Smith will sit Saturday against the Brewers, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Smith started a pair of games after getting recalled earlier this week, going 2-for-9 at the plate. He'll retreat to the bench Saturday as Aledmys Diaz takes over at shortstop.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Multi-hit effort in return start
Rotowire
Smith went 2-for-5 in a win over the Pirates on Wednesday.
Drawing his first start since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, Smith delivered his first multi-hit effort since April 26. The 26-year-old infielder had produced just a .184 average and .521 OPS with the Athletics during his previous 82 plate appearances with the team this season, and he's expected to be given an extended look at shortstop this time around with the hopes he can replicate some of the success he's enjoyed with the Aviators down on the farm (.282 average, .972 OPS).
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Back in Oakland
Rotowire
The Athletics recalled Smith from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Smith was optioned to Las Vegas on May 14 after recording just a .521 OPS in the majors through 82 plate appearances. Since returning to the minors, he's slashing .268/.302/.488 with two homers and eight RBI and figures to start primarily at shortstop while in Oakland. Nick Allen was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Athletics optioned Smith to Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday.
Smith was called up by the A's on April 10 and will head back to the minors after he posted a .184/.205/.316 slash line with three home runs, seven RBI and eight runs in 82 plate appearances. Aledmys Diaz (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Crushes third homer of season
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-7 victory over Texas.
Smith's 433-foot shot to left-center tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth inning. This marks just the sixth homer of the shortstop's career, and he still hasn't batted over .200 in a big-league season.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Homers in loss
Rotowire
Smith went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored Wednesday in a loss to the Angels.
The Athletics were routed in the contest, but Smith had a productive performance with his second homer and second multi-hit effort of the campaign. The infielder has started each of the first three games in the series against the Angels, going 4-for-10 with a pair of homers and four RBI.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Blasts three-run homer Monday
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run in an extra-inning win over the Angels on Monday.
The Athletics' offense finally had a breakout night in the new season, and Smith followed teammates Brent Rooker and Jesus Aguilar in leaving the yard early in the contest. Rooker's 385-foot shot to left in the second inning was the most productive of the three early round trippers, as it plated Aledmys Diaz and Carlos Perez to push Oakland's lead to 5-0 at the time. Smith has now hit safely in four consecutive starts, slowly crawling out of an early-season hole at the plate that is responsible for his slash line still sitting at an abysmal .186/.186/.279, even when factoring in recent success.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Smith started the past six games and will step out of the lineup Sunday after he went 5-for-22 during that span. Tyler Wade will take over at shortstop in the series finale versus Texas.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Captures everyday role
Rotowire
Smith will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Cubs.
Smith will be making his fourth consecutive start and looks to have at least temporarily settled in as Oakland's everyday shortstop. Though Smith likely doesn't have a long leash given that he enters Wednesday's contest having slashed .143/.143/.143 through 29 plate appearances on the season, the 3-15 Athletics aren't teeming with appealing alternatives, especially with two of their top hitters in Seth Brown (oblique) and Ramon Laureano (groin) recently moving to the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Gets promotion
Rotowire
The Athletics recalled Smith from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.
Smith joins the 26-man active roster as a replacement for outfielder/first baseman Seth Brown (oblique), who was placed on the 10-day injured list. While he's up with Oakland, the righty-hitting Smith could fill the short side of a platoon at third base with the lefty-hitting Jace Peterson.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Call-up coming Monday
Rotowire
Smith will be recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Smith is going to replace Seth Brown on the roster, with Brown heading to the injured list due to a left oblique injury. Smith came up short on his bid to make the Opening Day roster, but he'll get a chance to be a bench option for the Athletics while Brown recovers.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Keeps raking in Thursday's tie
Rotowire
Smith went 3-for-4 with a pair of run-scoring singles that netted three RBI, a double and a run in a Cactus League tie with the Rangers on Thursday.
Smith's torrid spring continued with his fourth multi-hit effort of Cactus League play, which pushed his average to .385 and his RBI total to 14. The 26-year-old does have 15 strikeouts in 46 plate appearances, but the upside he's flashed when putting the ball in play seemingly gives him job security as a reserve infielder who could progressively work himself into a solid amount of playing time.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Goes yard Sunday
Rotowire
Smith, who went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 10-3 Cactus League loss to the Padres, is now hitting .353 (6-for-17) across seven Cactus League contests.
Smith has hit safely in three of the last four exhibitions, and he also notably got Cactus League play off to a rousing start with a two-hit, three-RBI day against the Diamondbacks on Feb. 25. On the other hand, he has a 0:8 BB:K so far this spring after posting a 27.8 percent strikeout rate in the majors in 2022, and a 30.0 percent rate at Triple-A. The 26-year-old struggled to a .180/.216/.302 slash line across 151 plate appearances at the big-league level last year, but he's put up impressive power/speed numbers at every minor-league stop and can potentially fill in at shortstop, third base, designated hitter and the corner outfield spots.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Still scuffling in Vegas
Rotowire
Smith, who was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on June 13, has produced a .208/.257/.228 slash line over his first 25 games with the Aviators.
Smith has alarmingly struck out at a higher clip (31.2 percent) with Las Vegas than he did with the Athletics (27.8 percent), and his batting average and OBP are only marginally better than the .180 and .216 figures he generated at the big-league level. The 26-year-old did post a .285 average and .931 OPS with Triple-A Buffalo in the Blue Jays organization last season, and he figures to remain at Las Vegas trying to iron out the kinks unless injuries necessitate a promotion.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Sitting Wednesday
Rotowire
Smith is not in the lineup Wednesday against Atlanta.
Smith will sit out a second consecutive game Wednesday as Matt Davidson will draw another start at third base and bat eighth. It's possible that Davidson will get the lion's share of starts at the hot corner for the time being.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Hits bench again Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Atlanta, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Smith will take a seat for the second time in three games while the Athletics give new Triple-A Las Vegas call-up Matt Davidson a look at third base. Though Oakland is in rebuilding mode and is prioritizing the development of younger players, Smith could be at risk of a demotion if his ongoing slump continues much longer. Over his last 10 games, Smith has gone 1-for-30 while striking out 11 times and drawing only two walks.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Walks in return to action
Rotowire
Smith (knee) went 0-for-2 with a walk in a loss to the Astros on Wednesday.
The rookie had missed Tuesday's matchup with a knee bruise, but he was able to start and play a full game at third base Wednesday. Smith is still mostly scuffling against big-league arms, as his season line stands at an unsightly .200/.227/.336 following Wednesday's contest.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Back in lineup
Rotowire
Smith (knee) is starting Wednesday's game against the Astros.
Smith sat out Tuesday's matchup due to a bruised knee, but he'll start at the hot corner and bat eighth Wednesday. He went 1-for-11 with a double and two strikeouts over the his last three games.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Departs with apparent injury
Rotowire
Smith exited Monday's game against the Astros in the bottom of the sixth inning due to an apparent injury, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The Athletics were held without a hit for the first five innings of Monday's matchup, but Smith led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double. However, the 25-year-old slowed down as he headed into second base and left the game with a trainer. The exact nature and severity of his injury aren't yet clear.
... See More... See Less
Athletics' Kevin Smith: Multi-hit effort in Sunday's loss
Rotowire
Smith went 2-for-3 with a double and a run in a loss to the Angels on Sunday.
Smith mustered the only multi-hit effort of the day in yet another meager offensive output for the Athletics. The 25-year-old's .222/.243/.384 slash line leaves plenty to be desired, but he's now notably laced 11 of his 22 hits for extra bases.
