The Oakland Athletics have reunited with Sheldon Neuse by claiming him off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Neuse is a depth piece for an Athletics team that is in the process of tearing down their roster through trades of Matt Olson and Matt Chapman thus far.
He had been in limbo for more than three months upon getting designated for assignment by the Dodgers as a corresponding roster move to re-signing Chris Taylor. That occurred only a few hours before MLB team owners imposed a lockout due to the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expiring.
Under normal circumstances, Neuse would have had clarity on his future within a week, but the lockout put a freeze on waiver claims and other business involving players who had been on a 40-man roster.
Neuse was taken by the Washington Nationals with the No. 58 overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, but was packaged along with Blake Treinen and Jesús Luzardo to the Athletics for Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson in 2017.
Neuse made MLB debut in 2019 with the A’s, appearing in 25 games and spending time at second base and third base. He was acquired along with Gus Varland in a February 2021 trade that sent Adam Kolarek and Cody Thomas to Oakland.
Neuse began the 2021 season at the Dodgers’ alternate training site but joined the team in the middle of April when Gavin Lux was placed on the 10-day injured list due to right wrist soreness.
He was shuffled on and off the active roster with some frequency, and never generated much traction while up with the Dodgers. Neuse went 11-for-65 (.169) with one double, three home runs and four RBI over 33 games (13 starts).
During time spent with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Neuse hit .293/.352/.478 with 13 doubles, 13 home runs and 56 RBI over 78 games.
Neuse’s 2021 highlight
Despite having previous MLB experience before joining the Dodgers, Neuse did not hit his first career home run until an April 22 matchup against the San Diego Padres.
Neuse’s game-tying blast was the second of back-to-back home runs allowed by Emilio Pagan. His drive traveled an estimated 399 feet and left his bat at an exit velocity of 108.7 mph.
“It was unbelievable,” Neuse said of the homer. “I’ve been waiting a year and a half to get one like that. I was finally able to get it. Like I said, I wish I could’ve come up big at the end but it’s just part of baseball.
“I got the first hit ball, but I’m going to give the homer to my dad so he can put it in his game room and let him stock it up on the shelf.”
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