Taylor gets 1st MLB start
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Beau Taylor made his first major-league start Monday, and he did so in front of 30-plus family members and friends, because he’s from Rockledge, Fla., less than two hours away.
Taylor was called up so quickly between games of a doubleheader Saturday that he had to leave Triple-A Las Vegas without any belongings other than what he took to the park with him that day.
“They told me to go straight to the airport, hurry up and get there, and I said, ‘Wait, I don’t have any clothes,’ and they said, ‘There’s no time for that!’ ” Taylor said. “I said, ‘That’s fine.’ Honestly, I would have come in anything to be on that plane.”
Fortunately for Taylor, he’s about the same size as catcher Nick Hundley, who was placed on the IL with back spasms Saturday. Most of what Taylor wore the past two days was borrowed clothes.
“I had no luggage — none,” Taylor said. “Thank God for Hundley. I have his shoes, belt, socks, shirt, jeans. He’s a little bigger and he likes stuff a little loose, I’m kind of the opposite. I had to roll the sleeves up a little bit.”
Taylor went 0-for-2. Semien honored: The best week of Marcus Semien’s career didn’t go unnoticed as the A’s shortstop was named American League Player of the Week for the first time Monday.
Semien, 28, had a hit in all seven games played in the week that ended Sunday, batting .419 (13-for-31) with two doubles, two home runs, nine RBIs, seven runs scored, a .471 onbase percentage and a .677 slugging percentage.
“That’s pretty cool stuff, especially in a week we had quite a few challenges, some tough travel, some hot weather, a day/night doubleheader, and he’s out there for every inning of every game,” manager Bob Melvin said of Semien, who has played in 149 consecutive games. “If you’re around him, that doesn’t surprise you — I think he looks forward to that challenge. Really, really well deserved.” Briefly: Starter Marco Estrada (back) is throwing at a distance of 90 feet. … Catcher Chris Herrmann (knee) will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday. … The A’s have agreed to terms with 31 players from last week’s draft, including thirdrounder Marcus Smith, a high school center fielder from Kansas City, and fourth-rounder Kyle McCann, a catcher from Georgia Tech. … Players with local ties to sign include Harvard first baseman Patrick McColl (from Los Altos and the son of former Stanford and 49ers linebacker Milt McColl), Cal State Fullerton shortstop Sahid Valenzuela (Watsonville), Cal State Monterey Bay right-hander Austin Wahl (Salinas), and UConn first baseman Mike Woodworth (Alameda).