The Oakland Athletics’ relocation to Sacramento last season has brought a mix of excitement and confusion from fans in the city, and many feel this way as the A’s second season is now underway.
The team ended up in Sacramento after years of stadium issues at the Coliseum in Oakland, and while this is temporary before the moving to Las Vegas in 2028, it still has felt like a big moment for Sacramento. At the same time, for many fans, it doesn’t fully feel like the A’s are “our team” since they’re not staying long term.
The A’s have been struggling over the past decade with consistency and winning, and that hasn’t changed much during their time in town. Last season, they ended with a record of 76-86. As of press release the A’s hold a record of 18-16 and sit in 1st place.
The roster is still in a developing stage, but the A’s early record has made the season more interesting than expected. Young players are still trying to settle into bigger roles, while outfielder Brent Rooker has remained one of the team’s stronger bats. Even with the A’s sitting in first place in the AL West, there are still questions about whether the pitching can hold up for the rest of the season. Starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs has had solid outings, but the team will need more consistency from the rotation if it wants to stay near the top of the division.
One of the more interesting parts about this situation is how Sacramento fans are reacting. Some people are excited just to have Major League Baseball in the city, while others are more skeptical because it feels temporary.
Sacramento resident Adrian Conyers, who has attended games at Sutter Health Park, shared a similar but slightly more optimistic view.
“I feel like people are gonna show up just because it’s something new, and it’s gonna be high energy,” said Sacramento resident Adrian Conyers. “It kind of feels like the city is being tested, like if Sacramento shows enough support maybe it could be taken more seriously in the future for a permanent team.”
The A’s are developing many young prospects such as second baseman Zach Gelof, outfielder Lawrence Butler, first baseman Nick Kurtz, catcher Tyler Soderstrom and shortstop Jacob Wilson, making up a bulk of their depth and future. The A’s clearly have skilled scouts, but can these young stars translate talent and potential to wins that has yet to be seen.
“I think it’s nice because the games will be closer, and I’m looking forward to seeing them play. I’m also curious about the turnout, people wise,” said Sacramento City College student Ben Meusel. “I mean it’s kinda weird having a team here that everyone knows isn’t staying, but at the same time it’s still cool to actually have MLB games in Sacramento.”
