Zack Gelof

Zachary Dunn Gelof Bio

Zachary Dunn Gelof is an American professional baseball second baseman and third baseman for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. Born on October 19, 1999, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Gelof developed into one of the most promising young middle infielders in professional baseball. He played college baseball for the University of Virginia Cavaliers before the Oakland Athletics selected him in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Gelof made his MLB debut for the Athletics in July 2023 and has established himself as a dynamic two-way player capable of impacting games with both his bat and his defensive prowess.

Gelof represented Team Israel at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He comes from an athletic family as his younger brother Jake Gelof also plays professional baseball and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023.

Early Life and Background

Zachary Dunn Gelof grew up in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where he attended Cape Henlopen High School and served as Class President for each of his four years. He is the son of Kelly and Adam Gelof, both of whom are attorneys. His paternal grandfather served as a tank commander in Europe during World War II and received a Purple Heart, while his paternal grandmother was president of Congregation Beth Sholom in Dover, Delaware. Gelof is Jewish and attended Hebrew school at the Seaside Jewish Community in Rehoboth Beach.

Gelof was a three-sport athlete at Cape Henlopen High School, excelling in baseball, soccer, and basketball. In baseball, he was named the 2018 Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year and Delaware Baseball Coaches Player of the Year. He finished his high school baseball career as Delaware’s all-time leader in runs scored and stolen bases, and he was a two-time Henlopen Conference Player of the Year as both a shortstop and a pitcher. He also dominated on the soccer field, becoming the all-time leading goal scorer in Delaware high school history with 61 goals over his four-year career.

Path to Professional Baseball

After graduating from Cape Henlopen High School with a 4.02 GPA, Gelof was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 38th round of the 2018 MLB Draft but chose not to sign. He then played for the Brockton Rox of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League during the summer of 2018, batting .292 with 13 stolen bases while playing third base. Gelof subsequently enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he majored in economics and played baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Gelof quickly became a standout at Virginia, starting every game during his three seasons and batting .316 overall. As a freshman in 2019, he started all 56 games at third base and hit .313 while stealing 16 bases. His sophomore season in 2020 was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic, but he still led the ACC in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage before the season ended. He earned Collegiate Baseball Second Team All-American honors and was ranked as the third-best third baseman in the country by D1Baseball.

In his junior year in 2021, Gelof led the ACC in hits with 81 and earned second-team All-ACC honors. Virginia advanced to the College World Series that year, and Gelof was named to the All-Tournament Team at third base after hitting .583 during the competition. His impressive collegiate career made him one of the top prospects in the 2021 MLB Draft.

Zachary Dunn Gelof Career

Professional Career Beginnings (2021–2022)

Gelof was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft with the 60th overall pick. He became the sixth-highest draft pick in Delaware history and signed with the team on July 24, 2021, receiving a $1,157,400 signing bonus. Gelof began his professional career in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League before earning promotions to the Low-A Stockton Ports and finished the season with the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. In his first professional season, he batted a combined .333 with seven home runs and 13 stolen bases across three levels, earning recognition as the A’s seventh-best prospect and 87th-best prospect in all of baseball.

In 2022, Gelof ran the fastest 30-yard sprint in the A’s farm system during spring training. However, he missed nearly seven weeks after suffering a torn labrum and subluxed left shoulder when diving for a ground ball in May. Despite the injury, he still managed to hit 13 home runs with nine stolen bases in 83 games with the Double-A Midland RockHounds. He finished the season with nine games at Triple-A Las Vegas and played for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. MLB.com ranked him as the A’s fourth-best prospect at the end of the season.

Oakland Athletics Breakthrough (2023)

Gelof began the 2023 season as the A’s third-ranked prospect, playing for Triple-A Las Vegas. On July 14, 2023, he was formally selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues, becoming the fourth position player from his draft class to reach MLB. He wasted no time making an impact, hitting his first career home run on July 22 against the Houston Astros. By late August, he had set franchise records by becoming the fastest player in Oakland A’s history to hit both six and ten home runs.

Gelof’s rookie season was remarkable. In 69 games, he batted .267 with 14 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. Among American League rookies with 300 or more plate appearances, he ranked third in isolated power and fifth in slugging percentage. He earned American League Rookie of the Month honors for August and was named an A’s Organization All-Star at season’s end. He became one of only five rookies in Oakland history to record at least ten home runs and ten stolen bases in a single season.

Oakland Athletics Era (2024–Present)

In 2024, Gelof appeared in 138 games, all at second base, and became the third player in Athletics history to have at least ten home runs and ten stolen bases in each of his first two major league seasons. However, he struggled with a .211 batting average and led the American League with 188 strikeouts. Despite the offensive challenges, he led all AL second basemen in putouts and range factor while demonstrating excellent defensive metrics.

The 2025 season was hampered by injuries. Gelof missed the beginning of the year after suffering a right hamate bone fracture that required surgery. He was activated from the injured list on July 4 but was placed back on the IL in September with a dislocated left shoulder that required season-ending surgery. In just 30 games, he batted .174 with two home runs. When playing for Triple-A Las Vegas that same year, he hit .256 with 12 home runs and 12 stolen bases without being caught.

Gelof began the 2026 season with Triple-A Las Vegas, where he batted .356 with four home runs and ten RBIs in 11 games. He was called up to the A’s on April 10, 2026, and began playing multiple positions including second base, third base, center field, and right field. He quickly delivered a 24-game hitting streak, which was the longest active streak in the majors and the sixth-longest in A’s franchise history.

Playing Style and Strengths

Gelof is known for his exceptional speed, raw power, and developing plate discipline. Oakland assistant general manager Billy Owens described him as a dynamic athlete with plus-plus speed and serious strength. He is capable of impacting games in multiple ways, combining home run power with the ability to steal bases at a high rate. His defensive versatility allows him to play second base, third base, and all three outfield positions, making him a valuable asset for lineup flexibility.

Notable Events and Milestones

Gelof has accumulated several impressive milestones in his young career. In 2026, he achieved a 24-game hitting streak that was the longest in the majors at the time and matched the longest single-season streak across the previous two seasons. He earned American League Rookie of the Month honors in August 2023. He set franchise records for fastest player to reach six home runs and fastest to reach ten career home runs. His combination of power and speed made him one of only five rookies in A’s history to achieve a ten homer and ten steal season.

Zachary Dunn Gelof Career Wins and Achievements

Across his minor league and major league career, Gelof has demonstrated consistent ability to produce offensively while providing value defensively at multiple positions.

MLB Statistics Highlights

Through June 19, 2026, Gelof has played in 237 major league games, all with the Oakland Athletics. He has batted .236 with 44 home runs and 118 RBIs. His rookie season in 2023 was his most productive, as he hit 14 home runs with 32 RBIs and 14 stolen bases while earning AL Rookie of the Month honors. He followed that with a 2024 season that included 17 home runs and 25 stolen bases despite a lower batting average.

Minor League and Amateur Achievements

Gelof’s amateur career includes being named 2018 Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year and finishing his high school career as Delaware’s all-time leader in runs scored. At Virginia, he led the ACC in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage during the shortened 2020 season. His professional minor league career includes a combined .333 batting average in 2021 across three levels and a 12-for-12 stolen base performance at Triple-A Las Vegas in 2025.

Family

Family Background and Baseball Lineage

Gelof comes from a family with strong athletic and professional accomplishments. His parents, Kelly and Adam Gelof, are both attorneys who met in law school and married in 1996. His paternal grandfather served as a tank commander in Europe during World War II and received a Purple Heart for his service. His paternal grandmother was president of Congregation Beth Sholom in Dover, Delaware. The family has deep roots in Delaware and maintains connections to their Jewish faith and community.

Brother in Baseball

Gelof’s younger brother, Jake Gelof, also pursued a baseball career. Jake played as a third baseman at the University of Virginia, where he was Zack’s teammate for one season. Jake was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft and now plays in their organization. The brothers shared the field together in both high school at Cape Henlopen and at Virginia, forming a notable baseball family duo. In November 2023, Zack and Jake established the Gelof Brothers Foundation, which aims to provide resources and assistance to support youth sports development.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season represented a challenging year for Gelof as injuries derailed his momentum. After suffering a right hamate bone fracture during spring training that required surgery, he missed the first several months of the season. He was activated from the injured list on July 4 and showed glimpses of his talent in limited action. However, his season was cut short again when he dislocated his left shoulder on September 20, an injury that required season-ending surgery.

Despite the injuries at the major league level, Gelof demonstrated his ability when playing for Triple-A Las Vegas. In 38 games with the Pacific Coast League team, he batted .256 with 12 home runs, 31 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases without being caught, showing that his power and speed remained intact when healthy. His performance at the minor league level suggested he could return to form once fully recovered.

Looking ahead, Gelof will aim to return to full health and regain his status as one of the A’s foundational players. His combination of defensive versatility, power, and speed gives him the tools to be a difference-maker when healthy. The Athletics will count on him to provide stability in the middle of the infield and contribute offensively as the team continues to build for the future.