Baisley A's Latest Rookie

The average age on the Oakland A's roster got significantly younger, as the A's released Mike Sweeney to make room for Jeff Baisley on the team's roster. Baisley will be the 13th player to make his major league debut with Oakland this season.

On Tuesday, the Oakland A's made another roster adjustment, releasing first baseman/DH Mike Sweeney and recalling third baseman Jeff Baisley. Baisley will be making his major league debut.

Sweeney was released after being activated off of the DL by Oakland last Wednesday. The 14-year veteran has struggled with knee problems all season and had been limited to only a handful of plate appearances since he returned to the active roster. Sweeney has indicated to reporters that he is considering retirement thanks to the pain in his knees.

Baisley gets the call now despite the fact that his Sacramento River Cats will be participating in the PCL finals starting tonight. The A's likely want to get a long look at Baisley, who is the team's most advanced third base prospect, given the uncertainty surrounding the health of Eric Chavez. The A's would have had to add Baisley to their 40-man roster this off-season to protect him in the Rule 5 draft.

The South Florida alum had a productive but injury-shortened 2008 season with Triple-A Sacramento, his first season at that level. In 81 games, he hit .298 with nine homers and 44 RBIs and posted an 852 OPS for the River Cats. Baisley also appeared in six games for the A's Rookie League club as part of his rehab from a stress fracture in his left foot.

Baisley is a right-handed hitter with good gap power. A 12th round draft selection in 2005, he was the Midwest League's MVP and the A's Organizational Player of the Year in 2006 when he hit .298 with 22 homers and 110 RBIs for Low-A Kane County. Baisley spent all of the 2007 season with Double-A Midland, where he hit .257 with 11 homers in an injury-plagued campaign (he dealt with a sore left knee for much of the second half of the season that brought down his numbers significantly). Baisley was part of the A's Arizona Fall League contingent last season and he was named to the AFL's Rising Stars showcase.

The 25-year-old third baseman has above-average skills with the glove. He has played almost exclusively at third base during his pro career, although he saw some time at first during the AFL last season. Baisley was invited to his first big league spring training camp this past March and he was impressive, collecting six hits in 10 at-bats during his time in big league camp. His twin brother Brian is a catcher in the Yankees' chain.

For more information on Baisley, please click here.

Below are photos of Baisley during his time in the minor leagues: