A's Officially Call Up Morris, Option Lopez
Press release from the A's:
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Athletics selected right-handed pitcher Kade Morris and recalled right-handed pitcher Mason Barnett from Triple-A Las Vegas, the club announced today. Right-handed pitcher Michael Kelly and left-handed pitcher Jacob Lopez have been optioned to Las Vegas. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Brooks Kriske was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Morris, 23, is 5-3 with a 4.45 ERA (30 er/60.2 ip) this season for Las Vegas with 26 walks and 49 strikeouts across 11 starts. He was acquired by the A’s in July 2024 in a trade with the Mets in exchange for Paul Blackburn. Morris is listed as the No. 12 overall prospect for the A’s, according to MLB.com and will be making his Major League debut.
Barnett will be making his third stint with the A’s this season. He has pitched in one game for the A’s in 2026, a scoreless 2.0 innings in relief (h, 2 bb, so) on April 19 vs. Chicago-AL. Across nine starts for Las Vegas this year, Barnett is 3-1 with a 4.64 ERA (22 er/42.2 ip) with 26 walks, 41 strikeouts, and a .244 opponents batting average.
Kelly pitched on Sunday for the A’s and allowed six earned runs on six hits in 0.2 innings with two walks and two strikeouts against the Yankees. Across five relief appearances this season, he has a 16.20 ERA (9 er/5.0 ip) with 12 hits allowed, six walks, six strikeouts, and a 2.60 WHIP.
Lopez was on the A’s Opening Day roster and was 4-3 with a 6.75 ERA (38 er/52.0 ip) to go along with 38 strikeouts, but 33 walks, which are tied fourth among all MLB pitchers. He started his first five games before making an appearance out of the bullpen on April 26 at Texas (1.0 ip, h, er, 2 bb, so). Lopez pitched in 12 games (10 starts) and owned a .294 opponents batting average, .386 on-base percentage, and 5.86 walks per nine innings.
Kriske was originally placed on the 15-day injured list on May 15 with a right shoulder impingement. He received an ultrasound guided cortisone injection on May 19 and there is no timetable for his return.
