OAKLAND -- It has been a busy couple of weeks of transition for Carlos Ramirez, who was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on May 13 and claimed off waivers by the A's on May 20.
The reliever spent less than a week in Nashville before being recalled to Oakland on Saturday.
"It's a new opportunity," he said. "It's something that you get excited about that they believe in my talent enough to pick me up. I'm excited to be here. I'm excited to do my job."
Ramirez said he knew infielder Franklin Barreto and pitcher Frankie Montas before joining the A's, as well as the club's No. 4 prospect shortstop Jorge Mateo in Triple-A Nashville. They have helped him adjust to a new organization.
"They've helped me with the transition from learning how to go about practice, learning how to go about my day, learn how to do things in a lot of ways, the Oakland way," Ramirez said.
The Dominican right-hander was originally signed by the Jays as an outfielder in 2009. He switched to pitching in 2014, and made his Major League debut in 2017, appearing in 12 games with the Jays and compiling a 2.70 ERA.
Ramirez pitched 2 1/3 innings for the Jays this season before being designated for assignment. He said he struggles with consistency, but when he is going right, his fastball is the key.
"When I'm doing things I want to be doing, I'm commanding the fastball, commanding my offspeed pitches and utilizing everything off my fastball," Ramirez said.
Ramirez has yet to appear in a game in an A's uniform, but is not worried about his role in Oakland. He said he will be ready when his number is called.
"I'm just here to pitch," he said, "and when they need me to pitch, I'm going to pitch."
Worth noting
• A's manager Bob Melvin said he is confident that outfielder Khris Davis will return on Thursday, when he is eligible to come off the disabled list. Melvin said the slugger, who went on the DL last week with a groin strain, "looks great." Davis took batting practice before Sunday's game and did running and agility drills on Monday.