BREAKING NEWS: A’s call up Hogan Harris option

The Athletics revealed today that they have called up pitcher Brandon Bielak, who was recently acquired.

Bielak joins the club following his entire career with the division rival Astros. Throughout his time there, he alternated between the starting rotation and the bullpen, with last season being his most successful. He started the year in Houston’s bullpen and has a 5.71 ERA in 10 relief appearances this season.

The club intends for Bielak to start his tenure with the A’s in the bullpen. However, manager Mark Kotsay indicated that there might be a chance for Bielak to be considered for a starting role in the future.

It’s not a bad idea. Bielak performed well for the Astros last season, starting in 13 games. We’ll assess the start of his tenure before making any further judgments.

To accommodate Bielak, the club sent lefty longman Hogan Harris back to Triple-A. This is his second demotion this year, though it’s not due to poor performance. Harris has appeared in two games, both extended outings, and his ability to pitch multiple innings somewhat works against him. We will likely see Harris return to the club sooner rather than later.