Weeks Expected To Debut For Stockton Tonight

After a long rehabilitation, second baseman Jemile Weeks will finally be making his 2009 debut. He is expected to be activated in time for the High-A Stockton Ports' game with Bakersfield tonight. In addition, another top prospect is on the move. We have the details inside...

Jemile Weeks will finally be joining the Stockton Ports after missing the first seven weeks of the season with leg injuries. Weeks, the A's top pick in 2008, was injured last July while playing with the Low-A Kane County Cougars. He tore his hip flexor on July 29th and has been bothered by that injury and some additional leg soreness ever since. Weeks had been at extended spring training.

The second baseman is expected to bring a spark to the Stockton Ports' line-up. In 19 games last season with Kane County, the switch-hitter batted .297 with a .422 OBP and an 828 OPS. He stole six bases in eight chances. Stockton is currently second-to-last in the California League in runs scored.

The Ports will be hoping for a similar boost from Weeks that they got from third baseman Christian Vitters when he was activated from extended spring training on May 12. In 13 games for Stockton, Vitters is batting .302 with a homer, nine RBIs and an 822 OPS.

Weeks will be taking the place of another top prospect on the Stockton roster. Reliever Henry Rodriguez has been promoted to Triple-A Sacramento. Rodriguez, who also missed much of the first two months of the season while recovering from an injury, was spectacular in his brief time with the Ports. In three appearances, Rodriguez allowed only three hits in five innings. He struck-out 11 and walked only one. Rodriguez is a member of the A's 40-man roster and could be a factor in the A's bullpen by the end of the year.

The River Cats also added reliever Justin Hampson this week. Hampson, a lefty, was signed as a free agent by the A's. He has a 3.38 ERA in 96 career major league innings, mostly with San Diego.

The Ports also added reliever Steven Sharpe to the roster this week. Sharpe began the year with Stockton, but he had been with the Sacramento River Cats since late April. Sharpe, who missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, had a 3-0 record and a 4.50 ERA in 14 innings with the River Cats. In four appearances for the Ports this season, Sharpe has yet to allow a run in four innings. He has five strike-outs, one walk and has allowed one hit.

The A's also released three minor league players this week: pitchers Jose Fragoso, Justin Dowdy and Jason Glushon. Fragoso had yet to pitch in a regular season game this season. He had a 4.44 ERA in 26.1 innings for Stockton last season.

Dowdy was let go after posting a 5.21 ERA in 19 innings with Double-A Midland this season. He had a 6.49 ERA in 61 innings for Midland and Sacramento last season.

Glushon had pitched for every A's full-season affiliate since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He had a 3.67 ERA in 88.1 innings last season, but was struggling this year with Double-A Midland, where he had a 10.43 ERA in 14.2 innings.