In 3.1 innings over four appearances with the A's, reliever Shawn Kelley has allowed just one hit and one walk. He has yet to allow a run. He should likely still be pitching for the Washington Nationals. But he's not. He's putting up those numbers for the A's instead.
Kelley found himself on the A's earlier this month after the Nationals designated him for assignment due to an outburst on the field. With Washington up 25-1 against the Mets on July 31, Kelley was brought into the game and gave up a three-run homer. He slammed his glove down and starred into his dugout, in apparent anger over manager Dave Martinez not defending him against bad calls by the home plate umpire. The next day, Kelley was DFA'd. On August 5, Washington traded him to Oakland for international slot bonus money.
Two weeks later, new details surrounding the incident on July 31 have emerged.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
According to the Washington Post, Kelley was confronted by Nationals GM Mike Rizzo in the team's clubhouse at Nationals Park. Fellow veteran pitchers Max Scherzer and Ryan Madson also had words with Kelley. The encounter with Rizzo "became heated, including raised voices, and eventually it almost became physical," according to the publication.
The Post was able to get ahold of Kelley for comment regarding the incident:
“I hate to be seen as a guy that was showing up his manager or selfish because I’ve played 10 years and I’ve never been that guy. So I don’t think I’d start now. It’s an unfortunate set of circumstances but it is what it is so I’ll move on and make the best of it," Kelley told The post's Chelsea Janes.