Boston’s David Ortiz has fans in A’s clubhouse
Boston’s David Ortiz has fans in A’s clubhouse
Sunday was David Ortiz’s final game at the Coliseum, and he certainly has made an impression on his peers.
Many A’s players sent jerseys to the Red Sox clubhouse this weekend for the potential Hall of Famer to sign.
“I was in the batting cage and he came in and he gave me a big bear hug like he’d known me all his life,” Healy said.
Catcher Stephen Vogt has gotten to know Ortiz a bit, and, he said, I was so blessed to hear him speak at the All-Star Game, and I’m looking around the room because I wanted to see the way other veterans were looking at him.
Danny Valencia played with Ortiz in Boston and said he was a particularly helpful teammate, but it’s his continued productivity that most impresses.
Valencia, who — like many — believes Ortiz, 40, could play several more seasons.
[...] it’s a testament to how hard he works in the offseason to have that kind of longevity and success.
The A’s confirmed that Raul Alcantara will come up to start Monday against the Angels and Jharel Cotton will go Wednesday, as The Chronicle reported.
Manager Bob Melvin said that Alcantara, who had Tommy John surgery in 2014, has worked hard to get this opportunity.
Melvin said that the team is discussing its plans for Henderson Alvarez, who has made three rehab appearances with Class A Stockton after several setbacks following July 2015 shoulder surgery.
Alvarez is on the 60-day disabled list, and the 40-man roster is packed with young players the team has no desire to dump.
Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
Class A Stockton utilityman Melvin Mercedes played all nine positions Saturday, including striking out two while pitching.