Canha among Melvin’s candidates to lead off
MESA, Ariz. — With Marcus Semien gone, manager Bob Melvin named a few players who could bat leadoff for the A’s this season — including novel option Mark Canha.
Elvis Andrus, who replaces Semien at shortstop, has experience with 181 career starts for Texas in the leadoff spot. Melvin said Thursday he has also spoken to Canha and center fielder Ramón Laureano about leading off and Tony Kemp is another possibility.
“We do like to get guys at the top of the order who have the best chance to get on base,” said Melvin. “Even though (Canha) has some power, he can make a pitcher work, he gets on base — there are some variables that would suggest he might be a candidate for it.”
Canha, who has one career start in the leadoff spot in 2017, led the A’s in onbase percentage in 2019 (.396) and 2020 (.387). The outfielder and designated hitter ranked sixth in the majors last season in pitches seen per plate appearance (4.39) and 14th in walk rate (15.2%).
The A’s have mostly used Canha as a middleoftheorder bat — he hit a careerhigh 26 homers in 2019 — and putting him atop the order could result in fewer chances for him to drive in runs.
“The tradeoff is … we think we have several guys that can hit in the middle of the order and drive in runs,” Melvin said. “It doesn’t mean (Canha) doesn’t show up there, it just means at this point in time I’ve been thinking about it.”
⏩ Righthander Frankie Montas was “in the building” with the A’s on Thursday, the starter’s first day with the team this spring after he tested positive for the coronavirus before camp started.
“He’s been cleared to be in here,” Melvin said. “I’ll take a lead from the trainers as far as what a schedule is.”
⏩ Thursday’s workout was short after two days with live batting practice. Several pitchers threw bullpen sessions; Melvin said reliever Adam Kolarek and minorleague righthander Wandisson Charles looked sharp.
Sergio Romo has not thrown a bullpen yet in camp — Melvin said Romo is among veteran pitchers building up slowly in spring. Trevor Rosenthal has not thrown live BP to hitters. A.J. Puk could face hitters “pretty soon.”
⏩ With the A’s now selling ticket vouchers for 2021 regularseason home games, lefthander Sean Manaea said he too is hopeful fans can be allowed back into the Coliseum at some point this year. “Let’s get them back in,” Manaea said. “I miss them.”
Manaea said he’ll be watching baseball highlights and “it’s just funny how much more is brought to the table when fans are there and engaged and something cool happens. I know teams were doing their best to try to emulate that (in 2020) but it’s hard to do that when you don’t have those actual fans there. I’m hoping we can get as many people in as safely as possible, but the more the merrier that’s for sure.”