Zack

Gelof

Gelof makes his first career start in right field with Lawrence Butler getting the night off from facing Rangers lefty MacKenzie Gore. The 26-year-old’s contact issues have kept him from reaching his lofty power-speed ceiling, but he’s definitely added some defensive versatility to his toolkit, which might help him stick around in a bench role.

The dynamic 26-year-old infielder was off to a hot start at Triple-A Las Vegas, slashing .366/.519/.732 with four homers, 10 RBI, three stolen bases and an impressive 7/13 K/BB ratio over 54 plate appearances in his first 11 games. Gelof is not in the A’s starting lineup for Friday night’s showdown against Clay Holmes and the Mets in New York.

It’ll be veteran Jeff McNeil opening the season as the Athletics’ starting second baseman with Andy Ibáñez occupying a versatile bench role. Gelof endured an injury-shortened campaign last year and continues to be plagued by contact issues. There’s enough power/speed combo upside to keep him relevant in deeper fantasy leagues but he needs to scale back the strikeouts to be impactful again.

Gelof is coming back from a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2025 season 10 days early. He has a lot to prove this year after failing to hit in 2024 and then missing more than half of last year due to injury. The A’s have replaced him with Jeff McNeil at second base, but they have third base open for him if he shows he’s worthy.

Butler is in the final stages of rehab after an offseason surgery to repair a partial tendon tear and debridement of chronic scar tissue. He’ll go cheaper in drafts this year and still maintains plenty of power/speed upside entering his age-26 season, but we’d sure like to see him in spring training games before giving him a full endorsement as a post-hype sleeper. Zack Gelof will also miss the start of Cactus League action as he builds up his swing progression.

Rodriguez is a 17-year-old that the A’s signed a year ago. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Mets are giving the A’s $5.75 million of the $15.75 million that McNeil is owed next year and will also cover his $2 million buyout on his $15.75 million option for 2027, assuming that it’s not exercised. McNeil, who was cast aside in favor of Marcus Semien in New York, figures to take over at second for the A’s, who previously tried to sign Ha-Seong Kim for that spot. Zack Gelof will get to battle Max Muncy and others for the third base job, assuming that the A’s also don’t fill that spot with a veteran.

Kim would have been guaranteed just $48 million, though bonuses probably would have pushed his salaries higher. It’s interesting that the A’s were willing to make such a commitment to a middle infielder, given that Jacob Wilson is locked in and top prospect Leo De Vries, the primary return in the Mason Miller trade, might be ready in 2027. Still, the A’s probably ought to commit at least a one-year deal to a starter at second or third. Right now, they have Zack Gelof, Max Muncy, Max Schuemann, Darell Hernaiz, Brett Harris and Michael Stefanic as possibilities at those two spots.

Gelof will miss the final week of the regular season after suffering a dislocated left shoulder during Friday’s game in Pittsburgh. The 25-year-old’s contact issues persist, but he remains a decent power/speed source in extremely deep mixed leagues, when healthy.

Gelof sustained the injury while diving for a ground ball in shallow right field. He’ll officially be placed on the injured list on Saturday. The 25-year-old finishes a tumultuous season slashing an abysmal .174/.230/.272 with two homers, seven RBI, one stolen base and a 46/7 K/BB ratio over 101 plate appearances.

Gelof showed some initial signs of life after being recalled late last month, but his playing time has waned again as he finds himself 3-for-22 with no extra-base hits in his last 10 appearances. At .176/.224/.275 with 45 strikeouts in 99 plate appearances, he just hasn’t made much of a case for being in the Athletics’ plans to begin 2026.