After signing with the Athletics this offseason, Miguel Andujar got off to a scorching hot start in spring training. He was looking like the hyped up version of himself that the Yankees thought they were getting back in 2018.
Those ideas quickly went astray, as Andujar suffered a meniscus tear that required surgery and a two month layoff. We weren't sure if Andujar would be able to recover quickly, or if his spring performance would translate to regular season success.
The Athletics called him up ahead of last Friday's matchup with the Astros and Andujar stepped right in and hasn't missed a beat. He's played in just three games thus far but has 4 hits in 12 plate appearances, including a home run and 5 RBI.
Miguel mashin' 💪 pic.twitter.com/v6YXgV4WUI
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) May 29, 2024
If Andujar is able to provide that kind of presence at the plate on a consistent basis, it'll be a massive boost for an Athletics offense that has struggled all season. The A's have gotten admirable performances from Brent Rooker and Abraham Toro, but too many guys have struggled to hit.
The Athletics are struggling right now. Can Miguel Andujar bring the offense back to life?
The pitching staff can only do so much, and with four of the five starters in the Opening Day rotation currently on the IL, we've started to see the team coming apart. The A's are 9-16 in the month of May, which includes a stretch in which they went 3-14. They've fallen to 22-33 on the year and are barely holding onto the 4th spot in the AL West.
If there's any hope for this team to turn this season around and finish with a respectable record, Andujar could be a catalyst for it. The return of infielder Aledmys Diaz isn't expected to be a significant boost for this offense and there isn't a ton of talent in the pipeline pushing for playing time in Oakland.
Zack Gelof has been back in the lineup for about a week but hasn't looked like the 2023 version of himself all year. It's possible he can flip the switch but it looks like he has lingering issues with the oblique injury. Hopefully that won't be a problem all summer.
Regardless, the Athletics could really use the help from Andujar. At the very least, a strong two months of play could drive up his trade value. If the A's can get a useful player for him at the deadline, that signing would be considered a win for David Forst. We'll see how long Andujar can stay on this hot streak. Whatever happens after that is anyone's guess.