Bleday makes Oakland history as A's get extra-innings win

OAKLAND -- With so much focus on the dynamic duo formed by Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker atop the A’s lineup lately, it can be easy to overlook the steady presence of what has been a breakout campaign for JJ Bleday.

On Tuesday night, Bleday stood alone by carving out his own spot in the A’s record books.

Facing Spencer Arrighetti in the third inning of a 4-3 victory over the Astros in 12 innings at Minute Maid Park, Bleday roped a first-pitch fastball 104.4 mph off the bat into left-center. It was his 39th double of the season, surpassing Dave Henderson (38 in 1988) for most doubles in a single season among primary A's center fielders (min. 50% of games played) since the team moved to Oakland in 1968.

The A’s will be closing the chapter on their time at the Oakland Coliseum -- the stadium they’ve called home since 1968 -- and playing their home games at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento for the 2025-27 seasons before a planned relocation to a new ballpark in Las Vegas.

That means, in a storied Oakland era that has seen some greats patrolling center field such as Henderson, Dwayne Murphy, Bill North and Coco Crisp, Bleday will forever top that list and stand alone with the record.

“I didn’t know I got the record,” Bleday said. “That’s pretty sick. I’ll take that. That’s awesome. … It’s a pretty cool thing to have. It’s one of those things where it kind of just happens. You don’t really try to do it.”

Most doubles in a season among primary center fielders (min. 50% of games played) in A’s franchise history:

1. Al Simmons (53) in 1926
2. Al Simmons (43) in 1925
3. Mule Haas (41) in 1929
4. JJ Bleday (39) in 2024

Though Bleday entered the night just 4-for-32 (.125) over his previous nine games, he carried a fair amount of success against Arrighetti, the reigning American League Rookie of the Month. Bleday had reached base safely in six of his nine plate appearances vs. Arrighetti this season, and he added a pair of hits on Tuesday, also singling off the right-hander in the first.

“I just think I have a good approach against him,” Bleday said. “I feel comfortable against him. It’s not like he has anything wipeout. He does have some weapons to beat you with. But if you just trust your approach, and don’t give and don’t chase, you have a good opportunity to find a way to get on base.”

When you account for Bleday’s strides both offensively and defensively, he might just be the most improved player on the A’s roster from 2023 to 2024.

Last season, he shifted around all three outfield spots and finished the year hitting .195 with a .665 OPS in 82 games. One year later, Bleday has played 140 games in center field, tied with the Padres' Jackson Merrill for the most in the Majors.

“He’s really solidified himself,” A's manager Mark Kotsay said. “I think he’s one of the better center fielders amongst the 30 [MLB] teams right now. He’s earned every bit of that with the work that he’s put in. We joke sometimes because this offseason we had our strength coach go out and really push him to get stronger and learn how to lift heavy. It’s paid dividends. He’s only going to continue to grow and get better.”

While the overall defensive metrics might not reflect highly on Bleday, the improvement in that area of the 26-year-old’s game has been evident to his teammates.

“I think the biggest thing with JJ is his comfortability,” said A’s starting pitcher JP Sears, who took a no-decision after tossing six scoreless innings. “You can just tell he’s getting great reads and feels so comfortable out there in the outfield. He’s even given me a lot of input from watching me pitch out there.”

Tuesday marked the start of an opportunity for this young A’s squad to play spoiler to their division rivals, who remain in first place in the AL West. The environment was certainly playoff-like, with the A’s taking the lead in the top of the 12th with two runs as three consecutive batters bunted before left-hander Hogan Harris finished it off in the bottom half.

“We’re not going to make the playoffs this year, but we can be spoilers,” Sears said. “Any time you can be in an atmosphere that’s like that, it’s fun. It definitely fuels you a little bit more.”