HOUSTON - A.J. Puk, the A’s first-round pick in the 2016 draft, will get some national notice next month when he pitches for the U.S. team in the Futures Game during All-Star Week in Miami.
This month, Puk, 22, was promoted to Double-A Midland, where he has allowed seven runs in two starts. He was 4-5 with a 3.69 ERA at Class-A Stockton. In the two levels combined, opponents are batting .197 against Puk, and one scout recently told The Chronicle “he could pitch in the big leagues right now.”
In addition to Puk’s selection, Triple-A Nashville manager Ryan Christenson, a rising star seen as a good big-league managerial candidate, will coach third base for the U.