Oakland Athletics: Finding the Team’s Next Ace

A.J. Puk

Puk was the sixth overall pick out of Florida in the 2016 draft. He has two plus pitches according to MLB Pipeline. His fastball is a 70 and his slider is a 65. He also has an above average changeup, which is a 55. His curveball, however, could use a little work as it is a 45 on MLB Pipeline.

His numbers in the minors, ERA wise, aren’t great. He pitched in short-season ball in 2016 and accumulated 40 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings, with a 3.03 ERA. In 2017, he moved to full-season ball and pitched in both High-A and Double-A. In 27 appearances, 24 starts, he pitched in 125 innings. His ERA in those innings was 4.03, and he racked up 184 strikeouts, a whopping 13.2 K/9.

The 24-year-old is one of the best strikeout pitchers in the minors. That bodes well for him to translate well to the majors. It’s a strikeout league, and Puk is one of the best at that.

However, like Luzardo, he is currently rehabbing an injury. In Spring Training of last year, he was originally shut down with biceps soreness, but Jon Heyman later reported that the Oakland Athletics feared he had a ligament issue in his elbow, and he later underwent Tommy John surgery.

Before the injury, he was ranked as the third-best left-handed pitcher on MLB Pipeline, ahead of Luzardo. He is currently ranked as the number four left-handed pitching prospect on that same list.

Eric Longenhagen, in the same tweet about Luzardo, said that Puk was sitting 96-98. If Puk pitches at full health, he can easily make an impact with the Oakland Athletics as well. With Luzardo, and Puk at his full strikeout potential, Oakland could have a very deadly 1-2 combo if both are healthy.