Luzardo will go to bat — first time in pro ball

A year after the universal designatedhitter rule was in effect, American League pitchers are hitting again, meaning A’s pitchers are stepping into the batter’s box in Arizona.

Chris Bassitt and Jesus Luzardo took some batting practice in preparation for their turns at bat as the No. 9 hitters during the twogame interleague series.

“I heard Bassitt hit a couple homers in the Crawford Boxes,” A’s reliever Jake Diekman said, referencing a BP session over the weekend in Houston. “I heard Luzardo might have a really good swing.”

This is Bassitt’s seventh season, and he has nine career plate appearances, including two strikeouts Monday. Luzardo? Zero in pro ball. None in the majors, none in the minors — Tuesday, he’ll pitch his 21st bigleague game and 67th pro game.

Luzardo went from StonemanDouglas High School in Parkland, Fla., to the pros after the Nationals selected the lefty in the third round in 2016. In high school, according to MaxPreps, he had just four plate appearances his senior year, going 0for2.

Luzardo went 4for14 (.286) as a junior, according to the website, not exactly bigleague quality. It’s why, more than anything else, pitchers need to know how to bunt.

“If he does bunt, I hope it’s just a sick drag bunt down somewhere and he runs it out,” Diekman said. “He’s athletic enough, he’s young. It’s probably been six, seven years since he had an atbat, but (starting pitchers) always say their BP is the most unbelievable thing in the world.”

Generally, A’s pitchers projected to make starts in National League parks begin bunting and swinging 10 to 12 days beforehand.

“We don’t want our guys putting themselves in position to get hurt,” said manager Bob Melvin, who got a scare when Bassitt held his hip after a check swing; he stayed in the game. “If we can get a few bunts down, move some runners up and maybe sneak in a hit every now and then, it’ll probably be a plus.”

Diekman remembered his last BP a decade ago: “I gave myself back spasms when I was trying to hit homers.” Well, what do you know? He got his first bigleague atbat Monday in the eighth inning. No homer, though: strikeout.

Pinder still out: Chad Pinder, who sprained his left knee while making a catch in the outfield April 4, will need more time on the injured list than the minimum 10 days.

“It was a little bit more significant than we originally thought or he originally thought,” said Melvin, adding it’s not serious enough for surgery.

Reddick signs: Former A’s outfielder Josh Reddick, 34, signed a minorleague contract with the Diamondbacks, and Melvin was surprised it took so long for Reddick to find a team.

“He’s still a guy that can help you, and he plays great defense in the outfield,” said Melvin. “He’s clutch. He did a really good job for Houston during his time there.”

The deal will be worth $750,000 if Reddick makes the majors.