Elephant Rumblings: Kevin Smith’s slam caps off big comeback

Smith has quietly put together a good spring.

While wins and losses during the spring are way down the priority list, you have to take notice when someone pulls off a big comeback like the Oakland Athletics did Friday. The A’s overcame an 11-5 deficit in the ninth, scoring seven times to beat the Texas Rangers 12-11 with the big blow coming on a walk-off grand slam by Kevin Smith.

Smith came over from Toronto in the Matt Chapman trade and largely flopped at the major league level producing a 48 wRC+ in just 151 plate appearances. He wasn’t much better at Triple A either where his strikeout rate ballooned to over 30% while producing a 90 wRC+.

Due to his struggles last season, there wasn’t much expectation for Smith coming into the spring. However, he has played well going 8-for-20 at the plate with a double and a pair of homers. There is still a long way to go in the Cactus League schedule, but Smith is again looking like he could be a useful player for the A’s and could land a spot on the Opening Day roster.

A’s Coverage

• A’s option Adrian Martinez to Triple A
• (Gallegos) Often overlooked, Garcia vying for role in A’s bullpen
• (Kawahara) How A’s Paul Blackburn prepared himself for MLB’s pitch timer in a hurry
• (Kawahara) A’s Adam Oller, with ‘back against the wall,’ sharp in Cactus League start
• Jesus Alou, youngest of famed brother trio, dies at 80
• Oakland A’s Community Prospect List No. 22

MLB news

• Rockies showing interest in Jurickson Profar
• Juan Soto expected to be full-go in Classic play
• Keibert Ruiz, Nationals agree on eight-year extension
• Harrison Bader dealing with left oblique strain, Opening Day in doubt

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