SAN FRANCISCO -- The A's officially selected the contract of infielder Corban Joseph from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday and optioned outfielder Nick Martini. Oakland also designated catcher Beau Taylor for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
Joseph, 30, has put together a phenomenal season in Triple-A, slashing .371/.421/.585 with 13 home runs, 35 doubles, and 73 RBI in 97 games. He has previously spent a little time in the majors, most recently last year with the Orioles, and he is thrilled for this latest opportunity.
"It's big, especially being 30 years old," Joseph said. "I've gone up and down throughout my career -- some time with the Yankees and some time with Baltimore -- I just keep grinding through these situations. I'm just trying to put my best foot forward. Getting an opportunity as a 30-year-old is huge for me."
The A's originally picked up Joseph from the Orioles in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. Needless to say, not many people expected him to ever reach the big leagues in Oakland.
"Myself included," A's manager Bob Melvin admitted. "You look at the pecking order with the (Franklin) Barretos and the (Jorge) Mateos and guys like that, he was more of a guy that you looked to maybe help your Triple-A team out. ... But he's put himself in this position. Our organization is not afraid to promote guys who are doing well and give them an opportunity, and that's the case with him."
Joseph figures to split time with Jurickson Profar at second base. Profar has struggled for most of the season, both offensively and defensively, and Joseph gives the A's another left-handed bat in the lineup.
"We're just trying to do the best we can with the position and with a guy who's been swinging a hot bat and has been all year," Melvin said. "When you have that kind of year, and we're maybe not getting as much production as we want out of that position, you look somewhere else."
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Joseph admits it hasn't always been easy to stay positive throughout his many years in the minors, but he refused to give up on his dream.
"I think anyone who's played the game longer than six or seven years, it gets frustrating at times," Joseph said. "But I've got good family support that has continued to encourage me and push me, and a lot of family friends that continue to believe in me. I think that goes a long way."
