Sept. 9: The Athletics have formally announced Luzardo’s promotion, adding that they’ve also recalled right-hander Daniel Mengden from Las Vegas. In order to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Luzardo, outfielder Luis Barrera was recalled to the Majors and immediately placed on the 60-day injured list. The 23-year-old Barrera has been out since late June due to a right shoulder issue. He’s yet to play in the Majors but will receive MLB service time for the time he spends on the injured list between now and season’s end.
Sept. 8: The A’s are calling up top prospect Jesus Luzardo, MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos reports (Twitter link). The star left-hander is expected to join the team on Monday when they begin a series against the Astros. Another transaction will have to be made before Monday’s game to create space for Luzardo on the 40-man roster.
It had been widely expected that Oakland would call on the prized 21-year-old southpaw at some point during the playoff stretch, though had it not been for injuries, Luzardo would almost certainly have made his MLB debut months ago. Luzardo was sidelined by both a shoulder strain and then a lat strain in the early part of the season, and has only 43 total innings pitched in the minors in 2019. After a clean bill of health over the last few weeks of Triple-A action, however, Luzardo is finally ready for the Show.
His solid numbers in those four Triple-A outings (3.19 ERA, 4.25 K/BB rate, 9.9 K/9) have done little to quell expectations that Luzardo can provide an immediate help to the Athletics’ pitching mix. All of Luzardo’s Triple-A appearances came as a starting pitcher, though since the A’s are already using a six-man rotation, it’s more likely that the club will deploy the lefty as a multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen.
Oakland has taking something of a patchwork approach to its pitching situation all season, yet the results have spoken for themselves — both the Athletics’ starters and relievers rank within the top ten in several major statistical categories among all teams. As the A’s continue to fight for a wild card spot, however, the club wants as many arms as possible on hand given the lack of proven and reliable talent on hand. For much of the year, the A’s have been playing the waiting game until Sean Manaea, A.J. Puk, and Luzardo have been healthy and ready to contribute.
Though Luzardo hasn’t clocked many innings this season, it has done little to dim his status as one of the sport’s top minor leaguers, as midseason prospect rankings from Baseball America (9th), MLB.com (18th), and Fangraphs (24th) still placed Luzardo very highly on their boards. Originally a third-round pick for the Nationals in the 2016 draft, Luzardo came to the A’s — along with Blake Treinen and Sheldon Neuse — in the trade that sent Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to Washington July 2017. Over 195 2/3 frames in the minors, Luzardo has a 2.53 ERA, 5.44 K/BB rate, and 10.8 K/9, while also showing an ability to keep the ball in the park with only an 0.6 HR/9.
It seems likely that Luzardo would have been more than a third-rounder had he not undergone Tommy John surgery during his senior year of high school. Despite that early surgery, however, Luzardo still generate a lot of heat on his fastball, hitting the 97mph mark during Spring Training and routinely reaching the mid-90’s. Despite that plus fastball, Baseball America ranks it as only his second-best pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale, as BA’s 60-grade for Luzardo’s heater was topped by a 70-grade changeup. MLB.com’s scouting report also praises Luzardo’s curveball, which “has improved and is at least above-average, a pitch he adds to and subtracts from at will.”
Assuming good health and a good showing in September (and, the A’s hope, in the playoffs), Luzardo projects to join Oakland’s rotation in 2020. Veterans Tanner Roark, Homer Bailey, and Brett Anderson are all free agents, paving the way for Manaea, Puk, Mike Fiers, Frankie Montas, Chris Bassitt, and Luzardo to all factor into the starting picture for next season. It’s a relatively inexperienced group with a lot of injury history, though starting pitching certainly looks like it could be a strength for the Athletics going forward, notwithstanding how the team has succeeded despite an uncertain rotation mix over the last two years.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Wooooooooo! I can’t wait!
40 man roster move needed, yes?
Barrera promoted to 25 man & moved to 60 day IL?
Is he starting or working out of the bullpen?
Starting
Bullpen
Everyone knows Jesus saves
yes.gif
a’s fans cant’t wait! Both of them!
Citation needed.
Ha ha very funny. :|
“the club wants as many arms as possible on hand given the lack of proven and reliable talent on hand.”
Feels like I’m in an “on hand” vortex reading this.
“Luzardo still generate a lot of heat on his fastball”
He do, yo?
There once was a pitcher from Peru…
A’s fans are waitin’ to see what he can do
Luzardo was in the mix for the Opening Day spot, he was supposed to be there all season, lol
Montas-Manaea-Luzardo-Puk going to be disgusting next year. Astros better win this year because Oakland is mere health away from taking their crown.
Are you for real. The astros are still crazy good, and they’re going to resign either cole or Miley. And they still have grienke, verlander, peacock, etc. the A’s have done nothing yet.
Slim to none they resign Cole!
Yeah, they’re saying next year we’re gonna be even more competitive, so they aren’t a guarantee for the division. Not that the Astros are bad or anything.
Highly unlikely. Houston is still better, more talented, deeper and hungrier than the A’s.
As an A’s fan I agree with better, more talented (same thing but hey) deeper (probably, pockets) but hungrier? You suggesting A’s 25-40 isn’t as hungry but with no ring (no budget) no ALCS = has no desire, no hunger? Seriously, a team that continues to punch way above it’s budget has no desire?
Irked to reply, clickbait…
Since winning the WS they have added Gerrit Cole, Greinke and others. Oakland has….well….um.
Oakland lacks desire because they are set in their ways. When the chips are down and contact is needed with a runner on 3rd in October they won’t get it done. When they need a bunt they won’t get it done. They lose on their own ignorance. Thus, not hungry.
Nice showing last night.
Hungrier? lol, what kind of comment is that
If anything the A’s would be hungrier than the team that won the WS a few years ago..
Too bad that’s not the case John. Houston continues to find ways to be better and Oakland gets away with excuses. Their season will be over soon.
Great addition for a very talented young promising A’s team…
Wonder if his favorite band is Jesus Lizard?
Ha. Nice.
MLBtraderumors turned off comments on the Addison Russell hit by pitch in face article. hahaha they know everyone hates that guy and doesn’t doesn’t give a sht about his health.
The A’s future is here!!! You now have Neuse, Luzardo, Murphy, S. Brown, and Puk on your MLB roster, with guys like Mateo, Holmes, Bolt, and Deichmann coming soon. I think the A’s trade at least 2 or 3 of these guys on this list to improve their team now.
Possible trade with Red Sox for Mookie?
Caleb,
Love the idea but we can’t afford Mookie’s cleats. We’ll stick with the very good Piscotty, And hope he gets healthy soon.
AFinL
Nah, a smarter and more Athletics-ish move would be to bring back Nerd Power as a FA and trade Profar and Pinder for bullpen depth. Sogard becomes the regular 2B with Neuse filling Pinder’s role on the team.
i thought I knew all the guys added to the 40 man rosters in the offseason, but i have no clue who Barrera is.
Washington sure loves giving away top flight pitching prospects: Giolito, Rey Lo, Luzardo, Dunning
The 2nd coming?
Garrett Cole on line one, inquiring as to where dombrowski will be next year
Who?
Wow what a trade for the A’s. Luzardo’s movement on his pitches is crazy he’s going to be a beast for the A’s. Mets fan here