clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Oakland A's spring training: Jarrod Parker aiming for June return from injury

Also, Barry Zito will abandon his cutter, A's trainer Nick Paparesta rattles off his injury list, the people of Mesa are enjoying an open house at Hohokam Stadium, hints of a bullpen newcomer, and initial notes from today's press gaggle with Bob Melvin.

By Jeremy F. Koo
Jarrod Parker pitching on March 10, 2014
Jarrod Parker pitching on March 10, 2014
Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Speaking to CSN's Joe Stiglich, Jarrod Parker says he agrees with manager Bob Melvin that a June return from his second Tommy John surgery is realistic. Parker threw 40 pitches on Friday, all fastballs and changeups, and intends to begin throwing breaking balls on Tuesday, Stiglich writes.

In other news from this morning:

Barry Zito abandoning the cutter

A's beat writers swarmed Barry Zito after his first bullpen of the spring. Zito told them he's eliminating the cutter in favor of his changeup (Stiglich), and trying to get back to the over the top mechanics of his best years with the A's in 2000-2003 (Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle). Here's what that looked like today, from CSN's Ahmed Fareed:

It's a significant change after throwing the cutter 22.5% in 2012 and 25.7% in 2013, his last two seasons with the Giants. That will make his pitch combo a simple fastball, changeup, curveball combination.

Nick Paparesta: Everybody's hurt but don't worry

The headline is a slight over-exaggeration. A's head trainer Nick Paparesta held court with the beat writers to update them on Sean Nolin (groin), Raul Alcantara (Tommy John surgery recovery), and Taylor Thompson (shoulder).

Sean Nolin is recovering from offseason sports hernia surgery (Jane Lee, MLB.com). He is throwing off flat ground today, and then will next go halfway up the mound (Slusser).

Raul Alcantara is throwing from halfway up the mound as continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery performed last May (Slusser). Reliever Taylor Thompson was held out today with right shoulder tightness (Slusser).

Hohokam Stadium open house: A Day At the Diamond

The City of Mesa and the A's are treating locals to an open house with all sorts of activities:

There's a cute promotional video befitting a public access television channel:

Hints of a bullpen newcomer

Susan Slusser, answering a twitter inquiry on R.J. Alvarez's chances to make the opening night bullpen, responded overwhelmingly positively:

For the moment the bullpen pencils out to Tyler Clippard, Ryan Cook, Fernando Abad, Dan Otero, and Eric O'Flaherty. Jesse Chavez may be in the rotation or the long man in the bullpen, which leaves one place open with Sean Doolittle expected to start the season on the disabled list. Evan Scribner, who is out of options, remains the odd man out for now.

Tweets from the Bob Melvin press gaggle

More From Athletics Nation