A’s call up Daulton Jefferies, option Seth Brown to Triple-A

Jefferies will start Sunday against Angels

The Oakland A’s starting rotation has been the primary strength of their contending roster in 2021, and on Sunday a new member will join them.

The A’s announced this morning that they’ve called up top prospect Daulton Jefferies. The right-hander is scheduled to start this afternoon’s game against the Los Angeles Angels.

This callup is necessary because fellow rookie starter James Kaprielian went on the 10-day injured list Saturday, due to shoulder impingement retroactive to Wednesday. Kaprielian’s injury isn’t considered serious at this point, but it’s enough to sit him down for a minute.

In Kap’s place, Jefferies gets a turn, two days shy of his 26th birthday. Jefferies made his MLB debut last summer but got knocked around on a day when he clearly didn’t have his usual stuff, especially his highly touted changeup. He followed with an excellent Cactus League performance in spring training this year but narrowly missed out on making the Opening Day roster, and he ended up beginning the minor league regular season on the injured list.

He returned to action in Las Vegas in late-May and has made a dozen starts for the Triple-A Aviators.

• Jefferies, 2021 AAA: 5.19 ERA, 59 ip, 54 Ks, 9 BB, 12 HR, 67 hits, 5.38 FIP

Before the season began, he ranked No. 5 on our Community Prospect List.

Meanwhile, to make room on the active 26-man roster, outfielder Seth Brown was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Brown has been one of the most efficient power hitters on the team, homering once every 18 plate appearances, and his 143 wRC+ in 47 July plate appearances ranked third on the club this month. But he’s also struck out quite a bit all season (27%), contributing to an untenably low batting average (.199), all of which has helped prevent him from seizing an everyday job.

With three new hitters joining the roster this past week via trades (OF Starling Marte, UT Josh Harrison, C Yan Gomes), somebody had to clear out space, and Brown is the odd man out for now, until the next time a need arises.

Here’s the updated roster, with the injury report below.

Injury report:

• RHP Trevor Rosenthal, OUT FOR YEAR, entire body (thoracic outlet, hip labrum)
• RHP Mike Fiers, 60-day IL, elbow (no structural damage; shut down for July)
• UT Chad Pinder, 10-day IL, hamstring (likely out thru mid-Aug at least)
• RHP James Kaprielian, 10-day IL, shoulder (hopefully not too serious)