Athletics option RHP Morales to Aviators to fix control issues

The 23-year-old pitcher has struggled with command, and the team hopes a stint in the minors will help him regain confidence.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:39pm

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The Oakland Athletics have optioned 23-year-old right-handed pitcher Luis Morales to their Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas Aviators. Manager Mark Kotsay said the team is evaluating Morales' performance and hopes the minor league assignment will help him regain his confidence after struggling with command issues.

Why it matters

Morales was considered a promising young pitcher in the Athletics' system, so his struggles with control are a concern for the team as they look to develop their pitching talent. The decision to option him to the minors reflects the organization's commitment to helping Morales work through his issues and get back on track.

The details

The Athletics made the move to option Morales to Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday. Kotsay said the team has been evaluating Morales' performance and hopes the minor league stint will allow him to regain his confidence after dealing with command problems.

  • Morales was optioned to the Aviators on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Luis Morales

A 23-year-old right-handed pitcher in the Oakland Athletics' organization who has been struggling with command issues.

Mark Kotsay

The manager of the Oakland Athletics, who said the team is evaluating Morales' performance and hopes the minor league assignment will help him regain his confidence.

Oakland Athletics

The Major League Baseball team that has optioned pitcher Luis Morales to their Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas Aviators.

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What they’re saying

“We talked a lot about performance and being something that we were really evaluating,”

— Mark Kotsay, Manager, Oakland Athletics

What’s next

The Athletics will monitor Morales' progress with the Aviators and determine when he is ready to be recalled to the major league roster.

The takeaway

The Athletics' decision to option Morales to the minors reflects their commitment to developing their young pitching talent and helping him work through the command issues that have plagued him. A stint in Triple-A could be exactly what Morales needs to regain his confidence and return to the majors as a more polished and effective pitcher.