The spring training 2021 is here! Oakland A’s pitchers and catchers started training on Wednesday and the rest of the team will be close behind them.
Here’s a quick guide on how to follow the green and gold as they warm up in Mesa, Arizona.
Roster
First: Who is actually on the A’s now? You lost eight players to a free hand in the winter and traded away several more. And Nate Orf withdrew.
This is what the roster looks like now. There are currently 39 members, but there are also two new free agents that will join the list so at some point someone else will have to be removed.
Players in –italics have not yet made their MLB debut, and those with an asterisk ** are Rule 5 draft picks that cannot be sent to minors.
| Jugs | Hitters |
|
Appetizers Chris Bassitt (R) helper Jake Diekman (L) (Yusmeiro Petit) (R) |
Catcher Sean Murphy (R) Infielders Matt Chapman (R) Outfielder Mark Canha (R) |
For more information on some of the newcomers, click the links for their names: Andrus / Garcia, Romo, Kolarek, Irvin, Turley, Jimenez, and Tom.
But wait! They’re not the only players in the camp. There are also 23 non-cadre invitees, mixed between prospects and signatories of free agents in the minor league.
| Jugs | Hitters |
|
Appetizers Parker Dunshee (R) helper Domingo Acevedo (R) |
Catcher Kyle McCann (L) Infielders Nick Allen (R) Outfielder Buddy Reed (S) |
Who are you?
- Soderstrom, Allen, Reed, Dunshee, Howard, McCann and Thomas are potential customers who can be read about either already or soon in our Community Prospect List.
- Acevedo, Alvarado, Angulo, Blackham, DuRapau and Supak are minor league signings that you can read about here.
- You can also learn more about Lowrie, Kozma, and Guerra.
- Schlitter has promoted the A’s in the past and has been with the organization since 2019, and Bracewell has been in the system since 2014 but has not yet reached the big ones.
There is also a group of players. According to Melissa Lockard of The Athletic, the team will “have 10 prospects in their” bubble “for spring training, who will train in the team facility and be available for spring games.”
| Jugs | Hitters |
|
Appetizers Bryce Conley (R) helper Zach Johnson (R) |
Catcher Drew Millas (S) Infielders Logan Davidson (S) Outfielder None |
That makes 33 non-squad players we might see, in addition to the one that lands on the 40 man after Petit and Romo were added.
Roster battles: Keep an eye on the second base as well as the general left OF / DH department. We don’t know who the backup catcher will be either, and of course there are always bullpen spots to be won.
Time schedule
In terms of coverage and the start of training, that started on Wednesday (February 17th) only for the pitchers and catchers. The rest of the club will officially begin expansion next Monday (February 22nd).
The Cactus League games start in late February. The schedule has been tweaked slightly from what was originally announced last fall, including the elimination of split squad competitions, and you can see the updated table below.
From MLB.com
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, fans have a limited number of tickets available to attend these games. Click here to shop through the team’s website.
Here is the schedule in text form with all Pacific times:
- Sun 2/28: vs. Dodgers, 12:05 p.m.
- Mon 3/1: vs. Red wines, 12:05 p.m.
- Tue 3/2: @ brewer, 12:10 p.m.
- Wed 3/3: @ Rockies, 12:10 p.m.
- Fall 3/4: OFF DAY
- Fri 3/5: vs. Angel, 12:05 p.m.
- Sa 3/6: @ Sailors, 12:10 p.m.
- So 3/7: vs. In the, 12:05 p.m.
- Mon 3/8: @ Royals, 12:05 p.m.
- Tue 3/9: @ Boys, 12:05 p.m.
- Wed 3/10: vs. brewer, 12:05 p.m.
- Fall 3/11: @ Rangers, 12:05 p.m.
- Fri 3/12: vs. parents, 12:05 p.m.
- Sa 3/13: @ Red wines5:05 pm
- So 3/14: vs. White socks1:05 pm
- Mon 3/15: @ In the1:05 pm
- Tue 3/16: @ Diamondbacks1:10 p.m.
- Wed 3/17: vs. Royals1:05 pm
- Fall 3/18: @ parents1:10 p.m.
- Fri 19.03 .: vs. Boys1:05 pm
- Sat 20.03 .: @ Angel1:10 p.m.
- Sun 3/21: OFF DAY
- Mon 3/22: vs. Diamondbacks1:05 pm
- Tue 3/23: vs. Rockies1:05 pm
- Wed 3/24: @ White socks1:05 pm
- Fall 3/25: vs. Sailors1:05 pm
- Fri 3/26: @ Dodgers, 6:05 pm
- Sa 3/27: vs. Rangers1:05 pm
- Sun 3/28: @ Giants1:05 pm
- Mon 29.03 .: vs. Giants, 12:05 p.m.
The annual Bay Bridge Series against San Francisco takes place in Arizona, as usual in the Bay Area.
Early news
The first day of camp brought some early updates.
The injury report wasted no time on lighting. However, there are already two health problems before the camp even started Frankie Montas (COVID) and Sean Murphy (Lungs) are both expected to become active again in spring.
Number 1 on the team in more positive injury news AJ Puk is back on the hill after missing all of 2020.
AJ Puk impressed in his first session today. Melvin: I think the surgery really did a lot for him. He just looked free and easy. He told me that he feels great. He’s in great shape. The ball had a lot of life. He looked really good.
– Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) February 17, 2021
However, Puk’s role in 2021 has yet to be determined.
Melvin says A’s are “still figuring out what we’re going to do” with AJ Puk this season. “We’ll try to build him up as a starter. Whether we’ll use him from the bullpen or in a starting role or not, we’re not sure yet.”
– Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) February 17, 2021
It’s going to be a long season for league pitchers, but the A’s aren’t getting creative just yet.
According to Forst, the A’s have not yet discussed a six-man rotation at this point. Repeats that AJ Puk could be a starter or a helper and they evaluate where he can have the greatest impact on the team.
– Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) February 17, 2021
In the meantime, a bit of veteran leadership returns with the A’s newly signed free agents
Chris Bassitt on Yusmeiro Petit: “We had three leaders on our team and we lost two. I said: ‘We can’t lose Petit.’ .. He’s kind of a father of the bunch who yells at us and keeps us in shape when we need to calm down. Getting Petit back is way bigger than I think people know. “
– Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) February 17, 2021
Baseball is back!
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