Athletics 2024 Season in Review: Ross Stripling
A season with few highlights for the righty
Ross Stripling was drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 Amateur draft out of Texas A&M University by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched for the Dodgers into the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. In August of 2020 he was traded to Toronto for Ryan Noda and Kendall Williams. After the 2022 season, Stripling signed a 2-year, $25 million deal with the San Francisco Giants.
How was he acquired?
On February 2, 2024, the Giants traded Stripling and cash considerations to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Jonah Cox.
What were the expectations?
The fact that Stripling started the season as the number two starter is a clear indication that the team leadership was expecting a solid season from their new guy. The fact that the opening day starter was Alex Wood puts that all into perspective. He came off an 0-5 season with the cross-Bay rival Giants in 2023 with a 5.36 ERA in eleven starts and twenty-two games. But just one year prior he had his best full season as a pro with the Toronto Blue Jays.
2024 Results
Stripling started the season 0-5 with a 5.32 ERA. He got his first win on May 7th against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He then dropped four straight before landing on the Injured List (IL) with a right elbow strain.
Mark Kotsay applauds Ross Stripling's "phenomenal job" in his five-inning outing during tonight's loss pic.twitter.com/XPKn0cB5cg
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) August 1, 2024
He won his second game of the season upon his return from the IL against the Angels on July 25. His start on August 6 against the Chicago White Sox would be his last start in an Athletics uniform. He lost that game, dropping his season record to 2-11. He pitched out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season. Logging anywhere from one-third of an inning to three complete innings. On September 11 he was placed on the IL again (retroactive to 9/9/2024) with a lower back strain. His final outing was September 28; one inning against the Mainers in Seattle. Overall, the A’s were 5-17 in all his appearances.
On October 31, Stripling elected free agency, effectively ending his tenure as an A’s player.
2025 Results
As of this publication date, Stripling remains a free agent. There are no indications that he plans to retire, but neither is there much discussion about where he may land for 2025.