TEMPE, Ariz. -- The A's dipped into the Minors for a starter Tuesday, electing right-hander Logan Shore -- their second-round Draft pick last year -- to handle a star-studded Angels lineup.
Shore managed just fine, striking out two batters in the opening frame, including Michael Trout, and three overall in a four-inning outing. He allowed just one run on two hits in the A's 14-3 loss.
"That was pretty fun," Shore said. "I'm extremely fortunate to have that opportunity. I know it's Spring Training, but that's kind of something you always dream of, is getting a start there in a big league game, especially to face that lineup with some of the best guys in baseball."
Shore didn't shy away from the Angels' heavy hitters, attacking Trout with several fastballs -- "Nothing too crazy," he said -- and freezing him with one for a called third strike.
"It's pretty cool," Shore said. "Especially being the best in the game. There's not really words to describe that. It's a really cool feeling."
Shore retired his first seven batters and eight of nine, before allowing a run in the fourth.
"I grew up watching all those guys, so it's kinda cool getting to pitch against them," he said. "I've seen them play a lot, so you kind of have a feeling of what they do with certain pitches. I really just tried to go out there and execute my game plan."
Shore's Florida teammate, A.J. Puk, was taken by the A's in the first round last year. In between them, the A's selected Cal right-hander Daulton Jefferies.
"That's the next wave of guys that we've talked about here," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "We've talked a lot about the younger position players. We had a pretty high-profile Draft last year. So this is kind of the next wave, and to be able to see a guy not only pitch in a big league game like this, but start it and pitch against an A lineup over there is fun."
Shore has not been told where he'll begin the season, but said he's been playing with Class A Advanced Stockton this spring. He's ranked by MLB Pipeline as the club's No. 9 prospect.
No. 3 prospectGrant Holmes also pitched in the game. The right-hander -- one of three pitchers acquired in the deal that sent Josh Reddick and Rich Hill to the Dodgers -- was roughed up for five runs (four earned) while recording just two outs.
Worth noting
• Right-hander Sonny Gray (lat) continues to throw to a distance of 105 feet, but it's unknown when he'll resume bullpen sessions.
"He feels great, and he's champing at the bit to get on a mound," Melvin said. "We're not there yet, but he's throwing at max effort, and he's asking for more. We'll be, for obvious reasons, a little bit conservative."
• Khris Davis (quad) and Trevor Plouffe (abductor muscle) will rest through Wednesday, but are expected back in the A's lineup for the exhibition Bay Bridge Series that begins Thursday in San Francisco.
"We'll just bubble wrap them right now, and send them on home," Melvin said, smiling.