The A’s scored seven runs in the bottom of the ninth against the Texas Rangers, capped by a walk-off grand slam from Kevin Smith.
Infielder Kevin Smith arguably has had the best spring training of any Athletics player in camp this year, but it appears he's not a lock to make Oakland's Opening Day roster.
Despite a roster devoid of impact players, Smith's torrid spring hasn't been enough for A's manager Mark Kotsay to say for sure that the 26-year-old will break camp with the team.
Smith collected three more hits and three RBI in the A's 7-7 tie with the Texas Rangers on Thursday night, but Kotsay was non-committal after the game (h/t The San Francisco Chronicle's Matt Kawahara).
In 18 games this spring, Smith is 15 of 39 (.385 average) with three doubles, two homers and 14 RBI.
Smith played 47 games for the A's last season but none came after June 10. After that, he played 72 games for the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, and as Kotsay noted, he finished the 2022 minor league season on a high note, posting a .365 average with 11 homers and 19 RBI in 25 September games.
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That hot hitting has carried over into 2023, but it remains to be seen if Smith will be on the roster when the A's open the season next Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels or if he will be headed to Las Vegas for their April 4 opener against the Oklahoma City Dodgers.