Outfielder Jake Smolinski has only played in four games for the Oakland Athletics since joining the club since being recalled on July 7, but he's already contributed quite a bit.
Smolinski, claimed by the A's after the Texas Rangers placed him on waivers in June, has been filling in as an extra outfielder for the A's and facing left-handed pitching. On Saturday, Smolinski delivered a two-out, game-tying RBI single off the Minnesota Twins' All-Star closer Glen Perkins in a game the A's won in extras.
On Sunday, he had an even bigger afternoon. Facing ex-A's pitcher Tommy Milone, Smolinski cracked a solo homer. In the late innings against the Twins' bullpen, he then crushed a three-run home run in Oakland's 14-1 blowout win.
Including Sunday's performance, Smolinski is currently 5-9 with two home runs, a walk and five RBIs in his short A's career. Extremely small sample size aside, that's definitely worthy of 'hot start' designation.
He shared some thoughts with CSN Bay Area about his first few days with the A's after the game:
Smolinski does not have an abundance of MLB experience - including Sunday's game he's only appeared in 63 games from 2014 to the present day. Despite that, he's done a lot of his damage at O.co Coliseum: in September of 2014 he blasted his first career home run at the Coliseum as a member of the Rangers...against A's lefty Scott Kazmir.
Judging by his impressive first few games with the A's, they have to be hopeful of Smolinski becoming a weapon against left-handed pitching down the stretch.
