In 2023 Gelof took the league by storm after being called up and in 2024 he regressed to being “only decent”. But his power, speed, and defense still left hope that his floor was high and his ceiling higher. But then the ground opened up and the floor deepened…2025 was, really, an unmitigated disaster from every angle.
How Was He Acquired?
The A’s made Gelof their 2nd round pick in 2021 out of Virginia college. Gelof shot through the minors, obliterating A ball pitching in 2021, mastering AA in 2022 and reaching the big leagues midway through 2023.
What Were The Expectations?
From the time he hit .267/.337/.504, 132 wRC+, 2.7 WAR in 69 games as a rookie, expectations were sky high. Gelof was seen as possibly being one of the few “untouchables” around whom the next competitive A’s team would be built. Ironically, it appeared as if 2B was the one position the A’s would not need to address for a long time.
2025 Results
The only way you can describe Gelof’s 2025 results as “varied” is if you want to discuss different shades of terrible. His season started by not starting, as he was hit by a pitch late in spring training and opened the season on the IL. Those turned out to be his best weeks.
Initially, in his rehab assignment at AAA Gelof even struggled significantly there striking out at an alarming rate. But he did right the ship his last week and earned a call up to Sacramento, where it all fell apart from the git go.
Gelof’s .174/.230/.272 slash line, good for a 36 wRC+, tells much of the story of how badly he scuffled at the plate against big league pitching. He also struck out in a whopping 45.5% of his 101 PA. Even with perfectly solid defense it added up to a -0.3 WAR and left the team seeking, this off-season, to address 2B as its primary weakness on the diamond.
Gelof had stolen 25 bases in 28 attempts even in his disappointing 2024 season, but as he rarely reached he only stole one base in 2025 and that was in 3 tries.
2026 Outlook
Realistically, Gelof might be in position to win the 2B job in spring training as it stands now but almost certainly the A’s are going to add a 2Bman over the winter and that will leave Gelof, who lacks the positional versatility of Darell Hernaiz, Max Schuemann, Brett Harris, and even Max Muncy, most likely starting the season at AAA trying to recapture his 2023 mojo.
A “change of scenery” trade also seems like it could benefit everyone, possibly including a receiving team banking on the clear talent and upside Gelof has shown.
How the mighty have fallen.
