ANAHEIM -- Chris Bassitt, who underwent Tommy John surgery last May, will be back in game action for the first time in over a year Saturday, when the A's right-hander makes his first Minor League rehab start with Class A Advanced Stockton.
It's easy to overlook Bassitt's progress at a time when all eyes are on Kendall Graveman and Sonny Gray, the A's top two starters readying to return within days of each other. Graveman (shoulder) is set to come off the disabled list Thursday to start the series finale in Anaheim, while Gray (lat) is on track to be back next week in Minnesota.
But Bassitt, expected to be a key contributor this season to a soon-to-be pitching-rich A's club, isn't far behind them. He is scheduled for three innings -- or up to 45 pitches -- in Stockton.
Bassitt has long been targeted for a June return, which seems well within reach. Around the same time, the A's could have yet another starting option at their disposal, with righty Daniel Mengden making encouraging strides in his rehab from foot surgery.
Mengden threw two sets of 20 pitches in a bullpen session in Stockton on Wednesday, "meaning he's on the right path to coming back," A's manager Bob Melvin said.
"[Mengden] has worked really hard keeping his arm in shape during a period of time where it wasn't his arm that was the problem. So if anybody is in a position to come back sooner than later, it would probably be him."