Smolinski progressing
Jake Smolinski took batting practice for the first time since his mid-March shoulder surgery and threw up to 60 feet Tuesday, a progression that has A’s manager Bob Melvin believing the outfielder could be playing during the season’s final month.
“I watched him throw today, and it looks good. That’s going to be the last thing with him, because of the shoulder surgery,” said Melvin, who didn’t speculate about whether Smolinski would be playing at the major- or minor-league level in September. “This is a hardworking guy and a talented guy. He was kind of lost in the shuffle with not having a spring training, but he’s a guy who, going into the offseason, we thought might be our center fielder.”
Smolinski, a 28-year-old who had the torn labrum repaired in his throwing shoulder, hit .238 with seven home runs, 27 RBIs and 28 runs scored in 99 games last season.
Bullpen help: Right-hander Ryan Dull, on the disabled list with a strained right knee since May 20, is expected to rejoin the team at the end of its upcoming road trip or when the team returns from Toronto on July 28, according to Melvin.
The reliever excelled in wriggling out of jams last season, an attribute that could be more important following Sunday’s trade of back-end relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to Washington.
“It’ll be nice to have him back. We saw what he did last year,” Melvin said. “He’s kind of the guy who comes in and, for the most part, cleans up the mess.”
As a 2016 rookie, Dull recorded a 2.42 ERA and a .186 opponents’ batting average in 70 relief appearances. Opponents hit .086 against him with runners in scoring position.
Heart and hustle: Yonder Alonso was named by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association as the A’s nominee for the Heart and Hustle Award, which is given to players who demonstrate passion for the game.
“You look at the names in the past, and they’ve been significant,” Melvin said. “There have been a lot of good things for Yonder this year, and this is included. It’s just another feather in his cap.”