SAN DIEGO — The same shoulder issues that delayed the start of James Kaprielian’s season proved troublesome enough to require offseason surgery, A’s manager Mark Kotsay said Monday at MLB’s winter meetings.
Kaprielian underwent a procedure to repair the AC joint in his throwing shoulder, Kotsay said of the previously undisclosed operation. The A’s expect Kaprielian to heal in time to be ready for the start of next season.
“It’s something that he dealt with in the past,” Kotsay said. “I don’t think it’s a concern. I think it’s something the organization and him felt strongly about moving forward with.”
Kotsay said Kaprielian’s rehab process is “going great,” though he wasn’t able to provide a precise timeline.
“He’s getting stronger by the day,” Kotsay said. “There’s all kinds of variables that can place from now until February but the expectation is that he will be ready (for spring training).”
The 28-year-old right-hander started a career-high 26 games last season, going 5-9 with a 4.23 ERA, but didn’t make his first start until May. In spring training, he began to experience irritation in the joint.
Kaprielian figures to slot in to an A’s rotation with few known quantities again this season.
Asked which rotation spots were already accounted for, Kotsay said Cole Irvin was the only sure thing. Irvin, 28, was Oakland’s only pitcher to make at least 30 starts, while posting a career-best 3.98 ERA.
Paul Blackburn was named an All-Star for his 3.62 first-half ERA, but he made only three starts in the second half of the season. Onetime top pitching prospect A.J. Puk has also expressed his desire to return to starting, Kotsay said, despite all 84 of his major-league appearances coming in relief.
“Beyond that, it’s a list of younger guys competing for a job,” Kotsay said, listing off J.P Sears, Ken Waldichuk, Adrian Martinez and Adam Oller. “It’ll be a fun spring training to watch these guys compete.”
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