Pruitt gets '21 AL championship ring after (very) limited time with Astros

HOUSTON -- Now with the A’s, veteran right-hander Austin Pruitt was a member of the Astros in both the 2020 and ‘21 seasons. Many fans might not remember seeing him on the field, though.

Though Houston acquired Pruitt from Tampa Bay in a trade in January 2020, Pruitt did not appear in a game for the Astros until July 17, 2021, after suffering a hairline fracture in his right elbow. He pitched only 2 2/3 innings over three outings before being designated for assignment, mainly due to Trade Deadline moves that put the club in a roster crunch.

Nonetheless, Pruitt was a respected clubhouse presence, and he was officially part of the 2021 Astros squad that went on to win the American League pennant. Thus, with Pruitt back at Minute Maid Park as an active player for the A’s, Astros manager Dusty Baker presented Pruitt with an AL championship ring prior to Saturday's game.

"It means a lot," Pruitt said. "I saw one of their guys a couple days ago, we were crossing paths. He said, 'Hey, we got a ring for you.' I said, 'Really?' I was pretty surprised to hear the news, but it feels great for Dusty to present it to me. It was really cool.

"Any time I see [the Astros], they always show me a lot of love. It feels good to be welcomed back."

Within minutes of picking up the ring, Pruitt said teammates in the visiting Oakland clubhouse were already taking notice.

"A couple of them were like, 'Hey, what have you got there?' They took a peek at it, and said it looked really nice."

A’s manager Mark Kotsay admired the gesture.

“For Austin, that’s awesome," Kotsay said. "I think the Astros honoring him and his limited time with that club -- but, yet, recognizing the value in the two or three innings that he ended up throwing -- I tip my cap to the Astros' organization for acknowledging that. For Austin, it's something he should be proud of, for sure."

Now 33 years old, Pruitt is in the middle of a potential career renaissance with the A’s, having posted a 4.01 ERA in 24 2/3 innings (17 outings) since the All-Star break. On Sept. 9, Pruitt made his only start of 2022 and pitched five perfect innings against the White Sox.

"The perseverance and grit that he's shown is why he's still here and performing," Kotsay said. "He's not afraid of throwing strikes and challenging hitters. Even though you would say that his stuff isn't electric, he locates it and pitches in lanes that he has been effective with."