After a hot start to his MLB career in 2023, the last two seasons have been marred by adversity for Athletics infielder Zack Gelof.
Heading into 2026, the A’s now boast a crowded infield, especially after trading for veteran second baseman Jeff McNeil. The trade landed the A’s an everyday second baseman, putting Gelof’s role with the team in doubt.
That led Mark Kotsay to test Gelof at another position, starting the 26-year-old at center field against the Cleveland Guardians in Sunday’s spring training game.
“It says number eight next to my name. What does that mean?” Gelof quipped when seeing his name in the starting lineup, via MLB.com’s Martín Gallegos.
Gelof recorded a put out on Sunday. On a sunny day in Arizona, he tracked a ball hit by Guardians’ David Fry to the warning track when he started to have trouble with the sun.
His left fielder, Colby Thomas, was able to help him out.
“Colby was talking to me the whole way through,” Gelof said (h/t Martín Gallegos). “I feel like he had a controller and was literally telling me where to go.”
With one game at center field under his belt, Gelof started in right field Monday against the Los Angeles Angels. He recorded four put outs in four total chances.
Gelof made his first Cactus League appearance on March 9, marking the end of rehabbing a dislocated shoulder he suffered in September. He missed the beginning of 2025 as well due to a wrist injury that required surgery just before Opening Day. He played just 30 games in total last season.
While Gelof was out of commission, the A’s rotated in many position player prospects. The team has depth in both the infield and outfield, so becoming a utility player might be Gelof’s best option with the A’s.
“Versatility in today’s game is always an added bonus,” Kotsay said (h/t Martín Gallegos). “Zack was a good second baseman, and he still will be. But to have the ability to transition to the outfield, it would be huge.”
Aside from his ability to stay healthy, Gelof has struggled at the plate since his prolific 2023 debut. He finished the 2023 MLB season with a .269 batting average and 14 home runs in 69 games.
In 2024, his batting average dipped to .211, and he hit just three more home runs despite playing twice the number of games as his previous season. He struck out 188 times that season, the most in the American League.
But with the return of his health and some mechanical tweaks, Gelof believes he close to his 2023 form.
“I feel like I’ve found my starting position [at the plate],” Gelof said (h/t Martín Gallegos). “My direction feels really good. Right now, I’m just focusing on approach, trusting my process and trying to hunt the right pitch to stay through the middle of the field.”
In five spring training games, Gelof has gone 5-for-16 at the plate with one double and one RBI. It’s unclear if he will make the Opening Day roster, but the 26-year-old utility man is doing his best at the plate and at multiple positions to make his case.