Rule 5 draftee Colin Walsh returned to Oakland A's from Brewers

The Oakland Athletics have accepted Rule 5 draftee Colin Walsh back from Milwaukee after the Brewers designated the infielder-outfielder for assignment last Tuesday, MLB.com's Jane Lee reports. Walsh cleared waivers, and was offered back to the A's for $25,000, half the fee the Brewers paid for drafting Walsh at last November's Winter Meetings.

Walsh was able to demonstrate some incredible plate discipline in his limited playing time with Milwaukee, drawing 15 walks in 63 plate appearances. However, he otherwise went 4-for-47 with 22 strikeouts, earning an .085/.317/.106 batting line in his major league debut. He mostly played third base on the Brewers, but was primarily a second baseman and occasional left fielder in the A's organization.

Transactionally, the return to Oakland's minor league system functions as an outright assignment, and Walsh is not on the 40-man roster. Triple-A becomes even more crowded with prospects, and it's not yet known who will be sent down to open a space on Nashville's roster for Walsh.