Finding his rhythm, Gelof has monster day vs. Tigers

DETROIT -- Zack Gelof’s stellar 2023 rookie campaign was a gift and a curse.

The hot start to his Major League career garnered the A’s second baseman plenty of preseason buzz as a potential breakout star. Because of that sky-high expectation level, Gelof’s slow start this season has been magnified.

The reality is, Gelof is entering his first full season as a big leaguer. The 24-year-old will battle his share of ups and downs just like any other young player. And after a quiet first week at the plate, he seems to be finding his rhythm.

Gelof’s fingerprints were all over Sunday’s 7-1 victory over the Tigers at Comerica Park, which secured the A’s their first series victory of 2024. Putting himself on cycle watch within the first two innings with a triple and home run in his first two at-bats, Gelof finished a double short of the feat and settled for a 4-for-5 effort that included a career-high four RBIs. He also shined defensively, with a leaping catch on a sharp liner hit by Gio Urshela to end the fourth.

The numbers will make it appear as if Sunday was Gelof’s breakthrough. But really, it was his three walks drawn on Saturday that helped him rediscover his offensive prowess. Prior to that, Gelof had only drawn two walks and was 5-for-31 (.161) through his first nine games of the season.

“His plate discipline was going to get him going,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “It was a great result today with all of his at-bats. He’s working in the right direction right now. Big day for him.”

Gelof came to the plate to lead off the ninth with a chance at completing the 18th cycle in A’s history and first since Mark Ellis in 2007. He ripped a 1-2 curveball from Alex Lange into center field, but a quick cutoff by Matt Vierling held him to a single.

“I thought I had a chance,” Gelof said. “Usually, [the Tigers] play me right-center. I figured it could have been a hustle double. But I have a feeling [Vierling] had an idea that I needed a double. That was funny.”

Gelof’s teammates and coaches immediately jumped to the top step of the visiting dugout upon hearing the crack of the bat. For a moment, they thought they were about to witness history.

“I thought it might have been a little more to left-center than it was,” Kotsay said. “The dugout was all excited about it when it left the bat. But to finish a day off like that by staying disciplined with a line drive to the middle of the field, it’s a great sign.”

Gelof’s increased patience at the plate was evident in his five at-bats. On his homer in the second, he took two fastballs from Tigers starter Jack Flaherty for strikes in search of what he wanted. It came on the next pitch, as Flaherty delivered an elevated fastball that Gelof clobbered at an exit velocity of 108.3 mph for a Statcast-projected 402-foot, three-run blast that traveled well up into the left-field seats. The home run was the first Flaherty has given up on an 0-2 pitch since one to Marcus Semien on June 25, 2019.

“For me, it’s just swinging at the right pitches,” Gelof said. “Not making the situation bigger than it is big for me. I’m just going out there looking to control what I can control. The results will take care of themselves.”

Oakland’s second straight win was set up by a solid performance by Joe Boyle, who -- despite throwing more balls (44) than strikes (43) -- managed to keep Detroit off the board over five scoreless innings on just two hits and three walks with six strikeouts.

“He made the pitches when he had to all day,” Kotsay said. “That shows his competitiveness. But he’s also got to do a better job getting ahead of hitters. Getting into the strike zone early in counts. But he grinded through five and gave us a chance to win.”

Boyle’s scoreless effort followed up Saturday’s dominant performance of seven scoreless frames by Paul Blackburn. The pitching was an all-around factor in getting the A’s their first series victory, holding Detroit to one run over the final two games.

“It started with Paul [Blackburn] yesterday,” Gelof said. “That was huge. Then our bullpen was always coming through. Giving up just one run in two games to this Detroit Tigers team is really cool. Now, we’ve just got to keep it going.”