KA'AI TOM NEWS

Resumes hitting activities Tom (wrist) has resumed all hitting activities, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Tom was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, but he's progressing well in his recovery so far. Tom will be eligible to return as early as Saturday since his placement on the injured list was backdated to May 19, but the team hasn't established a clear timetable for his return.

MAY 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on injured list Tom (wrist) landed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Tom hadn't played since Tuesday due to left wrist discomfort. The move can be backdated to Wednesday, leaving him eligible to return a week from Saturday, though it's not yet clear whether or not he'll be able to do so. Cole Tucker was recalled in a corresponding move.

MAY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sits again Thursday Tom (wrist) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against Atlanta, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Impact Tom will be on the bench for a second straight game while he manages a sore left wrist, but the lefty hitter may not have started anyway with southpaw Drew Smyly on the mound for Atlanta. Ben Gamel will get the nod in left field in Tom's stead.

MAY 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with left wrist discomfort Tom is out of Wednesday's lineup against the Cardinals due to left wrist discomfort, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Tom apparently suffered his wrist injury Tuesday, and Ben Gamel will take his place in left field Wednesday. The team hasn't yet determined whether Tom could be available off the bench.

MAY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Retreats to bench Wednesday Tom isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

Impact Tom had gone 1-for-5 with an RBI across the last two games. Ben Gamel will start in left field and bat sixth.

MAY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Saturday Tom is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants.

Impact Tom has been getting a shot as the Pirates' primary left fielder, but he hasn't exactly impressed. In 13 games for his new team, he owns a .656 OPS. Ben Gamel starts in his place for the second time in three days Saturday.

MAY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Thursday Tom isn't starting Thursday's game against the Giants.

Impact Tom had gone 1-for-9 with a run, a walk and four strikeouts across the last three games. Ben Gamel will start in left field and bat seventh.

MAY 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Clubs first career homer Tom went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk during Saturday's 3-2 loss against the Cubs.

Impact The 26-year-old launched the first homer of his major-league career during the fourth inning Saturday, which accounted for Pittsburgh's only run production of the afternoon. Tom has a .143/.273/.229 slash line with a home run, six walks, six RBI and two runs through his first 17 big-league games.

MAY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Knocks in run Wednesday Tom went 0-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to San Diego.

Impact He's 3-for-29 split between Oakland and Pittsburgh in 2021. While Tom has just two hits in 13 at-bats for the Bucs, he's walked five times (averaging 4.45 pitches-per-plate-appearance). The 26-year-old has misplayed multiple balls in the outfield and run the bases poorly, but he's likely earned more playing time with his solid at-bats. Furthermore, the Rule 5 pick has little competition in the outfield right now.

MAY 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up third straight start Tom will start in left field and will bat eighth Sunday against the Cardinals, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Impact He'll be picking up his third straight start after going 1-for-4 with four walks since joining the Pirates this week after being claimed off waivers from Oakland. Tom will be manning left field in place of Phillip Evans, who is sitting amid a 6-for-54 slide at the plate over his last three games. If Tom can continue to get on base at a healthy clip, he could end up unseating Evans for an everyday role.

MAY 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gets activated The Pirates activated Tom ahead of Tuesday's game against the Royals.

Impact Pittsburgh claimed Tom off waivers from Oakland last week, but he wasn't immediately added to the 26-man active roster while he waited to clear the COVID-19 intake testing protocols. Now that he's officially in the fold, Tom could be a candidate to pick up at-bats in center field after Pittsburgh recently booted Dustin Fowler and Anthony Alford from its 40-man roster.

APRIL 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Likely to join team Tuesday Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said he expects Tom to join the team in Pittsburgh ahead of Tuesday's series opener in Kansas City, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Impact Tom has yet to join the team since being claimed off waivers from Oakland on Wednesday, presumably for COVID-19 intake testing-related reasons. He won't count against the Pirates' 26-man active roster for the time being, but Pittsburgh will have to clear a spot for him once he's officially in the fold. Tom could end up getting a look in center field after the Pirates already dropped their primary two options at the position -- Dustin Fowler and Anthony Alford -- from the 40-man roster last week.

APRIL 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to IL The Pirates placed Tom on the 10-day injured list Friday for an unspecified reason.

Impact The lack of an injury designation could indicate that Tom is being placed on the COVID-19 injured list, but the Pirates have yet to provide any clarity on the matter. The Pirates claimed Tom off waivers from the Athletics two days prior to placing him on the IL, so the 26-year-old may just need to clear COVID-19 intake testing over the next few days before he's eligible to debut for his new team.

APRIL 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ka’ai Tom finds a new home with Pittsburgh Pirates It did not take long for Ka'ai Tom to find a new home. He had been designated for assignment by the Oakland A's, a victim of a roster crunch...

APRIL 22, 2021 • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM

Pirates DFA Anthony Alford, recall IF Rodolfo Castro, claim OF Ka'ai Tom off waivers from A's The Pittsburgh Pirates made several roster moves Wednesday, reshaping their roster prior to a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers. Antho...

APRIL 21, 2021 • TRIBLIVE.COM

Claimed by Pirates Tom was claimed off waivers by the Pirates on Wednesday.

Impact Tom was designated for assignment by the Athletics on Monday, but the Rule 5 pick will now join Pittsburgh's 26-man active roster going forward. Tom went 1-for-16 with a run, one RBI and six strikeouts to begin the season. The Pirates have gotten limited production out of their center fielders this season, so Tom could end up pushing Dustin Fowler for the top job at the position.

APRIL 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ka’ai Tom a victim of Oakland A’s roster crunch One had to wonder how long the Oakland A's would be able to keep Ka'ai Tom on the active roster. Tom had impressed in spring training, but h...

APRIL 21, 2021 • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM

DFA'd by A's Tom was designated for assignment by the Athletics on Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Impact Tom went just 1-for-16 with an RBI and six strikeouts over nine contests in the first few weeks of the 2021 season before being cast off the 40-man roster. This move makes room for the return of Stephen Piscotty from the paternity list. As a Rule 5 draft pick, Tom will be offered back to Cleveland if he clears waivers.

APRIL 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Should Oakland A’s stick it out with Ka’ai Tom? The Oakland A's find themselves in a bit of a roster crunch. While they have a plethora of utility options, they do not have a real backup a...

APRIL 16, 2021 • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM

Ka’ai Tom does what no other pitcher has in 2021 Chances are, if Ka'ai Tom is going to make his mark in the majors, it will be due to his bat or glove. The Oakland A's reserve outfielder ha...

APRIL 7, 2021 • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM

On bench in second straight Tom isn't included in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.

Impact After making back-to-back starts Sunday and Monday, Tom appeared to be a candidate to fill a strong-side platoon role in right field after Chad Pinder's knee issue forced him to the 10-day injured list. However, after sitting against lefty Clayton Kershaw on Tuesday, Tom now finds himself on the bench versus a right-hander (Trevor Bauer) in the series finale with Los Angeles. For now, manager Bob Melvin may prefer to go with a more experienced option in right field in veteran Stephen Piscotty rather than Tom, a Rule 5 pick who has gotten off to a 1-for-10 start to his MLB career.

APRIL 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ka’ai Tom first position player pitching of 2021 The Oakland A's were hoping that Ka'ai Tom could make an impact upon their roster when he was selected in the Rule V Draft. On Sunday, he di...

APRIL 5, 2021 • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM

Roster spot confirmed Tom's spot on the Athletics' Opening Day roster was confirmed by manager Bob Melvin on Monday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Tom appeared to be on track for a roster spot when Vimael Machin and Seth Brown were optioned Sunday, and that's now been confirmed by the team. The Athletics had an extra incentive to keep him on the active roster, as his status as a Rule 5 pick meant he'd have to be offered back to Cleveland if he failed to make the team, but he earned the role through his spring performances, hitting .321/.424/.571.

MARCH 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Appears to win roster spot Tom is expected to make the Athletics' Opening Day roster, Shayna Rubin of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Impact The Athletics optioned Vimael Machin and Seth Brown to Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, and it appears as though Tom is on track to break camp with the major-league club as a result. The Rule 5 draft pick will serve as outfield depth for Oakland after he slashed .375/.483/.667 with one home run and six RBI in 10 Cactus League games this spring.

MARCH 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ka’ai Tom not going anywhere but Oakland Ka'ai Tom was an intriguing player when the Oakland A's added him as part of their Rule V Draft haul this past year. He had performed at eve...

MARCH 24, 2021 • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM