OAKLAND — Conjure a list of the most iconic pitches in A’s history. Age depending, Barry Zito’s curveball might pop up first, or perhaps Dave “Smoke” Stewart’s overwhelming heater. Maybe Dennis Eckersley’s high-kicking, side-arming, laser-precise delivery appears instead.
Where the repertoires of this recent crop of the A’s highest-ranking pitching prospects might rank in the coming decades is hard to pinpoint, but it’s fun to project.
As a temporary reliever rebounding from Tommy John surgery, A.J. Puk’s high-90s fastball and low-90s slider are dazzling, as a future, starter both provide the the foundation of what could be an iconic combination.