Noonan eyes return to Bay Area, but this time with the A’s
MESA, ARIZ. » When the A’s came calling with a nonroster invitation to spring training, Nick Noonan jumped at the chance.
“I was kind of excited. The other side of the bay, I’ll try that one out,” Noonan said.
There was a time when Noonan’s name was mentioned alongside the likes of Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner as future stars for the San Francisco Giants. But as Posey and Bumgarner moved on to major success, Noonan’s career was stuck on neutral.
A first- round pick by the Giants in 2007 out of Parker High in San Diego, Noonan was quickly anointed as their second baseman of the future. He didn’t quite live up to those high expectations.
Noonan remained in the minor leagues for six years until getting his first crack at the big leagues in 2013 when he made the Giants’ opening day roster as a backup infielder. After batting just .219 in 105 major league at-bats that year, Noonan was designated for assignment the following season.
The past four years, Noonan has been on a tour around the country. The organizations he’s played for include the Yankees, Giants again, Padres, Marlins, and Brewers, only returning to the majors for short stints in 2015 with the Giants and 2016 with the Padres.
Now he finds himself witha chance to potentially come back to the Bay Area.
While he started out as a second baseman, Noonan has played all four infield positions over the past few years. That type of versatility is valuable to any club, and it’s the reason manager Bob Melvin expects to get Noonan a considerable amount of playing time this spring.
“He’s gonna get some time backing up games. Maybe a couple of starts. He can play all the infield positions, which works in his favor,” Melvin said. “The first game he’ll be in there somewhere to back up. You’d love to be able to start, especially for a guy that’s been in the big leagues and is a little bit older at this point in his career, but he’s gonna get enough at-bats for us to get a good handle on him.”
It won’t be an easy road to Oakland for Noonan. The A’s have their infield set with Matt Olson at first, Jed Lowrie at second, Marcus Semien at short and Matt Chapman at third. Even with Noonan’s versatility, the A’s already have a super-utility man in Chad Pinder locked into a roster spot.
Noonan, 28, understands the situation he’s in.
“I just wanted get myself in good shape this offseason. Come into camp ready to go, be aggressive, play hard and hopefully leave the coaches with a tough decision,” Noonan said. “My goal is to make it tough on them.”
A positive for Noonan entering this spring is the confidence he brings coming off a solid season in the minors. Noonan combined to hit .275 with seven home runs and 104 RBIs while stealing 12 bases with Triple-A affiliates of the Marlins and Brewers. CHAPMAN GETS PRECAUTIONARY MRI » Chapman did not participate in Thursday’s practice because he was sent to Los Angeles for an MRI to examine soreness on his right hand. No timetable was given for his return, but the A’s don’t view it as a serious issue.
Chapman is expected to be the team’s starting third baseman and a cornerstone of the franchise. CACTUS LEAGUE OPENER » On the eve of Cactus League play, Melvin revealed the nine players who will be featured in today’s starting lineup against the Angels at Hohokam Stadium.
Bruce Maxwell will start at catcher. The infield will consist of Olson at first base, Franklin Barreto at second, Semien at shortstop and Renato Nunez at third. The outfield from left to right will feature Pinder, Jake Smolinski and Stephen Piscotty, with Matt Joyce as the designated hitter.
Melvin said established guys like Lowrie and Khris Davis probably will not play until Monday.
The starters will only play about halfway through games early in the spring, giving non-roster invitees and players lower on the depth chart a chance to prove themselves to Melvin and the rest of the organization.
Daniel Mengden will get the start on the mound, with Paul Blackburn expected to follow him.