A’s add Tristan Gray, Janson Junk as rosters expand to 28 players

OAKLAND — The A’s added two recently claimed players to the major-league team on Sunday as rosters expanded from 26 to 28, recalling infielder Tristan Gray and activating right-hander Janson Junk.

“(Gray has) a lot of versatility in the infield,” said A’s manager Mark Kotsay. “We know that he’s athletic. He has some power. That’ll be the plan, to give him some opportunity over the next 25 days. In terms of Junk out of the bullpen, he’s been a starter, so there’s length down there. That’s how we’ll kind of go forward with him.”

Gray, 28, was claimed off waivers from the Marlins on Aug. 27, and Junk, 28, was claimed off waivers from the Astros on Aug. 31.

“With the young core coming in … it seems like we’re on the right trajectory to keep going every single year and make improvements,” Junk said. “It’s been cool to see from afar the success, the path that they’re on.”

Gray, a 13th-round selection by the Pirates in the 2017 MLB Draft, made his A’s debut on Sunday, drawing a walk as a pinch hitter. In his brief major-league career, Gray has two hits in 12 at-bats.

The Rice University product has bounced around several organizations in the last two years. Gray debuted with the Rays in 2023, hitting his first (and only) major-league homer in his second (and final) game with Tampa Bay.

Gray played seven games with the Marlins this season but has spent most of the year in the minors. In 100 games with Miami’s Triple-A affiliate this year, Gray hit .245/.318/.459 with 17 home runs and 58 RBIs.

Junk, a 22nd-round selection in the 2017 MLB Draft out of Seattle University, has appeared in parts of four major league seasons. In 14 appearances, Junk has a 5.18 ERA over 40 innings with 34 strikeouts to nine walks.

The A’s represent Junk’s third organization over the last month and change. Junk was designated for assignment by the Brewers on July 28, claimed by the Astros on Aug. 2, and assigned to their Triple-A team; designated for assignment by the Astros on Aug. 29, then claimed by the A’s on Aug. 31.

“It’s been a crazy month for me,” Junk said.

Junk has allowed six earned runs over eight major-league innings this season, spending most of the season in Triple-A (3.60 ERA, 50 innings). Junk transitioned from starting to relieving with the Brewers earlier this year, but reverted back to starting upon joining the Astros. With Oakland, Junk stands to pitch in more of a long relief role.

Injury updates

• Scott Alexander (left rotator cuff tendonitis) threw a live bullpen on Monday. The team will talk with Alexander, who hasn’t pitched in a major-league game since Aug. 17, on Tuesday to assess how he recovered from the live bullpen session and then determine the next step.
• One of the batters Alexander faced was Tyler Soderstrom (stress reaction in left wrist). Soderstrom will take batting practice on the field on Tuesday. If all goes well, he will join Triple-A Las Vegas and possibly start a rehab assignment.
• Austin Adams (right forearm tendinitis) will throw a bullpen on Tuesday and then another bullpen on Friday. Kotsay said he believes Adams will need a rehab assignment before returning but added, “That’s not set in stone right now.”
• Esteury Ruiz (left wrist strain) is officially done for the season, per Kotsay. Ruiz, who hasn’t played since May, will go to the team’s Arizona complex and begin doing baseball activities after this homestand. Kotsay said the team will talk with Ruiz about playing winter ball, but noted it has yet to be formally discussed. “In terms of making up at-bats, it’s probably a good place for him to go.”