Jesus Luzardo was awesome pitching out of the A’s bullpen after his September 2019 call-up, filling a role that was always thought to be a short-term thing. The phenom was a starter through and through, with enormous potential when taking the ball every fifth day.
He seemed set for the A’s 2020 starting rotation, both over the originally planned 162 games and during the 60-game slate they’ll actually play.
That’s not how it’s expected to work out. A positive coronavirus test has altered best-laid plans, forcing the A’s to call an audible with the 22-year old left-hander. He spent A’s training camp in isolation, per MLB’s health and safety protocols, before being cleared to practice and play on Friday.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
There isn’t enough time to ramp him up to be in the A’s starting rotation right away. That’s the expectation, anyway, with just a week left before the regular season starts.
Luzardo is expected to throw a bullpen session on Friday and face hitters on Monday.
A’s manager Bob Melvin seemed confident he’ll be able to start the season on the 30-man roster; a determination that can be made after the team sees him throw to hitters for the first time in a while.
“The rotation might be difficult to start with, at this point,” Melvin said in a Friday video conference. “It’s actually about starting with us, we want to see if the command is still there. We want to see how he does. The telltale for us will be when he throws to hitters on the 20th and how he looks throwing to those guys with adrenaline and all that. Command is what we’re going to look for. My guess is that his stuff will be good. He was able to throw during the down period, which allows him to be a bit far along than if he hadn’t.”
Oakland Athletics
Luzardo worked out and threw often while living in South Florida during baseball’s shutdown over the coronavirus pandemic. He reported to A’s training camp asymptomatic and unaware that he contracted the coronavirus until intake testing leading up to the A’s first training camp workout.
Melvin said Luzardo has not experienced the COVID-19 symptoms many have dealt with but remained in isolation while trying to stay in shape where possible.
“He has felt great the whole time,” Melvin said. “That’s one of the most frustrating parts of things for him. He felt so good, yet he was not able to be here. He understands why, but if there are silver linings in this whole thing, is that he felt good and was able to throw.”
Luzardo is expected to start the year in the bullpen, where he posted a 1.50 ERA with 16 strikeouts and just three walks over 12 innings last season. He also threw three innings without allowing a run in a wild-card loss to Tampa Bay.
Chris Bassitt will take his place in the rotation if Luzardo in fact ends up in the bullpen to start the year.
“’Bass’ threw three innings [Thursday] and threw really well,” Melvin said. “He had his best command and his best movement. The [velocity] is starting to pick up as well. I felt really good about what I saw from him.”
[RELATED: Why Bassitt's vital role with A's in 2020 already is clear]
Bassitt might start in the rotation, but could move back to a swingman role if Luzardo ramps up somewhat and is able to take that spot.
“I’m confident that if there’s a need for him in the rotation, that we’ll be able to build him up to that,” Melvin said. “… I haven’t talked to him about a potential role yet. Those conversations will come up in the next few days. I think that, the way we used him last year, we used him for two and three innings. If we’re able to get him up to three innings, that’s enough to put him in the rotation depending on how that’s going and how he does in the role he’s in to start.”