OAKLAND -- The A’s returned from a long, season-opening road trip with a shorthanded group entering their home opener at the Coliseum.

Prior to Monday’s game against the Orioles, Oakland placed left-handers A.J. Puk and Kirby Snead, right-hander Lou Trivino, catcher Austin Allen, infielder Jed Lowrie and outfielder Chad Pinder on the COVID-19 injured list. The placements come after Stephen Piscotty was already placed on the same list on Friday prior to the club’s three-game road series in Toronto.

Puk, Snead and Allen had previously been placed on the restricted list ahead of the team’s series in Toronto over the weekend. 

Per MLB rules, vaccinated players on the COVID-19 IL must receive clearance from Major League Baseball’s Joint COVID-19 Health and Safety Committee to be reinstated. That can happen as soon as the player is no longer deemed infectious. Unvaccinated players cannot return until they submit two negative PCR tests.

To replace Trivino, Lowrie and Pinder on the roster, the A’s called up left-hander Sam Selman along with infielders Christian Lopes and Nick Allen.

Allen, Oakland’s No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is one of the most exciting young infielders in the system. The 23-year-old shortstop has long been considered one of the elite defenders in all of Minor League baseball. Now, the bat also seems to be coming around. After batting .500 with two triples and a home run in seven Spring Training games, Allen carried over the success at the plate into the season with Triple-A Las Vegas, hitting .319 with a homer, two RBIs and six walks over 12 games.

“I couldn’t be happier for the kid,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said of Allen. “He really did get after it in Spring Training. He left an impression that he’s matured as a player. His approach at the plate was evident. He’s really focused on getting more disciplined in the strike zone and hitting more line drives. We all know he can play defense. That’s not a question.”

Allen, Selman and Lopes had still not arrived to the Coliseum at the time of batting practice, though all three were expected to be in uniform and available to play by first pitch.