Moreland hits the injured list; Barrera gets call from Triple-A
The Athletics replaced one left-handed hitter with another Tuesday, but the addition of Luis Barrera with Mitch Moreland going on the injured list will change the look of the lineup when he’s in the game.
Moreland will take a break to calm what the club is calling an “inflamed costochondra junction of his left rib.” Barrera, 25, was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas, where he
was off to a hot start.
Barrera wasn’t immediately put into the starting lineup, but A’s manager Bob Melvin said he’d likely be on the field soon and that he was eager to see what Barrera could do.
“He’s a real aggressive player. He feels like he can hit anything,” Melvin said in a pregame video conference. “He’s fearless on the bases. In the outfield, he can play all three positions. He’s a fantastic hand-eye, ball-to-bat talent. He can hit balls up in the zone, down in the zone, it’s all about making sure he gets a good pitch to hit once he gets here.”
The Athletics opened a three-game series Tuesday night against the Houston Astros with Sean Manaea (3-2) opposing Cristian Javier (3-1).
Barrera got the word Sunday night in Reno where the Las Vegas Aviators were playing a road game. He was pulled after two at-bats and told he was headed to the big leagues.
“I was very surprised and so was my family,” Barrera said in a video conference through an interpreter. “Once I told them they started crying, and I started crying as well.”
While Moreland is more of a station-to-station player, Barrera is a slasher who can and will take the extra base and is likely more of a table-setter than a home run threat. In 11 games with Las Vegas, Barrera was hitting .349 with two home runs and seven RBIs.
“I’ve been impressed with him for a couple of springs,” Melvin said. “I told him before we left that I expect him to be in the big leagues this year, and he’s here. Special day for him, but as far as usage goes, I’m not sure yet.”
Barrera remembered the conversation with Melvin and took it to heart.
“I was proud Bob told me that,” Barrera said. “It made me think all my hard work is paying off.”
The A’s are beginning a stretch of having games on 16 consecutive days — all against American League West opponents. Barrera could figure at any of the three outfield spots.
In particular, with the A’s seeing more right-handed pitching, Barrera could get some at-bats in Ramon Laureano’s spot against righthanded pitching. Laureano is batting .186 with a .269 on-base percentage against right-handers and .347 with a .396 on-base percentage against lefties.
Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2012, at age 16, Barrera began to ascend in the organization in 2016 but was slowed by shoulder surgery, from which he made a complete recovery in 2020.
According to MLB.com, Barrera is the Athletics’ seventh-ranked prospect in the minor leagues. In 449 games in the minors, Barrera is a .282 hitter with 73 doubles, 38 triples, 23 home runs and 190 RBIs in eight seasons.
Moreland, who had played 23 games at designated and five in relief of Matt Olson at first base, was hitting .237 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 31 games. His absence could extend beyond the 10day minimum.
“We’re going to back off as far as swinging in the cage, this is something you definitely don’t want to reinjure,” Melvin said. “I really have no idea as far as his timetable
goes.”
PINDER AT SHORT >> For the second time since his return, Chad Pinder started at shortstop in place of Elvis Andrus. Melvin said there’s no set formulas to when Pinder will play short.
“Certain days Elvis will be in there and certain days he won’t,” Melvin said. “Today is one of those. We’ll look at matchups, profile pitching, so forth. I want to make sure both these guys get playing time. It’s more a day off for Elvis than anything. It might even help him over the course of the season getting some consistent days off.” PROGRESS REPORTS >> Lefthanded starter Jesus Luzardo (fractured hand) has been throwing off flat-ground and could throw a bullpen session within the next three days. Melvin said the A’s would then have a better idea about his return date.
“Had a big smile on his face today, he’s feeling good, I know he’s eager to get back,” Melvin said.
• Right-handed reliever J.B. Wendelken (left oblique) has resumed throwing. Sort of.
“Depends on what you would consider sock throws,” Melvin said. “He started sock throws today, which he was excited about because he actually got to throw something. today was day 1 of that progression.”