Mengden to start in spring opener
MESA, Ariz. — Daniel Mengden, an early favorite for the No. 3 spot in the rotation, will be the first pitcher the A’s use this spring.
Barring any snafus, Mengden will start Oakland’s Cactus League opener Friday, The Chronicle has learned. Paul Blackburn, a strong candidate to make the rotation, also is in line to pitch in the game against the Angels at Hohokam Stadium.
Mengden turned in a super September, going 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA after being recalled early in the month.
Manager Bob Melvin called Mengden’s September “borderline spectacular . ... As good as it was, how could you not say this guy probably has a leg up when it comes to being in the rotation?”
Mengden, 24, was asked how he plans to build on that month.
“I’m going to do exactly what I did in September,” he said. “I’m going to try to attack the hitters, use all my pitches.”
Blackburn, who is from Brentwood, went 3-1 with a 3.22 ERA after being called up July 1, but a line drive off his hand ended his season in late August. Wahl back on track: Bobby Wahl, who made it up briefly last year with Oakland before surgery ended his season, is in fine form this spring. On Sunday, Wahl threw his second bullpen session of camp, and afterward Melvin said it doesn’t look like Wahl had surgery.
“Shoot, we were getting him at 93-94 miles per hour in his bullpen,” Melvin said. “That’s tough to do. Obviously, he’s working hard to get back.”
Wahl had thoracicoutlet surgery Aug. 14, and a few days later, he felt great. Wahl, 26, wonders now how long he had been dealing with the issues, which are tough to diagnose, because he had pain for years.
“The biggest thing is my arm isn’t as heavy in the beginning of my arm path,” Wahl said. “I don’t have to pick it up and throw it like a grenade. Everything is really nice and easy and smooth. And I can wake up now and not wonder, ‘Can I throw a baseball today?’ I don’t have to convince myself.”
Wahl arrived at camp early, and pitching coach Scott Emerson said the right-hander is back on the team’s radar.
“I told him these are the best bullpens you’ve thrown since you’ve been in this organization,” Emerson said. “He’s under control, his hand is getting to the spot, he’s in the lane.”
Briefly: A.J. Puk was on the mound for another bullpen session, and the team’s top prospect again impressed. Puk isn’t likely to break camp with the A’s, but most managers wouldn’t say no to a 6-foot-7 left-hander who throws in the upper 90s. “It’s tempting ... to say, ‘Let’s just start with him,’ ” Melvin said. “My guess is he’d do pretty well . ... He could push his way here in a hurry in a starting role.” ... With a shortened spring training, thanks to more days off during the regular season, the A’s will not play any intrasquad games this year . ... The team’s first full workout is Monday, and pitchers will throw batting practice to hitters at Fitch Park the next four days.