The Oakland Athletics are bringing one of their top pitching prospects to the major leagues as hard-throwing left-hander A.J. Puk will be called up for the first time, according to multiple reports.
Puk, 24, is listed as the team’s No. 2 overall prospect, according to MLB.com, and when he makes his big-league debut after being called up Tuesday, it will come 18 months after he required Tommy John surgery.
The 6-foot-7 former No. 6 overall selection in the 2016 draft has a 100-mph fastball as well as a devastating slider, with a curveball. He has been working out of the bullpen as the A’s maintain his innings so soon after elbow surgery.
The A’s already use left-hander Jake Diekman in late-inning relief situations, with speculation centering around Puk pitching in middle relief as he starts his major league career. The University of Florida product projects as a starter in future seasons.
Puk started the season at Class-A Stockton and has advanced to Double-A and Triple-A as he has shown himself to be fit. He is a combined 4-1 with a 4.97 ERA over 18 appearances (four starts), with just 25 1/3 innings pitched this season.
