31 A.J. Puk RP

Puk could face hitters in live batting practice "pretty soon" according to manager Bob Melvin, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The big lefty has already looked good in his early bullpen sessions as he rounds back into shape following another injury-marred season in 2020. Melvin's proclamation supports the notion Puk hasn't suffered any setbacks with his activity level thus far, and it therefore appears likely the team will test him by elevating him to live hitters soon.

Puk put on an impressive showing during his first throwing session of camp Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. "He looked great. I think surgery really did a lot for him," manager Bob Melvin said. "There were times last year that you'd watch him and you could tell he was kind of feeling a little something and guarding his shoulder. That was not the case today at all. The ball had a lot of life, and he looked really good."

The glowing report from Melvin is obviously music to the ears of many holding Puk in keeper and dynasty formats, a practice that's often proven frustrating over the last couple of seasons due to the left-hander's assortment of injuries. Puk was slated for a rotation spot last season before shoulder issues derailed those plans, but the Athletics are planning to build him up as a starter in spring training with an eye on deploying him in some sort of multi-inning capacity to open the season. Whether that immediately equates to a rotation spot remains to be seen, however, as there is also the option of having Puk initially operate in a long-relief role that he performed well in during his first taste of big-league action in 2019. "We're still kind of figuring out what we're going to do with A.J.," Melvin said. "Whether or not we use him out of the bullpen or in a starting role, we're not sure yet. But you can't have enough depth as far as the starters go, and if someone like A.J. isn't ready to start, then he's a good fit for the bullpen."

Puk, who underwent shoulder surgery in mid-September, is expected to start the season out of the bullpen in order to manage his workload, Shayna Rubin of The Mercury News reports.

This news contradicts early December reports that Puk projected to break camp as a member of the starting rotation, and there could conceivably be a change of plans yet again before spring training concludes. However, given the towering southpaw already underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018 and has subsequently dealt with frequent shoulder issues, it certainly would be understandable if the organization erred on the side of caution. Puk didn't need any repairs during the cleanup procedure and was already projected to be ready for spring training since shortly after the operation, so he should be able to give manager Bob Melvin and his staff plenty of opportunity for evaluation over the coming weeks.

Puk (shoulder) is progressing well from surgery and projects to break camp in Oakland's rotation, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

He will be the Oakland's fifth starter if he stays healthy while getting stretched out this spring. Granted, the A's have been overly optimistic with their public comments about Puk's health and availability in the past, only for things to go south, so we should not take it for granted that he will be healthy this spring and into the regular season. There hasn't been much clarity regarding the nature of the shoulder procedure he underwent in September. Even in a best-case scenario, the 25-year-old lefty won't log close to a full season in the MLB rotation, as he has thrown a total of 36.2 innings since needing Tommy John surgery in 2018.

Puk (shoulder) didn't need any repairs during his recent surgery and is expected to be ready for spring training, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Puk was shut down from throwing earlier in September and underwent surgery to aid in his recovery. However, he's expected to be ready by spring training in 2021 since the procedure was a debridement and cleanout of his shoulder.

Puk (shoulder) was shifted to the 45-day injured list Monday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The move is purely a procedural one, as Puk has already been ruled out for the year for shoulder surgery, a procedure he's expected to undergo sometime this week. It remains to be seen whether or not recovery from the surgery will cost him a portion of the 2021 season as well. The transaction clears space for Oakland to add Jake Lamb to the roster.

Puk will undergo shoulder surgery next week, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Shoulder issues first popped up for Puk in early March, and his health has become something of a saga since then. He appeared to be on the mend before being shut down in late July, but he'd been making more encouraging progress since then. He was shut down a second time earlier this week, however, and will end up losing the remainder of the season. Depending on the exact nature of the surgery, it's possible he misses a meaningful portion of the 2021 campaign as well. It's been a brutal stretch for the young lefty, who missed all of 2018 and much of 2019 due to Tommy John surgery. He'll enter 2021 having thrown just 36.2 total innings over the last three seasons.

Puk (shoulder) could begin throwing again this weekend, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

He was scheduled to see noted surgeon Dr. Neil ElAttrache again after getting shut down for the second time earlier this week. Puk is highly unlikely to be built up and ready to return to game action during the regular season, but Slusser notes the southpaw could potentially return for the postseason, although even that seems like a long shot.

Puk's shoulder issues are bothering him again, as he didn't throw as scheduled Sunday and has been shut down again, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Puk hasn't been officially ruled out for the season, though a setback so close to the end of the regular season certainly seems to hint that way. Puk has been dealing with shoulder woes since spring training, though he's been close to being cleared twice, both during summer camp and as recently as last week. He appeared to be nearly ready to rejoin his teammates in a relief role after pitching in an intrasquad game Friday, but he now looks to be at risk of missing the entire season.

Puk (shoulder) will throw again Sunday, John Hickey of SI.com reports.

Puk threw 1.1 innings in a rehab intrasquad game at the team's alternate training site in San Jose on Friday and was expected to rejoin the team afterward. However, the Athletics added another throwing session to his agenda, so he won't be able to rejoin the major-league roster until next week. Once he returns, the southpaw will work out of the bullpen to finish the season.

Puk (shoulder) could join the big-league bullpen early next week, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Even with the doubleheaders piling up, it sounds like Puk will be used as a reliever once he is activated from the injured list. He will have one more live batting practice session Friday at the alternate training site before joining the big club.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin confirmed that Puk (shoulder) will throw again Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Puk has been steadily ramping up his throwing program over the last month and Monday's session could serve as his final tuneup before an official return to the 28-man roster. A further update on Puk's situation should be provided following the completion of his Monday outing.

Puk (shoulder) is scheduled to throw to hitters Monday and will do so again at least one more time before rejoining the A's bullpen, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Puk just threw a bullpen session Friday, and apparently the session went according to plan as the 2016 first-round pick will throw live at-bats Monday and then at least once more before an official promotion to the 28-man active roster.

Puk (shoulder) will be evaluated for his readiness to face live hitters after Friday's bullpen session, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Puk has been on a steady throwing program that has seen him progressively build up his workload at the Athletics' alternate training site in San Jose. If the left-hander's bullpen session goes well Friday, Puk could take the next step toward eventual activation by getting back in front of live hitters again next week.

Puk (shoulder) will likely need a handful of more bullpen sessions before being deemed ready to face live hitters, the Associated Press reports.

The southpaw had a solid 30-pitch bullpen session at the Athletics' alternate training site in San Jose on Monday and is scheduled to throw another Wednesday. Puk may still need at least one more bullpen before he tests himself against some of the hitters at the site as he continues on a path that has a targeted early-September activation date from the injured list.

Puk (shoulder) threw all four of his pitches during a 30-pitch bullpen session at the Athletics' alternate training site in San Jose on Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Puk was able to deploy his fastball, curveball, changeup and slider without issues during the session, and he'll now take two days off before repeating the process Thursday. The big southpaw is slated to work out of the bullpen upon his eventual return to the active roster, and the steady, setback-free progress he's made thus far in his rehabilitation seems to have him on track for an early-September activation at the moment.

Puk (shoulder) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Puk has been increasing his throwing distance since being placed on the injured list with a shoulder strain. He's scheduled to throw a 30-pitch bullpen Monday as well. While the southpaw still doesn't have a timetable to return, manager Bob Melvin was optimistic that he'd be able to come back at some point during the abbreviated 2020 season.

Puk (shoulder) is now playing catch from up to 90 feet at the Athletics' alternate training site in San Jose, the Associated Press reports.

The left-hander continues to make steady progress, as he was maxing out at 75 feet a few days ago. However, despite the encouraging report Sunday, manager Bob Melvin noted that it's still "going to be a while before he [Puk] gets on the mound."

Puk (shoulder) is throwing from 75 feet, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Puk, who has been sidelined all season with a shoulder strain, is reportedly close to resuming mound work. While this is encouraging news, the left-hander still has a ways to go in his recovery. If Puk is able to return this season, it will likely be in a relief role.

Puk (shoulder) is progressing well through a throwing program at the Athletics' alternate training site in San Jose, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. "He feels good, so that's encouraging," manager Bob Melvin said. "I still have no timetable for him for when he gets on the mound or throws a bullpen."

The promising left-hander has reportedly been playing catch out to a distance of 60 feet. Puk landed on the 10-day injured list back on July 22 (retroactive to July 20), but he'll definitely be sidelined for a considerable amount of time beyond that based on the current pace of his rehabilitation.