Gray to extended spring
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sonny Gray is two weeks or so from returning to the A’s. The righthander, recovering from a lat strain, will go to extended spring training in Arizona to throw three innings in a game at the team’s minor-league complex Monday and probably will go on a rehab assignment after that.
Manager Bob Melvin said that Gray is still on track to return to the A’s in late April “or first of May, something like that.”
Gray threw 30 pitches in the bullpen Thursday, then two sets of 15 pitches each to bench coach Mark Kotsay and bullpen catcher Jeremy Dowdy. “Everything’s been right on track so far,” said Gray, who has been out for a little over five weeks.
“He looked really good,” Dowdy said. “He was in control of the zone and his velocity was good. His breaking ball was great. He was commanding all four pitches in and out.”
Gray is impressed with the starting pitching Oakland has enjoyed.
“It’s been awesome to see it and be around,” he said, “because I have every intention to be a big part of this when I get back.”
Reddick’s return: Josh Reddick, the right fielder for Oakland’s 2012-14 playoff teams, will be in town with the Astros this weekend for the first time since being traded to the Dodgers on Aug. 1.
“I’m sure he’ll get a warm reception in Oakland,” second baseman Jed Lowrie said. “I think I got booed when I came back as an Astro, but Red was in a different category. He was very much a fan favorite and had a good relationship with those right-field bleacher creatures.”
Reliever Sean Doolittle is used to facing former teammates, but Reddick was his teammate for longer than most. “I’m sure it will be weird,” Doolittle said. “He’s a guy who was one of the faces of the team for so many years when we were doing some pretty cool things. I hardly recognize him; he cut his hair.”
Briefly: Friday night starter Kendall Graveman flew back to the Bay Area on Thursday, with the A’s playing a night game at K.C . ... Parking at the Coliseum on Sunday will be $40 with the Warriors also in action.