A’s manager explains why Esteury Ruiz was optioned to Triple-A

Apr 2, 2024, 9:22 AM | Updated: 9:36 am

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: Esteury Ruiz #1 of the Oakland Athletics dives into third base with a triple against the Cleveland Guardians in the bottom of the third inning on March 31, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

BY JOSEPH JAROSZ

Former Editor

In the first series of the 2024 season for the Oakland A’s, outfielder Esteury Ruiz went 3-7 with one double, one triple one RBI and a stolen base.

On Monday, before the Athletics lost 9-0 to the Boston Red Sox, the team optioned Ruiz to their Triple-A team in Las Vegas.

We have made the following roster moves. pic.twitter.com/MMDFxIgYPQ

— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 1, 2024

A’s manager Mark Kotsay explained the decision, saying the move should help Ruiz play every day.

“My message for Esty is, he’s going to go down, he’s going to lead off, he’s going to play every day. He’s going to go down and dominate that level,” Kotsay said. “Those are my expectations. He’s working really hard, is continuing to work hard and buy-in on the adjustments that we’ve asked him to make. And now it’s going down and showing us that those adjustments are going to lead to the offensive output that we are looking for from him.”

Kotsay went on to say this wasn’t done at the beginning of the season because the team just claimed infielder Tyler Nevin off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.

“In acquiring Nevin, it gives us the chance to have Esty go down and play every day, not sit here and come off the bench, as he’s done a couple of times,” Kotsay added.

Mark Kotsay explains why the decision to send Esteury Ruiz to Triple-A was made today and details his message to last season's AL stolen base leader pic.twitter.com/ESaewGvAYt

— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) April 2, 2024

Last season, Esteury Ruiz set a new American League rookie record for steals (67) and also broke a 46-year-old franchise rookie steal record that was previously set by Mitchell Page in 1977.

That was the first time an A’s player has stolen over 60 bases in a season since Rickey Henderson did it in 1998. If Esteury Ruiz plays a full season this year, he may have a shot at reaching the A’s franchise record of 130 steals this season, which was set by Rickey Henderson in 1982.

Kotsay added that in order for the stolen bases to be a factor though, they have to get him on base.

“No player takes news like this great, but he was good and I think he’s determined to go down and make this a short stint,” Kotsay said.