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Elephant Rumblings: Duran joins big league roster

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Los Angeles Dodgers Workout
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

MLB news roundup

Good morning everyone! Rise and shine!

The Athletics are officially don with the month of April. Looking back at how the first month went, some things went just about as expected or better and some things went off the rails from the jump.

Just in case you missed it yesterday, the Athletics made a switch in their pitching corps just before the evening game against the Texas Rangers. The club selected the contract of pitcher Carlos Duran from Triple-A, adding a hulking 6’7” right-hander to the pitching mix at the big league level. To make room for him the team optioned lefty Jacob Lopez back to Triple-A. He should get used to shuttling back and forth between the big league team and the Aviators because he’s going to be doing that quite a bit this year. It’s nothing wrong he did, just the hand he was dealt.

Duran came over from the Dodgers at the beginning of the month in exchange for outfielder Esteury Ruiz, who had fallen out of favor with the Athletics organization. The fact that the club was able to get something at all in exchange for Ruiz is remarkable in its own right, and the fact the A’s got an interesting arm in Duran is even more noteworthy.

The right-handed Duran currently ranks 29th among all A’s prospects. He was a starting pitcher the entire time he was ascending the Dodgers’ farm system but the moment he arrived to the Athletics’ organization they converted him to relief. He has not taken to his new role well as he has a 6.75 ERA through his first 16 innings this year. Most of that damage came in one particularly bad outing and he’s maintained his strikeout rate while pitching multiple innings in each appearance.

Here is an excerpt from his scouting report at MLB.com:

Before Tommy John, evaluators identified Duran’s slider as one of the best in the Minor Leagues. It still remains a strong weapon and his calling card as a mid-80s offering with some serious horizontal sweep. His fastball is electric in the 95-98 mph range, and he has also implemented a two-seamer that plays well. His changeup remains a below-average pitch at this point.

The 23-year-old has never pitched in the big leagues before so the first time he takes the mound for the A’s will be his first time on a major league mound. In what role that will be has yet to be announced by the team. Currently the fifth starter’s spot is unoccupied after the injury to JT Ginn last week. Duran has plenty of experience as a starting pitcher in the minor leagues but would the A’s really turn to Duran and give him a shot at the spot? Unlikely considering the timing of his recall as he’s probably just some short-term reinforcements for a beleaguered bullpen. But perhaps a successful debut makes the team consider it down the line? It’s not like there are options all over the place right now.

Welcome to the big leagues, Carlos! And to all A’s fans, have a great Thursday.

A’s Coverage:

MLB News & Interest:

Best of X:

Are you kidding me!? Play of the year candidate:

#3 prospect Colby Thomas is slashing .291/.366/.482 with four home runs so far in Triple-A:

After last night, they’re in the lead in that category:

Filed Under: A's