Puk recorded his first save of the season Friday, giving up a run on one hit and striking out two in the ninth inning of a 2-1 win over the Mets.
Called upon to protect a 2-0 lead, Puk served up a solo shot to Pete Alonso on a 95 mph fastball that caught too much of the plate, but he also whiffed Francisco Lindor and Mark Canha. Dylan Floro worked the eighth inning with the Mets' 8-9-1 hitters due up, and while it might be too early to draw any conclusions about new manager Skip Schumaker's tendencies, the fact that Puk was held back for the heart of New York's order is a strong sign he's viewed as the Marlins' top relief arm.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Dominant spring continues
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Puk walked one and struck out three in a scoreless eighth inning during Friday's split-squad game against the Cardinals.
The southpaw continued an outstanding spring that has seen him post a 7:1 K:BB through three scoreless innings. Puk figures to be one of the Marlins' top high-leverage relievers this season and in the mix for saves as new manager Skip Schumaker deploys a closer committee, but the fact that Dylan Floro worked ahead of him Friday in the sixth inning -- when St. Louis still had most of its starters in the lineup -- could be a sign the right-hander remains ahead of Puk in the pecking order.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Makes spring debut
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Puk (groin) struck out two over a scoreless inning of relief in Friday's 7-2 win over the Nationals in Grapefruit League play.
Puk, whom the Marlins acquired in February in a deal that sent outfielder JJ Bleday to Oakland, made his spring debut over the weekend after he had been slowed by left adductor tightness in the early stages of camp. Prior to being dealt to Miami, Puk was expected to compete for a spot in Oakland's rotation, but the lefty's new organization appears to view him as a candidate for a high-leverage role out of the bullpen. The Marlins look set to enter Opening Day without a designated closer, so Puk could quickly enter the mix for saves if he can consistently turn in dominant outings like the one he turned in Friday.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Throws live batting practice
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Puk (groin) threw a round of live batting practice Tuesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Assuming there are no setbacks coming out of that workout, Puk will be on the rubber for his Grapefruit League debut Friday. He's been taking it slow over the last week or so due to left adductor tightness, but there are no serious concerns about his readiness for the beginning of the 2023 regular season. The southpaw figures to take on a share of the closer role this year in Miami, health permitting.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Throwing off mound Friday
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Puk (groin) threw off a mound Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Puk has been held back a bit by left adductor tightness but has been able to take some steps forward in his recovery. The left-hander should be cleared for games soon if he can avoid setbacks. Acquired from the Athletics last month, Puk is expected to be in the mix for saves as part of Miami's closer committee this season.
Puk has been battling slight left adductor tightness in Marlins camp, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
However, Puk is scheduled to play catch Tuesday and will aim to quickly put this upper-leg issue in the rearview. The left-hander was acquired from the Athletics earlier this month and is expected to work in a high-leverage role out of Miami's bullpen in 2023. He could even see semi-regular save opportunities along with Dylan Floro, Tanner Scott and Matt Barnes.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Closing committee on tap
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Marlins manager Skip Schumaker indicated Wednesday he doesn't plan on using a traditional closer and will instead play matchups with Puk and the team's other high-leverage options, Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald reports. "Our best guys are going to be against their best hitters," Schumaker said.
The 27-year-old southpaw had a breakout season in relief for Oakland last season, collecting 20 holds and four saves with a 27.0 percent strikeout rate, and it appears as though Puk will have a similar role in Miami. Holdovers Dylan Floro and Tanner Scott, as well as fellow offseason addition Matt Barnes, also figure to be in the mix for late-inning work, with Steven Okert (triceps) and JT Chargois potentially options as well. Given the sheer number of viable arms at the manager's disposal, there may not end up being one consistent save source on the Marlins this season, but plenty of fantasy value in formats that count holds as well.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Headed for high-leverage role
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Puk will fill a late-inning role in the Marlins bullpen, Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald reports.
The southpaw had been working on a splitter and cutter this offseason to supplement his 96-mph fastball and plus slider in anticipation of a move to the Oakland rotation, but the trade to Miami puts Puk back in the kind of high-leverage bullpen role he excelled in last season. "[The trade] creates a much deeper bullpen, with some guys with swing-and-miss stuff at the back that's going to give our manager some nice options," pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said Wednesday. "We're probably going to mix-and-match back there. They'll step up and define their roles as we go, but [we have] some guys that have experience back there and it's a much better feeling going into the spring with those guys that we have back there. Lots of options." Puk recorded 20 holds, four saves and four wins in 62 relief appearances for the A's in 2022 with a 3.12 ERA and 27.0 percent strikeout rate over 66.1 innings.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Heads to Miami in trade
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Puk was traded from the Athletics to the Marlins in exchange for JJ Bleday on Saturday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Puk was expected to compete for a rotation spot with the Athletics this spring, but now will head to the Marlins, and will likely be a member of the Miami bullpen. The left-hander is not long removed from being considered among the top left-handed pitching prospects in baseball, but he has battled injuries and worked exclusively in relief since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017. He was effective in that role in 2022 with a 3.12 ERA and 76:23 K:BB over 66.1 innings for the A's. Puk could battle for a high-leverage role for the Marlins in 2023.
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Athletics' A.J. Puk: Will be in rotation competition
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Athletics general manager David Forst said last month that Puk will get another chance to start in 2023, per Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Puk joins the long list of possible candidates for the final few spots in Oakland's season-opening rotation. He essentially shifted into full-time relief after undergoing Tommy John surgery back in 2017, but the 27-year-old former top prospect has stated a desire to take on a larger workload moving forward. "You are talking about a guy who was a starter for a long time in college and the minor leagues, so it's not like he's transitioning and has never done it," said Forst. "I think performance aside, we'll keep track of his health and how he feels getting back into that role."
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Athletics' A.J. Puk: Grabs fourth win Tuesday
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Puk (4-3) got the win in an extra-inning victory over the Angels on Tuesday, firing a scoreless 10th inning during which he issued a walk.
Puk got his three outs on a quick eight pitches, intentionally walking Mike Trout with two outs and phantom runner David Fletcher on third base before getting Shohei Ohtani on an inning-ending flyout. The crisp work was then rewarded in the home half of the 10th inning when Shea Langeliers drew a game-winning bases-loaded walk, affording Puk his first victory since Aug. 21. If this was Puk's final appearance of the season, it marks a fitting finish to a strong rebound campaign, one that saw the big southpaw mostly thrive as a reliever while recording 20 holds and four saves along with a 3.12 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 62 appearances.
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Athletics' A.J. Puk: Saddled with third loss
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Puk (3-3) took the loss against the Angels on Tuesday, allowing an earned run on one hit and a hit batsman over one inning. He struck out one.
Puk's outing got started off in positive fashion when he struck out Mike Ford with Taylor Ward on second base to finish out the seventh inning, but he worked himself into trouble in the eighth and failed to preserve a 3-3 tie in the process. The left-hander generated a pair of scoreless efforts to open September but has had a tough time since, pitching to an 0-2 record, 9.39 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 3.5 HR/9 across the 7.2 innings covering his subsequent seven appearances.
Puk (3-2) was charged with the loss against the White Sox on Friday, allowing five earned runs on four hits, a walk and a hit batsman over two-thirds of an inning.
The left-hander was also charged with his fifth blown save of the season in what was a disastrous outing reminiscent of some of his troubles in past seasons. Tasked with closing out the White Sox while working with a 3-0 lead entering the ninth, Puk's frame started off encouragingly enough when he induced a Jose Abreu groundout, but an Eloy Jimenez solo home run, Andrew Vaughn RBI single and a run-scoring single and double by Romy Gonzalez and Elvis Andrus, respectively, accounted for the game-tying and go-ahead runs for Chicago. Prior to Friday's collapse, Puk had been enjoying a stellar second half of the season that had seen him forge a 1-0 record, four saves, six holds, a 2.60 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP across 17.1 innings over 18 appearances.
Puk struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Yankees.
Puk gave up two unearned runs in one inning versus the Yankees on Saturday, but he bounced back with a sharp effort Sunday. This was his fourth save of the season, all of which have come since July 22. He's had his ups and downs in August, but the southpaw has a clearer path to saves after Dany Jimenez (shoulder) was shut down for the season on Saturday. Zach Jackson will also be part of the closing committee, though save chances with the 48-81 Athletics could be tough to come by. Puk has a 2.53 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 60:16 K:BB while adding 17 holds, three blown saves and a 3-1 record through 53.1 innings this year.
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Athletics' A.J. Puk: Surrenders two unearned runs
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Puk pitched one inning during Saturday's 3-2 win against the Yankees, allowing two unearned runs on two walks and a hit-by-pitch with one strikeout.
Puk was tabbed to pitch the top of the 10th of a scoreless tie and loaded the bases with one out following a fielder's choice, walk and HBP. A subsequent wild pitch let two runs in and put the 27-year-old lefty in line for the loss, though Oakland was able to rally in the bottom of the 10th and walk it off in the 11th. Puk has now surrendered two runs in two of his last three outings and possesses an even 5.00 ERA across seven August innings after taking on a larger role this month.
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Athletics' A.J. Puk: Earns third win Wednesday
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Puk (3-1) earned the win in Wednesday's extra-inning victory over the Marlins, firing a scoreless 10th inning in which he issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts.
Puk preserved a 2-2 tie in the top half of the 10th with a solid 17-pitch inning, and he was rewarded for his efforts in the home half of the frame when Skye Bolt plated the winning run with a sacrifice fly. The big left-hander had last recorded a decision, also a win, back in the final game before the All-Star break July 17, but he'd generated three saves and six holds over that span. Puk's scoreless effort Wednesday also represented a solid rebound after he was tagged for two runs over two-thirds of an inning by the Mariners in his prior appearance Sunday.
