Athletics Shut Down A.J. Puk Due To Shoulder Problems
Sep 8, 2020, 9:28 AM | Updated: 9:30 am
(Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
The 25 year-old left-hander has not appeared in a game this season due to shoulder issues
After impressive debuts in 2019 by rookie left-handed pitchers A.J. Puk and Jesus Luzardo, the Oakland Athletics seemed as if they would get a much longer look at the duo in 2020.
That has not been the case, with Luzardo missing the beginning of the season due to COVID-19 and Puk being shut down with no timetable for a return, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Puk, who was expected to debut in 2018 but missed the season due to Tommy John surgery, made his first appearance in an A’s uniform during the 2019 season.
The Florida alumni went 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 11.1 innings pitched.
Luzardo and Puk were seen as possible rotation candidates for the shortened season, with Luzardo returning earlier this season to claim him turn every five days.
It is unlikely that Puk pitches for Oakland in 2020, barring a return late during the A’s hopeful playoff run.
The A’s rotation currently ranks 17th in the league in ERA (4.85), although Oakland holds a 4.5 game lead over the second-place Houston Astros with 22 games remaining.
