INF Kevin Smith and RHP James Kaprielian optioned to Las Vegas
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s reinstated infielder Aledmys Díaz from the 10-day injured list and selected right-handed pitcher Garrett Acton from Triple-A Las Vegas, the club announced today. The A’s optioned right-handed pitcher James Kaprielian and infielder Kevin Smith to Las Vegas.
Díaz was on the A’s Opening Day roster and was batting .153 with a home run and six RBI in 25 games when he was placed on the 10-day injured list May 2 retroactive to April 30 with a strained left hamstring. He has started games at four different positions for the A’s, including nine at third base, eight at shortstop, four at second base and two at designated hitter.
Acton will be making his Major League debut after going 11-10 with 12 saves and a 4.37 ERA in 101 games, including two starts, in three seasons in the A’s farm system. He has spent the entire 2023 season at Las Vegas where he is 5-1 with a save and a 4.01 ERA in 16 relief appearances. The 24-year-old right-hander has held the opposition to a .204 batting average and has walked six batters in 24.2 innings while striking out 30. Acton was signed by the A’s as a non-drafted free agent on June 29, 2020 after the pandemic shortened the draft that year to five rounds.
Kaprielian was recalled from Las Vegas yesterday and started and lost to the Rangers, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk in 7.0 innings. He is 0-3 with a 10.17 ERA in seven games, four starts, with Oakland and 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA in two starts with the Aviators. Smith was recalled from Las Vegas on April 10 and hit .184 with three home runs and seven RBI in 26 games with the A’s. He is also hitting .300 with five home runs and 12 RBI in seven games with the Aviators.
