Zack Gelof has put himself in the middle of the A’s infield picture again, and this time the path looks different than the one that first made him look like a future building block.
The Athletics are sorting through a roster full of moving pieces as the 2026 season winds down, and that leaves a real opening for players to talk their way into jobs for 2027. Jeff McNeil already looks positioned to be back in Green and Gold next season after doing a strong job for the club and stepping up after Nick Kurtz’s injury. Meanwhile, Henry Bolte, Donovan Walton and Alika Williams have all earned more run with everyday playing time, even if a full-time infield role may be tougher to secure for Walton and Williams.
Gelof, though, has a case that goes beyond just being available. He arrived in 2023 and immediately looked like a fixture, taking over as the everyday two-hitter and finishing that rookie season with an .840 OPS. For a while, that looked like the start of something big.
Then came the slide. In 2024, Gelof’s numbers dipped sharply, as he hit .211 and led the American League with 188 strikeouts.
After that, a rough 2025 season was cut short by injury. With those back-to-back down years, the A’s could have handed him the second-base job again for 2026, but instead they traded for McNeil to stabilize the position.
That move pushed Gelof into a utility role, but the injuries that hit the roster ended up creating another chance. He has taken advantage of it and played his way back toward the version of himself the A’s saw as a rookie.
Now the fit for 2027 looks pretty clear. Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson appear set at first base and shortstop if both are healthy for Opening Day, which leaves second and third base as the spots to watch in spring camp.
Max Muncy can get into that mix, and so can Alika Williams and Donovan Walton. If McNeil is back, he would almost certainly be the second baseman.
That’s why third base stands out as Gelof’s best shot. He had never played the position in the majors before this season, but his athleticism has allowed him to handle it. After the way he has bounced back, that gives him a strong claim to a starting role in the A’s infield.
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