned to Las Vegas on a rehab assignment on May 28 and went 5-for-18 (.278) with a home run and two RBI in five games. Vogt started three games at catcher and one each at first base and designated hitter for the Aviators.
Davidson began the season at Triple-A Reno in the Arizona organization and was batting .386 with eight home runs and 12 RBI in 11 games when he was selected by the Diamondbacks on April 21. He went 1-for-10 (.100) with a home run and RBI in five games with Arizona before he was designated for assignment on May 2. The 31-year-old right-handed hitter signed a minor league contract with Oakland on May 9 and hit .260 with seven home runs and 17 RBI in 21 games with Las Vegas. Davidson was named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week on Monday after going 9-for-21 (.429) with five home runs and 11 RBI in six games last week against Sacramento, including back-to-back two-homer games on June 2 and 3. He is hitting .306 with 15 home runs and 29 RBI in 32 minor league games overall, including 16 at first base, eight at designated hitter and seven at third base. His 15 home runs rank second in the Pacific Coast League and tied for sixth in all the minor leagues. Davidson made his Major League debut with Arizona in 2013 and is a .222 career hitter with 53 home runs and 155 RBI in 303 games in the majors with the Diamondbacks (2013, 22), White Sox (2016-18) and Reds (2020).
Neuse was on the A’s Opening Day roster and batted .228 with two home runs and 17 RBI in 49 games. He hit .328 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 19 games in April but is batting .165 with no home runs and four RBI in 30 games since then.
Markel was selected from Las Vegas on May 29 and did not allow a run in 3.0 innings over three outings with the A’s. He was signed by the A’s to a minor league contract on March 10 and was 3-0 with a save and a 1.89 ERA in 17 relief appearances with the Aviators.
