Smith (back) went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and an additional run in Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Albuquerque on Wednesday.
Smith's batting line was certainly noteworthy, but equally important was the fact he played a full game at shortstop after logging seven innings at second base Tuesday. Assuming Smith doesn't experience any residual effects from playing defense in back-to-back rehab games for the first time, he could be deemed ready for activation before week's end.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Three-RBI day in rehab game
Rotowire
Smith (back) went 2-for-3 with an RBI single, a two-run home run and a walk in Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Sugar Land on Sunday.
Smith started at third base and compiled all three of his RBI over the fourth and fifth innings. The 27-year-old also played shortstop for the Aviators on Friday, and he was encouragingly able to up his workload to seven innings Sunday after logging five frames in that contest. Having already suited up on three occasions overall for Las Vegas, Smith may only need another game or two down on the farm before being deemed ready for activation.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Plays field in rehab game
Rotowire
Smith (back) started at shortstop in Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Sugar Land on Friday and played five innings, going 1-for-2.
Smith made his rehab debut with the Aviators on Thursday as the designated hitter, so the fact he was able to not only play on back-to-back days, but also log five innings in the field while doing so, was certainly encouraging. Smith has been sidelined since mid-June with his back strain, so he likely needs at least several more rehab games before he's fully back in sync physically and mentally.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Drives in run in rehab debut
Rotowire
Smith (back) started at designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Sugar Land on Thursday.
Smith enjoyed a solid start to his rehab assignment. The infielder will work up to playing defense in subsequent games as he completes his recovery from a mid-June back strain.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Smith (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.
Smith will likely need a number of rehab games before being activated. When he's ready, he should return to the top spot on the shortstop depth chart in Oakland.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Rehab assignment imminent
Rotowire
Smith (back) is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas either Thursday or Friday, the team's official site reports.
It's been a productive second half of July for Smith in his recovery from a back strain, as he began a swing progression July 15 and subsequently moved to running the bases at full speed. That ramp-up in activity has teed up his imminent return to game action, and Smith is likely to spend at least a week with the Aviators before activation is considered.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
Smith was placed on the 10-day injured list with a back strain Saturday.
Smith was scratched from the lineup Friday due to back issues, and he's evidently dealing with an injury serious enough to knock him out for at least 10 days. He'd only managed a .191/.216/.330 line in 102 trips to the plate prior to the injury, so his absence is unlikely to be a big blow to Oaklands' fortunes. Tyler Wade was called up to take his place on the roster, but it's Aledmys Diaz who gets the start at shortstop Saturday against the Phillies.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Dealing with back tightness
Rotowire
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Smith was experiencing back tightness ahead of Friday's game against the Phillies, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Smith's late removal from the lineup was labeled as a precaution, so it's unlikely he's facing an extended absence. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Scratched from lineup
Rotowire
Smith was scratched from the Athletics' lineup Friday.
It's unknown why Smith was taken out of the A's lineup, but Aledmys Diaz will take Smith's place at shortstop and bat seventh.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Gets breather Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith is not in the starting lineup Tuesday versus the Rays.
Smith will take a seat after he went 2-for-6 with a solo homer, two runs scored and two strikeouts while starting the last two contests. Aledmys Diaz will take over at shortstop and bat seventh against Tampa Bay.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Knocks fourth homer Sunday
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a win over the Brewers on Sunday.
Smith joined the Athletics' offensive barrage in the seventh inning, leaving the yard via a 383-foot shot to left field for his fourth homer of the season. The shortstop had been mired in a 3-for-20 slump over the eight games prior to Sunday's, but manager Mark Kotsay appears committed to continuing to afford Smith near-everyday playing time for the moment.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: On bench Saturday
Rotowire
Smith will sit Saturday against the Brewers, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Smith started a pair of games after getting recalled earlier this week, going 2-for-9 at the plate. He'll retreat to the bench Saturday as Aledmys Diaz takes over at shortstop.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Athletics optioned Smith to Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday.
Smith was called up by the A's on April 10 and will head back to the minors after he posted a .184/.205/.316 slash line with three home runs, seven RBI and eight runs in 82 plate appearances. Aledmys Diaz (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Crushes third homer of season
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-7 victory over Texas.
Smith's 433-foot shot to left-center tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth inning. This marks just the sixth homer of the shortstop's career, and he still hasn't batted over .200 in a big-league season.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Homers in loss
Rotowire
Smith went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored Wednesday in a loss to the Angels.
The Athletics were routed in the contest, but Smith had a productive performance with his second homer and second multi-hit effort of the campaign. The infielder has started each of the first three games in the series against the Angels, going 4-for-10 with a pair of homers and four RBI.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Blasts three-run homer Monday
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run in an extra-inning win over the Angels on Monday.
The Athletics' offense finally had a breakout night in the new season, and Smith followed teammates Brent Rooker and Jesus Aguilar in leaving the yard early in the contest. Rooker's 385-foot shot to left in the second inning was the most productive of the three early round trippers, as it plated Aledmys Diaz and Carlos Perez to push Oakland's lead to 5-0 at the time. Smith has now hit safely in four consecutive starts, slowly crawling out of an early-season hole at the plate that is responsible for his slash line still sitting at an abysmal .186/.186/.279, even when factoring in recent success.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Not starting Sunday
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Smith started the past six games and will step out of the lineup Sunday after he went 5-for-22 during that span. Tyler Wade will take over at shortstop in the series finale versus Texas.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Captures everyday role
Rotowire
Smith will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Cubs.
Smith will be making his fourth consecutive start and looks to have at least temporarily settled in as Oakland's everyday shortstop. Though Smith likely doesn't have a long leash given that he enters Wednesday's contest having slashed .143/.143/.143 through 29 plate appearances on the season, the 3-15 Athletics aren't teeming with appealing alternatives, especially with two of their top hitters in Seth Brown (oblique) and Ramon Laureano (groin) recently moving to the injured list.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Gets promotion
Rotowire
The Athletics recalled Smith from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.
Smith joins the 26-man active roster as a replacement for outfielder/first baseman Seth Brown (oblique), who was placed on the 10-day injured list. While he's up with Oakland, the righty-hitting Smith could fill the short side of a platoon at third base with the lefty-hitting Jace Peterson.
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Athletics' Kevin Smith: Call-up coming Monday
Rotowire
Smith will be recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Smith is going to replace Seth Brown on the roster, with Brown heading to the injured list due to a left oblique injury. Smith came up short on his bid to make the Opening Day roster, but he'll get a chance to be a bench option for the Athletics while Brown recovers.
