The A’s injuries have opened the door for a lot of players this season, and two of the biggest beneficiaries have been Donovan Walton and Alika Williams. Both have used the extra runway to build cases for bigger roles, and both could be in the mix as utility pieces when Oakland starts shaping a playoff-hopeful roster for 2027.
Walton arrived on a waiver claim in mid-July and kept doing what he had already been doing at the plate. Before the A’s, he hit .319 with an .860 OPS in his time with the Los Angeles Angels this season, and after the Angels DFA’d him, he settled into more regular playing time in Oakland while moving all over the diamond.
That flexibility matters. Walton has appeared in 51 games at second base, 13 at third, and 16 at shortstop.
The bat has held up too. He owns an .819 OPS for the season and has posted an OPS above .800 over his last 30 games.
Alika Williams came to the A’s in a different way, landing in Oakland through a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 16. He initially backed up Darell Hernaiz at shortstop while Jacob Wilson was injured, then filled mostly late-inning defensive and pinch-running work. But once Wilson went back on the Injured list, Williams became the everyday shortstop.
His value goes beyond the glove. Williams is hitting .261 with a .725 OPS this season, and he’s also played third base, shortstop, and second base. That kind of range gives him a real case as a utility option for next year, especially with the A’s looking to round out a roster that can compete in 2027.
He’s also been swinging it better lately, batting .353 over his last seven games with an OPS over 1.000.
In Other News...
A's Infield Suddenly Looks Thin Even With Joshua Kuroda-Grauer Back
The As got a needed lift with Joshua Kuroda-Grauer back on the active roster, but the infield picture still feels more fragile than it did a week ago. Oakland reinstated the rookie from the 60-day injured list and cleared a spot by putting Max Muncy on the 10-day injured list with left knee chondromalacia, a move that underscores how quickly the depth chart has thinned around the middle infield.
Kuroda-Grauer had made a strong early impression before his injury interruption, and his return gives the club at least one familiar glove and bat to lean on again. But the roster shuffle also came with another hit in the background, as J.T. Ginn was moved to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man spot, leaving Oakland with even less margin for error as it tries to piece together the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
A's Enter Angels Series With Three Pressure Points In Focus
The Athletics head into their series with the Angels with a few everyday concerns that go beyond the standings, even if the standings are part of the problem. Both clubs are sitting near the bottom of the AL West, but Oakland is also trying to sort out its own roster health and performance issues at the same time. Brady Basso has been pushed into the starting rotation because of injuries, and the need has been obvious enough that his role matters even more than the results of a single outing.
Shea Langeliers is back from injury, which should help stabilize the lineup, but his bat has not yet matched the expectation that comes with his return. On the brighter side, the bullpen has started to settle in, giving the As at least one area where the recent trend line points in a useful direction. Whether that relief can cover for the rotation and help the offense find a little more consistency is the bigger question as this series unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
As Farm Leaders Just Put Several Familiar Names Back In Focus
The latest look at the Oakland Athletics farm system puts a familiar group of names back in the spotlight, with the statistical leaders spread across Las Vegas, Midland, Lansing and Stockton. It is the sort of inventory that matters this time of year, when player development is the story and every category offers a quick read on who has been producing, whether it is at the plate, on the bases or on the mound.
Among the position players, Ali Camarillo and Devin Taylor stood out in batting average, while Taylor also showed up near the top of the system in the broader on-base and overall production categories. Brayan Buelvas added another layer to that conversation by pacing the organization in slugging, a reminder that the As minor league picture still has multiple ways to measure progress, even before any of those names make their next move. [Read more 🡒]