The fact that he’s good to go at this point is a testament to Gelof’s work over the offseason to get him ready for Spring Training. The question now is where does he fit?<\/p>\n
After the A’s traded for Jeff McNeil<\/a>, Gelof’s home at second base was more or less given away, as McNeil has been a solid player at the keystone for years. This will give the A’s more certainty at a key spot, too, after Gelof’s offensive struggles the past two seasons. <\/p>\n As Mart\u00edn Gallegos<\/a> wrote this week, the A’s are considering giving Gelof some time in the outfield, which would be a completely new position for him. He earned all of one game in center back in 2022 with Double-A Midland. It’s the only time in his pro or college career that he’s played on the outfield grass. <\/p>\n That said, Tyler Soderstrom hadn’t played out there at all since turning pro, starting as a catcher, then moving to first base, and from first base to left field. Soderstrom turned himself into a Gold Glove finalist in his first taste of the outfield. <\/p>\n Gelof’s defense has been solid at second base in his time in the big leagues, coming in at above league average all three years. The hope here is that he can add some defensive versatility to his skillset in order to get some playing time.<\/p>\n Could this work? Sep 8, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics second base Zack Gelof (20) throws the ball to first base against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n While Gelof was mentioned as a potential quasi platoon option for the A’s, the numbers he’s generated don’t necessarily fit that mix with anyone around the diamond. Across parts of his three seasons in the big leagues, Gelof has fared much better against right-handers all three years, even in his breakout campaign.<\/p>\n Career against LHP: .146 average, .234 OBP, 34 wRC+, 38.5% strikeout rate<\/p>\n Career against RHP: .250 average, .304 OBP, 112 wRC+, 31.7% strikeout rate<\/p>\n In the Gallegos article, Gelof also mentions that he’s been working on flattening out his swing after it got a little elevated the past two seasons, which could help bring those splits a little closer, but even in 2023 he was excelling, he struggled against lefties (37 wRC+, .167 average, .250 OBP). <\/p>\n Gelof’s bat is going to be the key to him finding a spot on the A’s roster, while his defense could help bolster those odds. The main contenders he’d be up against would be Colby Thomas and Carlos Cortes, the expected extra outfielders on the roster. <\/p>\n The only two other bench spots are expected to go to Austin Wynns at backup catcher, and Andy Ib\u00e1\u00f1ez, who can rake against lefties and play a solid third base. <\/p>\n Cortes is the A’s lone projected<\/a> left-handed bench bat, which could offer him a level of confidence for making the club out of camp. That said, he’ll also be playing for the Puerto Rican club in the World Baseball Classic, which could complicate things<\/a> just a bit if he struggles while someone else excels. Even then, it’s not likely Gelof that takes that spot due to the handedness of the players. <\/p>\n That could leave Thomas, who could end up being a nice platoon partner for Lawrence Butler after the lefty swinger struggled against left-handed pitching in 2025. That said, Thomas played all three outfield positions and raked against lefties, making him the more logical fit on the roster to pair with Butler. <\/p>\n![\"Zack](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/01khpjav0zb2p0t356jv.jpg\" "\\"Zack")
<\/p>\n
![\"Max](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/01khpjjjwczsgk44s0nj.jpg\" "\\"Max")
<\/p>\n