The Athletics have shut down rehabbing left-hander A.J. Puk because of ongoing shoulder problems, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Shoulder issues have prevented Puk from pitching at all this year, which he and the Athletics hoped would be his first full season in the majors. Unfortunately, health woes have stopped the hard-throwing Puk, a highly regarded hurler, from logging much action in the bigs so far. It looked possible that Puk would debut in 2018, but he was unable to do so that season as a result of Tommy John surgery.
Puk made it back from the procedure last year to throw his first 11 1/3 innings from Oakland’s bullpen, averaging 97 mph on his fastball and recording a 3.18 ERA/3.39 FIP with 10.32 K/9 and 3.97 BB/9. A full-time starting role may have been in the cards this season had the 25-year-old stayed healthy, though it continues to look doubtful that he’ll pitch at all in 2020.
Even without Puk, the A’s have jumped out to a 23-14 record and a 3 1/2-game lead in the American League West. They’ve done so despite uninspiring production from their rotation, which ranks 17th in the majors in ERA (4.85) and FIP (4.41). Their bullpen, on the other hand, has been marvelous, as it owns the league’s best ERA (2.20) and FIP (3.22). Perhaps Puk will still be able to help either of those units this year, but time is running out.
Again
Sad to see. I’m still really high on Puk. This is another set back
WTP?
Doesn’t count!
I will do it correctly!
Pitchers are fragile.
Puk is the right handed version of Glasnow. Tall, skinny, filthy stuff, throws gas, but can’t stay healthy.
Well said. Except for the fact he’s a lefty
Meant to say the left handed version **
He was a tank before TJ and its only since that his shoulder has barked. Wonder if his mechanics changed with the layoff, or if he just keeps ramping up to quick without building up his shoulder strength enough,
He needs to be a reliever the rest of his career.
Similar to Graterol in that regard.
Very
Very few guys can throw 200 innings and do it consistently. With his stuff if he gives the A’s 170 innings they would be happy. Hopefully he can next year.
Hope he is able to recover, awesome stuff. Threw many high stress pitches in college, assume he did the same through travel ball.
That 2016 draft seems to be a major bust.
Sure fire players like puk and senzel can’t either stay on field or produce. Other high end college players like ray, Collins, quintrall, Lewis have either completely busted out or not solidified themselves.
High end, top of the draft, prep players like moniak groome and pint are complete busts.
Only established players are Lowe (13) Hudson (34) Alonso (64) and bichette (66)
Hope lies still w keiboom Whitley and Lux
Dark horse of draft- lodolo who spurred pirates and is now in reds system.
Owners spent 268 million drafting players that year. Wow ! What a terrible investment. Potentially not a superstar in whole draft
I think the Indians may have won that draft at this point.
Ian Anderson has pitched pretty well thus far. I’d put him in the potential column as he is still super young. Wentz and Muller are from that same draft class and still have potential albeit no mlb experience I believe :/
Idk man. I agree a lot of bust ok that draft but I also see a few other nice picks. :/. Definitely no overwhelming superstars yet.
Kyle Lewis came out of that draft and the Dodgers Will Smith. Not really arguing with you, bot. The 2016 class is looking kind of light but there’s still some hope.
You cannot judge a draft class 4 seasons afterwards. This isn’t the NFL or NBA.
The Dodgers got Lux, Smith, May, and Gonsolin in that draft. All four have a chance to become MLB all-stars. A whole lot of potential WAR and controllable years in those four.
A fifth, Mitchell White, recently made his Dodger debut, while Jordan Sheffield, D.J. Peters, and Cody Thomas might eventually turn out to be worthwhile picks. Also, Dodger draftees Devin Smeltzer, Andre Scrubb, and Dean Kremer have all cracked the big leagues with other clubs.
Damn, terrific draft for the Dodgers that year…
The guys career hasn’t really started and his own body won’t let him get going. Hate to see talent like his struggle to overcome injuries
This off-season people were so sure that the A’s four starters would hit the floor running. They haven’t. It takes awhile to develop young pitching, they seldom hit the floor running and they almost never hit the floor running after serious injuries.
But the A’s have veterans at the back end and a great pen and are in first place. Count your blessings. Young injured pitchers don’t have to hit the floor running to have good to very good careers. The potential is still there.
WHAT THE PUK!
I played some Semi Pro ball as a pitcher. I tore my rotator cuff and still pitched all year. I just through ephesus pitches on every pitch