Gelof hits the ground running with first HR: 'We're glad he's here'

OAKLAND -- Whenever an A’s player hits a home run this season, the protocol upon returning to the dugout is to receive the celebratory home run hammer and make his way through a line of high-fives. So when Zack Gelof made his way back from his trip around the bases on Saturday night, the confusion on his face was understandable.

Attempts by Gelof to high-five his teammates were met with nothing but air and straight faces as he walked all the way back to the bat rack. A few seconds after stowing away his helmet, the entire dugout erupted as one and mobbed the rookie second baseman.

“I really didn’t know what was going on at the time,” Gelof said. “I figured it out pretty quickly and was just trying to have fun with it. Have some fun with the guys.”

It was the classic silent treatment, which Gelof received after turning on a 98 mph fastball from Ryne Stanek and sending it over the Coliseum out-of-town scoreboard in right field for his first career home run in a 4-1 victory over the Astros.

The win snapped Oakland’s nine-game losing streak against Houston dating back to last season, and it was one that Gelof had his hands all over. Prior to the solo shot in the seventh, he sparked a two-run sixth for the A’s by roping a 106.3 mph single into left field with one out to break up Cristian Javier’s no-hit bid.

“Zack got us going there in the sixth with a great at-bat,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “He brings energy and a level of confidence that you like to see from a young player. Hopefully, this just continues for him, and he can solidify this opportunity and capture what’s in front of him.”

Rated Oakland’s No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Gelof is viewed as a key building block in what the A’s believe is a bright future. Called up to the Majors along with No. 1 prospect Tyler Soderstrom on July 14, Gelof has quickly endeared himself to his teammates and coaches for the enthusiasm and confidence he exudes on a daily basis.

“He’s been swinging the bat really well and playing good defense,” said A’s starter Paul Blackburn, who took a no-decision after limiting Houston to one run on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. “It’s always exciting when you come up as a rookie and are kind of on cloud nine. … When you have players like that who go out there and play hard, it definitely kind of feeds into the guys that have gone through the grind this year.”

Much like he did throughout the Minor Leagues, Gelof has quickly made an impact in the Majors. With two hits and a walk on Saturday, he is now hitting .276 (8-for-29) with a .916 OPS over his first eight games.

“Zack is a kid that’s really motivated,” Kotsay said. “We saw that in Spring Training. He wanted to make the team out of Spring Training. I’m sure he was disappointed, but he went to Triple-A and what he’s done in Triple-A got him to the big leagues. We’re glad he’s here.”

For a rebuilding A’s club, the arrival of young prospects such as Gelof presents an opportunity to inject some life into a team that endured a miserable first half and remains on pace to lose well over 100 games this season. That has been evident during this homestand, which saw the A’s previously take two of three from the Red Sox and in position on Sunday to potentially split a four-game series against the defending World Series champion Astros.

“It’s been awesome and nothing but support from the veteran guys and all my teammates,” Gelof said of his first week in the big leagues. “I’m just trying to have fun, bring some energy to this team and try to win as many games as we can. … Anything I can do to bring something to this team. If positive energy is that, I’m going to do that.”