Top A’s prospect gets 3 hits in debut against Dodgers. ‘The best day of my life’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Joshua Kuroda-Grauer had three hits in his MLB debut.
- Kuroda-Grauer scored a run, earned his first RBI, and hit his first extra-base hit.
- Kuroda-Grauer was called up after Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom went on the 10-day IL.
Already two hits into his MLB debut, top Athletics prospect Joshua Kuroda-Grauer wanted more.
Though the A’s trailed 9-3 in the ninth inning to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kuroda-Grauer didn’t hesitate by trying to stretch a bloop single to center field into a double. After a successful head-first slide on a contested play at second base, Kuroda-Grauer ended up with a double, his third MLB hit and first extra-base hit.
“That was all the adrenaline. Looking back, it wasn’t the smartest thing to do … but my aggressive nature thankfully lucked out for me,” Kuroda-Grauer, the A’s No. 9 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, said postgame. “You want to be gritty. You want to be competitive. You always want to take an extra 90, especially on a team like the Dodgers.”
Kuroda-Grauer crossed most of his MLB firsts off his list during his debut Monday, scoring a run after his double in the ninth and earning his first RBI in his first at-bat, which tied the game at 2-2 in the second inning. He also became the first A’s player to get three hits in a debut since Mark Canha in 2015, according to MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos.
After his first MLB hit, he was congratulated at first base by Dodgers star Freddie Freeman, MLB’s active hit leader.
“It’s just surreal,” Kuroda-Grauer said when asked about his conversation with Freeman. “You play with these guys in video games, and (then) you get to be on the field talking with them.”
Known for his defensive prowess across the infield, Kuroda-Grauer also turned his first double play on Dodgers star Mookie Betts and made his first putout with one out in the first inning during his debut.
“He has prepared for this moment his whole life,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said postgame. “To go out and throw out three hits on his debut is pretty special.”
A ‘whirlwind’ day
Though he started Monday’s game at second base, hitting ninth for the A’s, Kuroda-Grauer didn’t know he was getting called up until Monday morning and didn’t know he would start until hours later.
Kuroda-Grauer didn’t arrive in Sacramento until 4 p.m. Monday via plane from Salt Lake City — where the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators are playing this week — with first pitch at 6:40 p.m.
“It’s been a whirlwind, but it was a ton of fun tonight,” Kuroda-Grauer said. “This is the best day of my life.”
Kotsay said he was particularly impressed with Kuroda-Grauer’s performance given the timeline of his debut day.
Due to the short notice, Kuroda-Grauer said his family wasn’t able to make it to Monday’s game, but planned to be in attendance for Tuesday’s second game of the series.
‘Whatever the team needs’
Kuroda-Grauer, 23, was called up Monday after two A’s starters — All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson and outfielder Tyler Soderstrom — were placed on the 10-day injured list. One of the A’s other starting infielders, Zack Gelof, was already on the IL, meaning Kuroda-Grauer’s ability to play all over the infield is all the more important.
“All of them,” Kuroda-Grauer said when asked what position he feels most comfortable at. “Whatever the team needs me to do on any given day.”
Before the game, Kotsay noted Kuroda-Grauer’s defensive flexibility and recent increase in power as some of his top traits. Kuroda-Grauer was already known for his contact hitting, having hit about .300 or better in both of his first two seasons in professional baseball.
In 75 games across Double- and Triple-A this season, Kuroda-Grauer was hitting .323 with a .845 OPS, 15 stolen bases, 20 doubles, seven home runs and 44 RBI. He had just two home runs across more than 140 previous professional games.
Despite his strong debut, Kuroda-Grauer said he was focused on the A’s success after Monday’s loss dropped them to 40-44, still outside the playoff picture with multiple mainstays injured.
“This is the highest level you can get to. So, your personal accolades, your personal stats, nothing matters. It’s all about the team,” Kuroda-Grauer said. “You go out there and you try to win for the team, do what you can for the team to help them win.”
