OAKLAND, CA - April 2: Ka'ai Tom #1 of the Oakland Athletics bats during the game against the Houston Astros at RingCentral Coliseum on April 2, 2021 in Oakland, California. The Astros defeated the Athletics 9-5. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
Ka’ai Tom had been the talk of spring training for the Oakland A’s. The Rule V draftee had played his way onto the roster, and seemed as though he would get time as a fifth outfielder. Instead, he made his biggest impact as the first position player pitching of the season, being designated for assignment just three weeks later before being claimed by the Pirates.