31 A.J. Puk RP

With the 2020 season now officially set at 60 games, Puk should be free of any workload restrictions during the significantly abbreviated slate, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

As a pitcher entering his first full major-league season, Puk, who's previously topped out at 125 innings in his professional career, was slated to have his workload capped at some point in the latter portion of a 162-game campaign. With a season of that duration now out of the equation, Puk is scheduled to be utilized without any true restrictions beyond any early-season precautions the Athletics may opt to take with him during his first couple of turns. The towering southpaw's current conditioning will be evaluated first-hand by Oakland's coaching staff when the team's summer camp begins Saturday.

Puk (shoulder) should be ready to take his projected spot in the starting rotation if the 2020 regular season begins in early July as planned, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The towering southpaw has been one of the various injured players around MLB to benefit from the extended suspension of play, as his early March shoulder strain has had plenty of time to clear up in ensuing weeks. Additionally, Slusser notes Puk could well be free of any innings limit he would have likely been subject to in a regular season of normal duration. Puk was already back to throwing from 120 feet as of early April, and he'll presumably have an additional opportunity to tune up in any continuation of spring training that occurs leading up to a proposed early July Opening Day.

Puk has been long tossing from 120 feet and says his shoulder feels the best it has in awhile, Susan Sulsser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Puk is one of the most likely beneficiaries of the delayed start to the season, as he appears to be recovering from a shoulder flare-up. "Coming back from Tommy John, a lot of people always seem to talk about how your shoulder kind of flares up and you've just got to work through it. I think I was at that stage," Puk said. A theoretical shortened, compressed season could cause added stress on big-league rotations, so Puk seems likely to get starts if he remains on this trajectory.

Puk (shoulder) could have an opportunity to start the 2020 campaign in the starting rotation due to the significantly delayed start to the regular season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The towering left-hander appeared destined to start the regular season in the bullpen just over a week ago, but two subsequent postponements of the start of the regular season have exponentially increased his chances of opening the 2020 campaign as a starter. That had been the plan for Puk coming into spring training, and the No. 4 spot in the rotation seemingly awaits him if he's able to utilize the extra time now at his disposal to completely overcome the shoulder strain he's been dealing with.

Puk (shoulder) was able to play catch Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The towering southpaw continues to progress from his shoulder strain, and he should be able to carry out the throwing program team trainers developed for him despite the cancellation of the remainder of spring training Thursday due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Puk was already likely to miss the remainder of Cactus League play and slated to start the season in the bullpen; however, with Opening Day now delayed by at least two weeks past its original March 26 date, it remains to be seen if the 24-year-old will have a chance of stretching out sufficiently through catch sessions and potential sim games he might be able to participate in if teams are allowed use of their facilities.

Puk is expected to resume throwing as early as Tuesday, Shayna Rubin of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Puk said Monday that his brief shutdown stems from some discomfort in his shoulder during a bullpen session last week. Tests revealed no structural damage, but the delay is expected to take him out of contention for the Athletics' Opening Day rotation. It remains to be seen if he'll finish building up to a starter's workload in the minors or if he'll pitch out of the bullpen to open the season.

Puk's strained shoulder likely takes him out of contention for an Opening Day rotation spot, Shayna Rubin of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The news follows naturally from the fact that Puk has no timetable to resume throwing, but manager Bob Melvin confirmed Saturday that "it's probably a stretch" for Puk to be ready to start right away. Whether that means he'd open the year in the bullpen or the minors remains to be seen. The Athletics' plan for him to start the year probably won't become clear until he starts throwing again.

Puk (shoulder) needs more strength work before he resumes throwing, Matt Kawahara of The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Puk was cleared of structural damage in his sore shoulder, but manager Bob Melvin says there is no set date for him to resume throwing. Melvin said that if Puk is not stretched out by the start of the season he could open the year in the big-league bullpen and "ramp up that way" but added "that's just hypothetical right now."

Dr. Neal ElAttrache confirmed Puk has nothing structurally wrong with his shoulder, Alex Coffey of The Athletic reports.

This is good news for Puk, who was shut down from throwing earlier in the week due to a mild left shoulder strain. It sounds like he'll pick things back up after a few days of strengthening exercises. Puk's status for the start of the season will likely depend on how his shoulder responds once he resumes his throwing program. Given his injury history and relative youth, it wouldn't be surprising if the Athletics brought him along conservatively.

Puk (shoulder) will meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Thursday in what manager Bob Melvin labeled as a prescheduled visit, Alex Coffey of The Athletic reports.

Dr. ElAttrache, who previously performed Puk's Tommy John surgery back in April 2018, is seemingly just verifying that the lefty is progressing as anticipated after he was diagnosed with a mild shoulder strain coming out of his most recent Cactus League appearance. Assuming Puk's checkup reveals nothing concerning, he could resume playing catch within the next few days. Puk still has some hope of being ready to go for Opening Day, but given his injury history and relative youth, it wouldn't be surprising if the Athletics acted conservatively with him and placed him on the injured list to begin the season.

Puk was diagnosed with a mild left shoulder strain Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old will be shut down from throwing until being reevaluated Thursday or Friday. Puk already underwent an MRI which revealed no structural issues, but it's nonetheless a discouraging spring-training development for the young left-hander. Puk's availability for Opening Day will be in limbo until he receives an official timetable for his return to the mound.

Puk, who fired a scoreless first inning during which he issued a walk and recorded a strikeout in Saturday's 12-2 Cactus League loss to the Cubs, impressed with his full repertoire of pitches, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. "The changeup that he didn't have last year, that's what is going to make him who he is," manager Bob Melvin said. "His fastball even plays up because of it. He looked really good."

The towering left-hander threw 13 pitches overall during the outing, nine of which found the strike zone. His most memorable moment came when he mowed down Kris Bryant on three pitches, flummoxing the Cubs slugger with an 87 mph slider after blowing a pair of fastballs clocked in the mid-90s past him. Outside of a two-out walk to Javier Baez, Puk was pleased with his performance, as well as the fact he's now free to deploy his curveball and changeup after limiting his use of breaking pitches last season to reduce strain on his surgically repaired elbow.

Puk will start the Athletics' Cactus League opener Saturday against the Cubs, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Puk made a midseason return from Tommy John surgery in 2019 before closing out the year in Oakland's bullpen, finishing the season with a 3.18 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 13 strikeouts across 11.1 innings. The 24-year-old southpaw will be attempting to earn a role in the Athletics' rotation this spring, competing with Chris Bassitt and Jesus Luzardo. Puk received high praise from his catcher Austin Allen following a live batting practice session to hitters Tuesday at Fitch Park in Arizona. "He looked really good, his fastball was there, he was throwing strikes with everything," Allen said. The 2016 first-round pick by Oakland will look to utilize his 6-foot-7 frame and full arsenal of pitches to keep hitters off balance and impress his coaches throughout spring training.

Puk, who is opening spring training without restrictions, will utilize all four of his pitches this season as a starter, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The towering left-hander was effective as a reliever in his first taste of big-league action last season, posting a 2-0 record and 3.18 ERA across 10 appearances while only deploying his fastball and slider. Puk felt some elbow soreness in his rehab from Tommy John surgery last summer when using the changeup, so he laid off the pitch when coming out of the bullpen for the Athletics. However, as the projected No. 5 starter for this coming season, Puk will reincorporate both his changeup and curveball, giving him a full arsenal that pitching coach Scott Emerson feels will give hitters "a completely different dynamic" when facing the promising southpaw.

Puk is not currently on any specific innings limit, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Puk returned to game action in mid-June last season after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The lack of a specific innings cap certainly doesn't mean the Athletics will let him push toward 200 frames this season, as he finished with just 36.2 innings last year. Expect Oakland to manage the 24-year-old's workload carefully, though it sounds as if the team will be playing things by ear for now with regard to just how much he'll be allowed to throw.

Puk will be a starter for the A's this season, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

This shouldn't come as a surprise. Puk was eased back as a reliever in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, but he has a chance to be a really good starting pitcher, so Oakland will continue to develop him in that role. Manager Bob Melvin said the team might have to get creative with managing Puk and Jesus Luzardo's workloads, but there does not seem to be significant risk of either being used primarily out of the bullpen.

Manager Bob Melvin confirmed Sunday that Puk will remain in the bullpen for the final week of the regular season, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The towering southpaw has gotten his big-league career off to a strong start in a relief capacity, generating a 3.48 ERA and 10:4 K:BB across 10.1 innings over nine appearances. Although he profiles as a starter in terms of his future in the majors, for the time being, Puk offers Melvin a valued left-handed power option that can work multiple innings out of the bullpen as necessary.

Puk (2-0) was credited with the win in a victory over the Royals on Tuesday, allowing a hit and recording two strikeouts over two innings.

Puk completed his second set of back-to-back multi-inning outings at the big-league level in impressive fashion, getting his six outs on a relatively efficient 30 pitches. The towering left-hander now has a four-appearance scoreless streak as well and coaxed his ERA down to 1.93 ERA with Tuesday's scoreless effort.

Puk secured his second hold in a win over the Rangers on Friday, firing two perfect frames during which he recorded a strikeout.

The rookie left-hander notched his six outs on an efficient 24 pitches and served as a bridge to Blake Treinen in the ninth. Puk now has three straight scoreless appearances, and an additionally encouraging aspect of Friday's stellar outing was the fact it represented Puk's first time pitching on consecutive nights in the majors.

Puk (1-0) recorded his first big-league victory in a win over the Angels on Thursday, allowing an earned run on a solo home run while also issuing a walk and recording two strikeouts over two innings.

A day after manager Bob Melvin had explained Puk's long respite between appearances was due to the Athletics' skipper wanting to be selective with what sorts of game situations the rookie would face, the promising southpaw was brought on in a low-leverage scenario. Puk entered in the sixth with the Athletics down 5-1 and breezed through his first frame by sandwiching a pair of strikeouts around a groundout. Although he subsequently allowed a solo home run to Kevan Smith to lead off the seventh, Puk was able to eventually induce an inning-ending double play from Albert Pujols after walking Mike Trout and then was unexpectedly rewarded with his first victory when Oakland exploded for seven runs in the home half of the frame. The outing was Puk's first since Aug. 26, and he's now carrying a 4.15 ERA through his first 4.1 major-league innings.