A’s to Open Gates Early for Batting Practice on Fridays

OAKLAND, Calif.—The Oakland Athletics announced today the team will open gates to O.co Coliseum one hour earlier for all remaining Friday home games this season, affording fans the rare opportunity to watch 2013 Home Run Derby champion Yoenis Céspedes take batting practice.

All gates will open at 4:30 p.m. Friday, July 26 prior to the A’s game against the Los Angeles Angels, with Céspedes scheduled to hit at approximately 4:40 p.m. Gates will also open at 4:30 p.m., two hours and 35 minutes before first pitch, on subsequent Fridays when Oakland plays Texas (Aug. 2), Cleveland (Aug. 16), Tampa Bay (Aug. 30), Houston (Sept. 6) and Minnesota (Sept. 20).

In addition, A’s fans will be treated to an even earlier admission on Yoenis Céspedes Bobblehead Night Saturday, Aug. 17, with the Coliseum opening at 2:30 p.m., three hours and and 35 minutes before the Oakland-Cleveland game.

As always, batting practice schedules are subject to change and BP is not guaranteed to take place for any of the A’s or visiting players.

Earlier this week, Céspedes won the annual MLB Home Run Derby during pre-All-Star Game festivities at Citi Field in New York, hitting 32 home runs, including 17 in the competition’s first round.