OAKLAND -- Still going through a rebuild, a large part of this season for the A’s is focused on identifying everyday players, especially those at the spots up the middle -- catcher, shortstop, center field -- generally regarded as the most essential positions on the field.

Nearly two months into the 2024 campaign, JJ Bleday is asserting himself in center. His performance in Oakland’s 4-3 loss to the Rockies in 12 innings at the Coliseum on Wednesday night was a prime example.

Offensively, Bleday was one of the few hitters in the A’s lineup who got going against Colorado starter Austin Gomber, who dominated with eight innings of one-run ball. Working a 2-0 count against Gomber with one out in the fourth, Bleday unloaded on a fastball left over the middle for a 392-foot solo shot to right-center that was scorched at an exit velocity of 102.4 mph.

The homer was Bleday’s sixth of the year. More importantly, it was his third off a left-handed pitcher, continuing to show an ability to hit in any matchup. Last season, Bleday, a left-handed batter, hit just .154 with one homer in 72 plate appearances against southpaws.

“Sometimes you need that lefty to get you out of a rut and change things up,” Bleday said. “See different angles of the game. I was able to hit [lefties] in Triple-A. My goal is to try to hit them in the big leagues.”

Bleday -- acquired in a February 2023 trade with the Marlins for left-hander A.J. Puk -- is establishing himself as an everyday presence in the middle of the outfield and middle of the order. He’s started 44 of Oakland’s first 51 games in center field, while Wednesday was his 35th game batting either second or third in the A’s lineup.

“JJ is performing in that center field spot,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “He’s got an opportunity to play against lefties right now, which we want. Having those [everyday] guys fill the middle of the field is important.”

Defense is also a big part of Bleday’s increased role. Though he mainly played the corner outfield spots throughout his standout college career at Vanderbilt, which led to his selection as the No. 4 overall pick by the Marlins in the 2019 MLB Draft, Bleday has vastly improved his routes and efficiency in center since joining the A’s. On Wednesday, he took away a hit from Jordan Beck with a slick sliding catch in shallow center to end the top of the third.

“A lot of it is just comfort and getting the reps,” Bleday said. “Last year was really my first taste of getting that angle of [center field]. I knew I could do it. It was just about taking those reps and being serious about it in batting practice and early work. I’m focusing on that first step and sprinting to the baseball.”

Since the A’s entered their current rebuild phase just before the 2022 season, the most games started by a single player in center field over a season was 100 by Esteury Ruiz in 2023. Bleday is on pace to easily eclipse that mark, and he’s earned it with his solid glovework.

“His instincts are better,” Kotsay said of Bleday. “He’s getting better jumps on the baseball. He’s improved a lot going back on the ball and running to the spot. He continues to improve as a player all-around, which we felt would happen.”

Month by month, Bleday has shown the gradual improvement the A’s want from their young players. After hitting .233 with three homers and a .712 OPS over 27 games in April, the 26-year-old outfielder is now batting .250 (18-for-72) with three homers and a .841 OPS in 20 May games. Entering Wednesday, his 1.1 bWAR ranked fourth among A’s position players behind Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers and Abraham Toro.

That’s why in a tie ballgame on Wednesday, in the 11th, with Toro the automatic runner at second base, the A’s felt good about Bleday leading off the inning. He ultimately was one of three A’s batters who struck out against Nick Mears in a game that saw the A’s tie it up in the ninth on Zack Gelof’s two-out RBI single but finish an overall 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

“JJ is one of our better hitters right now,” Kotsay said. “He’s swung the bat well, so we had confidence in him getting a ball he can pull to the right side of the diamond.”