MESA, Ariz. -- A's third baseman Matt Chapman, who is working his way back from left shoulder surgery, said he felt good Monday after getting his work in the batting cage, rather than in batting practice, due to rain.
While Chapman could be ready in a month, starting pitchers A.J. Puk and Jharel Cotton are throwing off a mound but still a long way from returning after both had Tommy John surgery.
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A's manager Bob Melvin indicated that Puk and Cotton might not be at the same level of effectiveness as before their surgeries, but the hope is that they will be in 2020.
"These are going to be two important guys for us. At some point in time, we're going to have them back," Melvin said. "It's almost going to be like, depending on when it is, midseason or late-season pickups for us. I don't how much you expect them to be back full-go … but I know they're excited about being with the team right now and throwing bullpens with the rest of the guys. The rehab process, a pretty lonely process."
Rain impacts workouts
Early-morning rains kept the A's from a normal Spring Training workout schedule on Monday, so many players remained at Hohokam Stadium for batting practice with hitters and pitchers.
Others went to the nearby Lew Wolff Training Complex. There are tarps for only one main field at each facility, but the stadium and the complex each have batting cages.
"We split everybody up and try to get as much as we can in," Melvin said. "Days like this, not ideal, but as long as we get the pitchers throwing on a field to hitters, then we accomplish for the most part what we want to."
Rain fell intermittently during the workouts. Marco Estrada and Jesus Luzardo, the A's No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline, were among the pitchers to throw to hitters on Monday.
"We're in a short spring here, and every day is important to us," Melvin said. "We just wanted to make sure our pitchers got on the mound against some hitters, because that's kind of the next step."
The A's have a truncated spring for their Major Leaguers due to the two regular-season games in Japan on March 20-21.
Dunshee dish
Right-handed starter Parker Dunshee, Oakland's No. 25 prospect, is on Melvin's radar. Enough for a Star Wars reference in commenting on Dunshee.
"Everybody in [player] development loves him. He's the kind of guy that they tell you, he does everything right. He's quick to the plate, he fields his position well, he does all the intangible stuff well," Melvin said. "He doesn't throw 100 miles an hour, but he has late movement, he knows where the ball's going, he can throw any pitch in any count. Just seems to be one of those guys that kind of has the force within him. He just believes he's going to get outs."
Dunshee was 13-6 with a 2.33 ERA between Class A Advanced Stockton and Double-A Midland last season, with 163 strikeouts and 31 walks.