Brooks, acquired from Royals, to start Saturday
OAKLAND -- Aaron Brooks, who arrived in Oakland before Friday's 2-1 loss after being dealt from the Royals on Tuesday, will start for the A's on Saturday against the Indians.
Brooks, who was born in Montclair, Calif., and attended Cal State Bernardino, will have at least 10 family members in the crowd when he makes his second Major League start. A good chunk of his relatives hasn't seen him pitch in seven years because they live in Southern California and he was in the Midwest.
"Two sisters, mom, dad, stepmom, girlfriend, her brother, my uncle, couple grandparents," Brooks said. "They're all going to be here. They can't wait."
And neither can Brooks, the 6-foot-4 right-hander who has spent most of the year with Triple-A Omaha. Brooks finished 6-5 with a 3.71 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) with Omaha and yielded three runs in 4.1 innings in two appearances with the Royals.
He said he wasn't expecting the Royals to move as many players as they did, but he's eager to start fresh and contribute with a new club.
"I think getting the ball right away, coming from Triple-A straight here, is a big confidence boost and something I've got to take advantage of," Brooks said.
Brooks had never been to the Coliseum before Friday, but he said he felt a bit at home because fellow starter Jesse Chavez is from the same area. "California soil, for sure," as he put it.
He also reconnected with former Royal Billy Butler, with whom he overlapped briefly in Kansas City.
Brooks said pitching out of the bullpen with Kansas City was a "different beast," and that he's excited his first appearance in Oakland will be a start.
He hopes he can keep the starting role as a full-time gig, but is mostly excited just to pitch in the Majors again, regardless of the role.
"I just want to take it all in and try to do my best to get us a win," Brooks said.
Worth noting
• Left-hander Sean Doolittle, rehabbing a strained left shoulder, is continuing to make steady progress. He played catch Friday and will throw a second bullpen Saturday.
• Outfielder Coco Crisp, recovering from a strained neck, "felt great" after playing nine innings for Class A Advanced Stockton Thursday and planned to play nine innings again Friday, according to Melvin. Melvin said Crisp would play in one more rehab game and could rejoin the A's on Sunday.