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07/12/2008 1:20 AM ET
A's regretfully option Bankston
Prospect hit .294 in nine games, moved with arrival of Murton
By Jane Lee / MLB.com
Wes Bankston hit .294 with a homer and three RBIs in nine games with Oakland. (David Godinez/MLB.com)

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OAKLAND -- At the same time newbie Matt Murton was suiting up in A's gear just a few hours after his Oakland arrival, Wes Bankston stood a couple of lockers away wearing a slightly different expression on his face.

Both were looking around in a daze. There was Murton -- acquired with Friday starter Sean Gallagher in Tuesday's trade with the Cubs -- preparing to meet new teammates, don a new uniform and compete in new division against a new rival all in one night. Then there was Bankston, the young A's infielder wearing jeans and a T-shirt, suddenly preparing to return to Triple-A Sacramento, where he was optioned to make room for Murton.

"You can't really expect something like this," a disappointed Bankston said. "I thought I was swinging the bat well, but this is how it goes."

The thing is, Bankston was swinging the bat well, which prompted a bit of confusion among the Oakland contingent upon learning of the move. In fact, in the nine games he started after being selected from Sacramento on July 2, he was swinging better than anyone else in the A's clubhouse -- with a manager and numbers to back it up.

"He was the hottest hitter on the team," skipper Bob Geren said. "He's not going to be far away if we need him, though. He made a great first impression."

At the time of his demotion, Bankston was batting .294 with a home run and three RBIs. He started every game following his promotion, including five at first base and four at DH. The transaction, Geren said, came because of the team's call for an outfielder with the injured Ryan Sweeney out.

"I guess they needed an outfielder," Bankston said. "But this was everything I expected and more. It was a great experience, and hopefully I'm back here soon."

The 22-year-old youngster returns to Triple-A where he was batting .275 with 14 home runs and 51 RBIs in 70 games prior to his initial departure. Bankston said the change in uniform won't change his mind-set, though.

"This is not really the way I wanted to go down," he said, "but I'm trying to stay positive and don't take this as a negative. Hopefully I play well and will be back shortly."

Bankston will join the River Cats on Saturday in Utah, where the A's Triple-A club is playing a four-game set against the Salt Lake Bees. The plane trip, alone, will be motivation for the youngster to make his way back up to The Show.

"The flights up here are 10-times better than in Sacramento," he said with a smile.

Jane Lee is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.