Shea Langeliers -- General News

The Athletics recalled Luis Morales to pitch the final two innings of Saturday's game, but his performance was poor. He allowed 4 hits, 5 earned runs, and 4 walks while throwing 64 pitches. Manager Mark Kotsay acknowledged the rough outing but expressed optimism about Morales' potential, stating "things can be fixed" and noting there are mechanical improvements to be made. Kotsay explained the assignment was to keep the game close while preserving the bullpen for Sunday's game. Morales' 2025 season has been marked by control issues, as he has walked 12 batters in just 9 1/3 innings while striking out 7.

To replace Morales on the roster, the A's recalled right-hander Tyler Ferguson, who was optioned to the minors before the season began and will be making his 2026 debut. Ferguson has a 4.20 ERA across 109 1/3 innings in two seasons with Oakland, with 116 strikeouts. After struggling early in Triple-A this year, Ferguson has improved significantly since April, posting a 2.70 ERA over 8 appearances and 10 innings in that span. Kotsay noted that Ferguson's velocity has returned to 95-97 mph and emphasized his versatility, stating "He's got some swing and miss. Obviously we're very familiar with him, and he comes on a couple day's rest. He can be used in multiple innings as well."

The article also notes that catcher Shea Langeliers will miss a couple of games, though specific details about the reason are not provided in the available text.

The Athletics recalled Luis Morales on Saturday to finish a game against Houston, but the outing was problematic. Morales pitched the final two innings and allowed four hits, five earned runs, and four walks while striking out two batters. He required 64 pitches (37 strikes) to complete the inning, reflecting ongoing control issues. This season, Morales has walked 12 batters in just 9 1/3 innings while striking out seven.

Manager Mark Kotsay acknowledged the struggles but expressed confidence in improvement, stating "I definitely think things can be fixed" and noting that Morales has "a lot mechanically that we can improve and focus on." Kotsay explained the recall was to finish the game while managing the bullpen for the following day.

Morales will return to Triple-A Las Vegas to work on his mechanics. He has been replaced on the roster by right-hander Tyler Ferguson, who was optioned to the minors before the season began. Ferguson will make his 2026 debut after struggling early in Triple-A but showing significant improvement in April, posting a 2.70 ERA across 8 appearances and 10 innings. In his two previous seasons with Oakland, Ferguson compiled a 4.20 ERA across 109 1/3 innings with 116 strikeouts.

Shea Langeliers reached the 100-home-run milestone Thursday night, hitting a 448-foot solo shot off Cardinals right-hander George Soriano in the eighth inning of Oakland's 6-4 loss. The 28-year-old catcher achieved this milestone in just 472 games, the fourth fastest in Athletics franchise history behind Mark McGwire (393), Matt Olson (399), and Jose Canseco (450). Langeliers also contributed a two-run double in the second inning, extending his league-leading multihit games to 19 this season.

Langeliers continues an impressive 2024 season that positions him among baseball's elite hitters. He ranks second in MLB in batting average (.340) and hits (52), third in OPS (1.037), and fourth in slugging percentage (.641). His 12 home runs this season lead all catchers and rank tied for eighth in the majors. Manager Mark Kotsay praised his player's continued development, noting his status as an impact performer on both sides of the ball. Pitcher Jeffrey Springs emphasized Langeliers' value to the pitching staff, describing him as "the heartbeat" whose game management and hitting prowess are "unbelievable."