RHP Freddy Tarnok placed on 15-day IL; OF Cody Thomas optioned to Las Vegas
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s reinstated infielder/outfielder Tony Kemp from the paternity list and recalled right-handed pitcher Spenser Watkins from Triple-A Las Vegas, the club announced today. In addition, the A’s placed right-handed pitcher Freddy Tarnok on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Aug. 11 with a strained right calf and optioned outfielder Cody Thomas to Las Vegas.
Kemp is hitting .268 with a .748 OPS since June 1, along with 10 steals and two of his three home runs. Overall this season, he is hitting .211 with a .602 OPS, three home runs, 12 steals, 32 walks, and just 30 strikeouts.
Watkins, 30, was claimed off waivers from Houston on Aug. 8 and has not yet appeared in a game for Las Vegas. He began the season in the Orioles organization but was traded to the Astros for cash considerations on June 23. Overall this season, he is 3-4 with an 8.35 ERA across 14 games, including 11 starts, for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys and Triple-A Norfolk Tides. The right-hander has appeared in parts of two Major League seasons with Baltimore and is 7-13 with a 5.85 ERA in 39 appearances, including 30 starts.
Tarnok was recalled from Las Vegas on July 14 and pitched in five games with the A’s, going 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA. He walked 11 and struck out 14 batters over 14.2 innings with Oakland. The 24-year-old right-hander started the season on the injured list with a strained right shoulder and was optioned to Las Vegas after being reinstated from the IL on July 8.
Thomas was selected from Las Vegas on July 7 and played in 19 games with the A’s, batting .238 with one home run and two RBI. He is batting .308 with 17 home runs and 79 RBI in 74 games with Las Vegas this year and was leading all of minor league baseball in RBI at the time of his promotion.
