Elephant Rumblings: Urías excels under the radar

MLB news roundup

Happy Wednesday, Athletics Nation!

Yesterday, we learned that A’s second baseman Zack Gelof has suffered a setback in his recovery and will remain out for an uncertain duration. The 25-year-old has been out since late in Spring Training.

Obviously, this is a disappointment, and I will continue to hope that Gelof recovers as swiftly as possible and finds the swing that turned so many heads in 2023 again. But as it turns out, the A’s might actually be better equipped to win now with backup option Luis Urías in the lineup.

So much focus has been on emerging stars like Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, and Lawrence Butler—and rightfully so. But the fact is that heading into Tuesday’s game, Urías had the highest wRC+ among all A’s hitters in 2025, edging out Soderstrom 147 to 145.

Granted, Luis only has about half as many plate appearances as the A’s Opening Day starters, but credit is nevertheless due for the 27-year-old’s consistent, professional approach at the plate this year after Gelof got hurt and Max Muncy fell through as the chosen backup after posting an abysmal 36 wRC+ through 71 plate appearances.

Gelof was a rookie sensation in 2023, breaking out offensively through the summer and ending the season with a 130 wRC+ through 300 plate appearances, but his performance dropped precipitously in 2024, and even 2023 Gelof was not as good a hitter as Urias is right now.

Again, we must acknowledge the caveat that we are still looking at a pretty small sample with Urías. He’s had over 1,800 MLB plate appearances and has been essentially a league average hitter overall, so we might expect some regression in that direction while hoping that durable improvements are being realized. Luis has been about average defensively so far at second this season, but per defensive metrics his body of work in the field has been pretty spotty throughout his career.

My sense is that Gelof has a higher offensive ceiling than Urías—and is more capable on defense—but Zack will have plenty to prove once he returns, while Luis deserves thanks and recognition for the excellent job he has done this spring with the A’s.

A’s Coverage:

• A’s blow late lead, fall to Mariners 5-3
• Mid-Week Notes After A Roller Coaster Ride Of A Big Win
• Kurtz still looking for first homer, but showing that he ‘belongs here’
• A’s Miguel Andujar Getting Time at The Hot Corner

MLB News & Interest:

• MLB Power Rankings: Tigers on a tear; most impactful in-season moves for each team so far ($)
• Is Aaron Judge the greatest right-handed hitter of modern times? Yankees star has a case ($)
• Jackson Merrill returns from IL to boost red-hot Padres vs. Yankees
• These 10 Draft prospects are on the rise
• Dodgers To Place Teoscar Hernandez On Injured List
• Mariners Claim Leody Taveras
• Baseball’s date of birth in Japan may have come in 1860s
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

The Aviators are soaring…

…thanks in large part to big bats like Thomas’s.

Sterner approaching a record scoreless streak.

Waldichuk, Ginn sessioning.