This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Nearly 20 months had passed since Luis Medina last took the mound before making his spring debut on Monday, a long road that Athletics manager Mark Kotsay was well aware of entering the day.
“I’m really excited for Luis,” Kotsay said before Monday’s 7-2 A’s victory over the Padres at Peoria Stadium. “Injuries are difficult to deal with in this game, especially for pitchers who are coming off a surgery that takes anywhere from a minimum of nine months to 16 months to really be able to pitch competitively. I’ve watched him work tirelessly to get this opportunity again. I’m happy for him.”
Summoned out of the bullpen to begin the bottom of the fifth inning, Medina jogged in from beyond the left-field wall and toed the rubber for the first time since July 11, 2024. Shortly after making a start against the Red Sox at Fenway Park that day, he was diagnosed with an elbow injury that would require Tommy John surgery.
Understandably, there was some visible rust on Monday. Medina fired off a wild pitch early in the inning and was later penalized with an automatic ball after letting the pitch clock run all the way down. Still, he got through an inning on 19 pitches (nine strikes) and limited the Padres to one run on two hits and a walk.
“A lot of emotions,” Medina told MLB.com in Spanish. “I give thanks to God for allowing me back on the mound. I went through a lot of emotions. I’m just very grateful for another opportunity to pitch again.”
Above all else, Medina felt like himself again. His blazing fastball maxed out at 98.9 mph and reached at least 97.5 mph 13 times. As he walked off the mound after retiring Jake Cronenworth on a flyout to end the inning, Medina pointed to the sky before getting back to the dugout, where Kotsay embraced him.
“I just felt a lot of satisfaction to be back out there,” Medina said. “There’s always going to be nerves. That’s something that comes for anyone who takes that mound. I felt very good. My arm feels very good and healthy. I feel very prepared for the season.”
It took a long time to get to this point. Over the past year and a half, Medina blended into the background of the A’s clubhouse at Sutter Health Park, following the rigorous rehab program put together by the training staff.
Missing the second half of 2024 and all of the '25 campaign was not fun by any means for Medina, but he never lost sight of the end goal of pitching in the Majors again, which he took a big step toward achieving on Monday.
“What helped me the most was keeping my mind calm,” Medina said. “I knew it was going to be a long process, and I needed to have a good rehab. I focused on executing my rehab and letting time go by. Thankfully, I’m back.”
Where exactly Medina fits on this season’s club remains an unknown. Because he’s likely to be on an innings limit in his first year back from surgery, the A’s are looking at him as a reliever this spring. Cracking that bullpen, however, will be difficult. The A’s have seven relievers who are likely locks for the Opening Day roster, assuming health. That leaves one spot up for grabs with Medina and a group of around nine other pitchers in camp competing for it.
The tricky part is that Medina is out of Minor League options, which means if he does not make the club out of Spring Training, the A’s would have to place him on waivers. Surely teams around the league would likely be interested in scooping up a 26-year-old with an electric arm.
Sticking with the A’s is Medina's preference. It’s the team he debuted with in 2023, and one he believes he can make an impact within whatever role is needed.
“I see our team ready to have a strong year,” Medina said. “There’s a good energy. The team will make a decision on me. I’m not worried about that. I need to be ready, whether it’s as a starter or reliever. Regardless of what they decide, I have to do my job. Whatever role they decide for me, I’ll be ready.”