Do the A's have a new 'Man of Steal' aboard?

NEW YORK -- The A’s haven’t had a player lead the Majors in stolen bases since legendary speedster Rickey Henderson swiped 66 bags in 1998. Based on how Esteury Ruiz is going so far in 2023, the “Man of Steal” might soon have some company.

In Oakland’s 7-2 loss to the Yankees on Monday night at Yankee Stadium, Ruiz led off the seventh inning with a single and wasted no time swiping second for what was his Major League-leading 17th stolen base of the year. The center fielder is now on pace for 77 steals, which would match the highest total by an American League player since Henderson did it in 1989.

Does Ruiz have a shot at reaching Henderson?

“I think he has a chance,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “His ability to hit the baseball and get on base, if he continues to do that at the rate he is, I fully expect him to be able to obtain that number.”

It certainly would not come as a shock to see Ruiz garner a stolen-base crown with his 80-grade speed. Just last season, his 85 stolen bases over 114 games led all Minor League players.

No doubt Ruiz is benefitting from MLB’s new rule changes for 2023, which encourage more stolen-base attempts. That is only part of the equation, though. To amass such prolific numbers requires a strong ability to get on base, which Ruiz is also doing.

A two-hit effort on Monday pushed Ruiz’s on-base percentage to .340 for the season and extended his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games, which stands as the longest hit streak by an A’s player since Tony Kemp’s 11-game hitting streak in 2022. Over that stretch, Ruiz is batting .318 (14-for-44) with four doubles, one triple and six RBIs.

Quickly establishing himself as the everyday leadoff hitter in the A’s lineup, Ruiz is maintaining his candidacy for what could be a loaded group of contenders for AL Rookie of the Year. A continuation of the stolen-bases total could help his case, as he remains on pace to easily surpass the AL rookie single-season stolen-base record of 66, set by Kenny Lofton in 1992.

"It’s a high number,” Kotsay said of the stolen-base records. “It jumps out at you when you say it. But we’re going to continue to be aggressive with him and utilize his speed.”

Ruiz’s brilliance on the basepaths was not enough on a night that saw JP Sears allow five runs and surrender a career-high three homers over 5 1/3 innings.

Making his first start at Yankee Stadium since he was traded from the Yankees to Oakland last August, Sears initially appeared on track for a revenge game of sorts. He retired 12 of his first 13 batters faced and did so economically, throwing just 38 pitches through the fourth. After Oswaldo Cabrera poked a two-run homer to left in the fifth on somewhat of a “cheapie” -- it left the yard despite an xBA (expected batting average) of .050, per Statcast -- it was the sixth where things began to unravel.

Facing the top of New York’s lineup for a third time through the order, Sears left a fastball over the middle that Gleyber Torres sent to left for a one-out solo shot. Two batters later, DJ LeMahieu sent an 0-1 sweeper to left for a two-run blast, spelling the end of Sears’ outing at just 73 pitches.

"The first [four innings] were great,” Kotsay said. “Second time through the order, I think the slider became a little less effective. He’s been able to throw the changeup more previously, and tonight he kind of went away from it. … The ball was carrying tonight a little bit, and he got beat by the home run, really.”

Sears’ three changeups were the fewest he’s thrown in a start over his Major League career. Relying mostly on his fastball and sweeper, it was that lack of mixing up pitches that he said was partially the reason for his late downfall on a night in which he enjoyed an uptick in velocity with a fastball that maxed out at 94.7 mph.

“I was a little upset with myself that I didn’t get [the changeup] going there later in the game,” Sears said. “I definitely have to do that more. They put some great swings on some pitches. They’re all great hitters over there. But it would definitely help my cause out more if I could mix it up a little better.”