Tommy Everidge, 26, a former star at Sonoma Valley High and Sonoma State, is expected to be officially called up by the Oakland A’s on Tuesday after hitting .382 with nine homers and 32 RBIs in 43 games at Triple-A Sacramento.
The A’s haven’t announced Everidge’s promotion, but Everidge text-messaged SSU coach John Goelz with the news today. Everidge did not return phone messages.
Everidge will join the A’s for tonight’s game in Boston. It is likely that he will replace Oakland first baseman Daric Barton, who has a strained hamstring and is expected to land on the 15-day disabled list.
Everidge, a 10th-round selection in the 2004 MLB Draft, hit .306 with eight homers and 53 RBIs at Double-A Midland before he was called up to Sacramento on June 9. After a 2-for-20 opening in Triple-A, Everidge hit .418 (64 for 153) with nine homers and 32 RBIs. After going 3 for 6 in the River Cats’ doubleheader split at Colorado Springs today, Everidge was on a 13-game hitting streak during which he was hitting .509 (27 of 53). He was named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week last week.
“He fought his way through and he fought his way through,” SSU associate head coach Walter White said. “He forced their hand. I love it.”
Everidge is the fourth player from Sonoma Valley High to reach the big leagues and the third from Sonoma State. SSU’s Marshall Brant played parts of two seasons with the Yankees and A’s in 1980 and 1983. SSU’s Daniel Barone, who is now in the A’s organization in Double-A Midland, went 1-3 with a 5.71 ERA with the Florida Marlins in 2007.