Good morning everyone! Rise and shine!

The A’s designated right-handed rookie Noah Murdock for assignment a couple of days ago and as a Rule 5 Draft pick the Athletics needed to offer him back to the team they selected him from, the Kansas City Royals. The team selected him fourth overall in that draft and the A’s have in the past rostered a player all season long in order to get his contract rights. It’s an easy and cheap way to add talent if you can hit on a player, with the most famous and successful example being former outfielder Mark Canha.

That wasn’t to be the case this time around. The right-handed pitcher was overmatched consistently and got knocked around hard a few times. He’s blown a few leads this year and cost the team wins as they try to make an under-the-radar push for a postseason spot. He just wasn’t ready for the major leagues yet.

After getting shelled for 25 runs in just 17 innings the team couldn’t afford to save a roster spot for Murdock all season but there was a small hope that he would remain in the organization. Kansas City could have been keeping an eye on Murdock and not liked what they saw and just let the A’s keep the righty reliever in their farm system. Hoarding pitching is always a good idea so the A’s would have loved to keep him around.

That won’t be the case as the Royals have reportedly accepted Murdock back into their organization. He’ll likely head back to Triple-A and into an environment with a lot less pressure where he can hopefully fix whatever was going wrong for him in his first taste of the majors. There’s still lots of potential in the 6’8” right-hander but he won’t be reaching that with the Athletics.

Have a great day everyone!

A’s Coverage:

MLB News & Interest:

Best of X:

Jump making the jump to Double-A:

A’s No. 13 prospect Gage Jump is being promoted to Double-A Midland.

Jump is off to a dominant start to his first pro season. The 22-year-old lefty went 4-1 and posted a 2.32 ERA with 45 strikeouts and five walks across 31 innings in six games (five starts) with High-A Lansing.

— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) May 13, 2025

ICYMI:

A’S RECENT MOVES: RHP Noah Murdock returned to KC, OF Jonny Butler/3B Tommy White/1B Darlyn Montero to LAN IL, RHP Elvis Alvarado to A’s, LAN OF Ryan Lasko to ACL A’s on rehab, RHP Tyler Baum to LV Development List, ACL A’s catcher Angel Rivera released…https://t.co/joKXkyU300

— Bill Moriarity – A’s Farm (@AthleticsFarm) May 13, 2025

Luis Morales update: