OAKLAND -- A’s position players can now participate in workouts at the Coliseum.
After a delay in receiving COVID-19 test results forced the A’s to cancel their first scheduled full-squad workout on Sunday, A’s position players took the field for a late Monday workout immediately after the club obtained the test results.
“I knew they were frustrated,” said A’s GM David Forst of the players’ reactions to the delay. “We’re past that now. I’m not gonna spend too much time on the past.”
A’s pitchers Jesús Luzardo and Mike Fiers have yet to participate in workouts due to what manager Bob Melvin called a “pending issue” involving the testing process. When asked about their status or any other A’s player who may have tested positive, Forst said he was unable to elaborate on individual names.
While other clubs have already begun playing intrasquad games, the A’s will require a few days to get their position players settled in. It might seem like they’re behind schedule right now, but Forst doesn’t anticipate it affecting the team’s ramping-up process to Opening Day, which is set for July 24 at the Coliseum against the Angels.
“It feels incredibly urgent when you’re not out here practicing,” Forst said. “My hope is a week from now the players come out here and say they’re ready for the season to start. Now that guys are on the field, they’re over the mental speed bump. I don’t think they’ll worry about falling behind.”
Since the A’s now have their full squad in camp, all players will undergo COVID-19 testing again on Tuesday and continue to remain on an every-other-day schedule for testing.
As far as on-field action, pitchers will continue throwing side sessions on Tuesday. Intrasquad games are expected to begin later in the week.
A’s close to finding alternate training site
The 18 players invited to alternate camp who are currently in a holding pattern could soon get a home base.
Forst said the club is “very close” to securing a location for the alternate training camp and expects to finalize something in the next couple of days. The facility of the Stockton Ports, Oakland’s Class A Advanced affiliate, is still the club’s preferred location, though the A’s have also been looking at sites in nearby Alameda County. Under MLB guidelines, the location of the training site must be within 100 miles of the Oakland Coliseum.
Among the players on the list to attend the alternate camp are No. 4 prospect Robert Puason and 2020 first-round pick Tyler Soderstrom.