Oakland A’s: James Kaprielian shows promise in MLB debut
By David Hill
At long last, Oakland A’s prospect James Kaprielian was able to make his major league debut.
It took his second stint in the majors, but James Kaprielian was finally able to make his way into a major league game.
He had originally been promoted to the majors on August 4, lasting with the A’s for two games before being sent back to their alternate training site. At that time, he did not get into a game, but did get the major league experience.
On Sunday, Kaprielian was brought back to the majors, replacing Burch Smith after he was placed on the Injured List. It did not take long for him to make his debut either, as he entered the game in the seventh with the A’s holding a 13-2 lead.
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Overall, it was a respectable debut for Kaprielian. He allowed a home run to Brandon Crawford and issued a walk while striking out one over his two innings of work. He showed the potential to take over Smith’s role as a long reliever going forward, or until he is ready to return to the A’s bullpen.
This debut had been a long time coming. Kaprielian was once regarded as one of the better pitching prospects in the game, but lost two seasons due to Tommy John surgery and his recovery. He showed his promise last season, posting a 3.18 ERA and a 1.103 WHiP in his 68 innings across three levels. He struck out 75 batters while issuing 16 walks, a solid rate for a pitcher who had not been on the mound in two years.
There is still going to be a learning curve for Kaprielian. Due to injuries, he only had 97.1 professional innings heading into this year. He is still a work in progress, but his progression will, for now at least, continue at the major league level.
dark. Next. The hits will come for Sean Murphy
James Kaprielian had a relatively solid major league debut for the Oakland A’s. If he can stay healthy, he could carve out a spot for himself in the A’s bullpen.