The Athletics optioned outfielder Esteury Ruiz, right-handers J.T. Ginn, Elvis Alvarado and Grant Holman and third baseman Darell Hernaiz to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday. Ruiz, 26, led all of baseball with 67 stolen bases in his first year with the Athletics after being acquired in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, but he struggled in 2024 and was optioned to the minors. Ruiz finished last year with a .200/.270/.382 slash line, a .652 OPS, two home runs, eight RBI and only five steals in just 29 games played in Oakland. He still has plenty of speed, but he's fallen way down the team's outfield depth chart and will have to work his way back to the big leagues in 2025. Ginn, 25, lost out on a starting rotation spot in camp by posting an ugly 7.62 ERA and 1.85 WHIP with 16 strikeouts and eight walks in five Cactus League appearances. He'll provide rotation depth in Vegas to open the year.
Oakland Athletics right-handed pitching prospect J.T. Ginn will be called up from Triple-A Las Vegas to make his first major-league start on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark. Ginn made his big-league debut in a relief appearance on Aug. 21 against the Tampa Bay Rays and has given up an earned run on a hit while walking three and striking out four in two innings over his two appearances out of the bullpen in 2024. The 25-year-old was sporting a bloated 5.72 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and a 69:30 K:BB in 72 1/3 innings over 15 outings (14 starts) at Vegas before his first MLB call-up last week. Ginn could have a shot to make more starts in the final month of the regular season if he pitches well on Thursday, but fantasy managers should be looking to avoid him as a deep-league streamer in his first start in a hitter-friendly environment.