June 3, 2011
A'S NEWSA'S VIDEO
UPDATE -- 12:30 p.m.: Grant and Angie Balfour welcomed their daughter, Raegan Madison Balfour, into the world at 10:19 pm on June 2, 2011. She weighed in at 6 lbs 10 oz and 20.5 inches long.
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Paul Gutierrez
CSNCalifornia.com
A's right-hander Grant Balfour remained in the Bay Area Thursday for the birth of his daughter. As such, the relief pitcher was placed on the paternity list Friday by Oakland, which also recalled right-hander Fautino De Los Santos from triple-A Sacramento, in time for the opening game of the A's 10-game road trip to Boston, Baltimore and Chicago beginning tonight against the Red Sox.
Balfour, who signed a two-year, 8.1-million free-agent contract with the A's on Jan. 11 after three-plus years in Tampa Bay, has made 25 relief appearances thus far and is 3-1 with one save and a 2.92 ERA. Among American League relievers, he is also tied for third in victories, tied for seventh in strikeouts (28) and tied for 10th in appearances. Opponents are hitting .205 against him, while left-handers are hitting .171, .083 with runners in scoring position.
De Los Santos, meanwhile, was initially called up to the big leagues for the first time in his career on May 20, but did not get into a game before being sent back to the River Cats four days later. In Sacramento, he has made nine appearances without a decision and has a 0.82 ERA with 11 strikeouts and six walks in 11 innings. De Los Santos, who has undergone Tommy John Surgery, has yet to allow a home run this season and opposing batters are hitting .184 against him, with lefties hitting just .067.
News
Balfour is the second A's player this season to go on the paternity list, as catcher Kurt Suzuki did for the birth of his daughter Malia for two days in late April.