PEORIA, Ariz. — A.J. Puk will likely have to wait to make his highly anticipated debut in the Oakland Athletics’ rotation.
A’s manager Bob Melvin said Saturday that “it’s probably a stretch” for Puk to be ready for the rotation by Opening Day with the big left-hander still shut down with shoulder soreness.
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Puk visited specialist Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Thursday, and his second opinion confirmed an earlier MRI that showed no structural damage to Puk’s shoulder. But there remains no timetable for Puk to resume throwing. Melvin said the A’s want him to “do a little more strengthening” before he resumes baseball activities, at which point Oakland’s medical staff will be able to determine a timetable to get him back on the mound.