TEMPE, Ariz. - Rather than join his minor league teammates for workouts like usual, Logan Shore got word Tuesday morning he would take the ball for the A's against the Los Angeles Angels.
A few hours later, Shore was striking out Mike Trout to highlight his impressive four-inning outing. What an experience it was for Shore, a right-hander drafted last summer in the second round out of the University of Florida.
"It's pretty cool," he said. "There's not really any words to describe that."
The A's scratched No. 5 starter Raul Alcantara, opting to throw him in a minor league game rather than let a division opponent get another look at him for scouting-report purposes. That presented Shore with a surprise opportunity.
He responded with four innings of one-run ball, holding the Angels to two hits. The game would take an ugly turn as the A's bullpen got lit up in a 14-3 loss. But Shore's outing was a glimpse of what Oakland might have to look forward to with the 22-year-old. The righty didn't come out of college with the same hype as Florida teammate A.J. Puk, who the A's drafted sixth overall last June. But he's thought to be more polished than Puk at this stage.
Shore went 0-2 with a 2.57 ERA in seven starts with short-season Vermont in his pro debut. This spring, he's been grouped with high Single-A Stockton, but he hasn't received his official regular-season assignment yet.
"That's the kind of lineup that gets your attention a little bit," manager Bob Melvin said. "I thought he threw the ball really well. He had great command of his fastball, a backdoor sinker, good changeup, good slider. He probably got a little bit tired at the end, but he was very impressive. That's the first time I got to see him throw."
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Shore pitched in relief for the A's earlier this spring as a minor league extra, so that helped him keep his nerves in check Tuesday. Still, it was a different challenge tackling what closely resembled the Angels' regular-season lineup, which features Trout and Albert Pujols in the meat of it.
Trout struck out and flied to right against Shore. Pujols flied to right and singled.
"I grew up watching all those guys, so it's kind of cool to get to pitch against them," he said.
HEALTH UPDATES: Left fielder Khris Davis and third baseman Trevor Plouffe, both nursing minor injuries, won't return to the field until the Bay Bridge Series which starts Thursday night at AT&T Park, Melvin said. Plouffe has missed the past few games with a groin injury and Davis has a right quad issue.
"We'll just bubble wrap them right now and send them home," Melvin cracked.
Right-hander Chris Bassitt took another step in his Tommy John recovery with a 30-pitch session that included two sets of 15 pitches, simulating two innings with a break in between.
NOTEWORTHY: The A's play their Cactus League finale Wednesday on the road against the Cubs, but most of the game will feature minor leaguers. All of the players who are heading north to face the Giants will be leaving for the airport sometime in the latter stages of the game.
On that topic, the A's announced the 43 players that will make up their Bay Bridge roster. It includes 30 players from the 40-man roster, six non-roster invitees and seven extras from minor league camp. Oakland officially has 36 players still in camp, with Saturday the deadline to cut down to the final 25-man roster.
ODDS AND ENDS: After Shore left the game, the Angels struck for five runs in the fifth against Liam Hendriks. … The next inning, highly touted prospect Grant Holmes gave up five runs (four earned) in two-thirds of an inning. Holmes was one of three righties acquired from the Dodgers in the Rich Hill/Josh Reddick trade. Jharel Cotton and Frankie Montas were the others.