Elephant Rumblings: Fourth Athletic joins 20 home run club

MLB news roundup

Happy Labor Day, Athletics Nation!

The A’s completed a .500 road trip yesterday that ended in disappointment, with the Rangers walking off both Saturday’s and Sunday’s games in extras. But don’t blame Lawrence Butler. The A’s right fielder continues to tear it up at the plate, fueling both a winning summer and optimism for his team’s future.

Butler has been passing milestones at breakneck speed lately; he had his first four-hit game in yesterday’s loss.

And on Saturday, Butler his his 20th home run of the season, becoming the fourth Athletic to do so in 2024. Only one other MLB team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, has as many hitters in the 20 home run club this year.

JJ Bleday was the third Athletic to join the club, and he did so just one day before Butler did, in Friday’s 9-2 shellacking of the Rangers.

Shea Langeliers ranks second on the club with 23 home runs, a nice bonus from a player who holds down the most grueling defensive position on the diamond almost every day.

Last but not least—or more appropriately, first and most notably—Brent Rooker is way out in front of the A’s leaderboard with 33 home runs. He has been raking all season and has a 168 wRC+ to show for it. Fittingly, Rooker matched Butler’s four hits yesterday. This dynamic duo is poised to anchor a solid lineup at the plate in 2025.

If Zack Gelof gets hot in September, he could easily become the fifth Athletic to join the club this year—and the first to join the 20-20 club.

Have a safe holiday, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• Is “6 IP Minimum” A Rule With Potential Legs?
• Athletics drop finale to Rangers 6-4
• Oakland Coliseum deal finalized, avoiding huge cuts to police and fire departments ($)
• A’s One of Two Teams to Have Four Players in 20-Homer Club
• Oakland A’s Building Hope for 2025
• New Additions From Astros, Marlins Set to Join Oakland A’s

MLB News & Interest:

• White Sox lose 107th game, most in franchise history, after falling to Mets ($)
• Crochet ties AL record with 7 straight K’s to open game
• ‘I won’t forget it’: Baker gets 1st MLB hit with father Dusty in crowd
• Orioles Release Jean Segura, Outright Nick Vespi
• Royals Select Yuli Gurriel
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. To Undergo MRI On Left Calf
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

The A’s are almost done in Oakland, but Vegas is still in the “idea” phase.

A momentous occasion for the Bakers.