The As have shut southpaw down for the time being due to a shoulder strain, . Theres currently no timetable for his return to throwing. While Ba so wasnt guaranteed a spot on the Opening Day roster he still has a pair of minor league option years remaining his solid rookie showing in 2024 put him in position to genuinely compete to break camp. A 16th-round pick back in 2019, Ba so pitched the first 22 1/3 innings of his MLB career last season and logged a 4.03 earned run average with a 20.4% strikeout rate, 5.4% walk rate and 42% grounder rate. That came on Anthony Davis Jersey the heels of a 4.55 ERA, 27.5 K% and 6.3 BB% in 93 innings (18 starts, four relief appearances) between Double-A and Triple-A. The Athletics currently have , and locked into rotation spots. Last seasons Rule 5 pick, , very likely pitched his way into the fourth rotation spot with a nice rookie effort. Ba so was in competition with , , and for a remaining rotation spot. Its also po sible he couldve cracked the bullpen as a second lefty alongside veteran . Through the first few weeks of camp, Ba so had only strengthened his case. While Ginn, Bido and Estes have been hit hard and Harris has struggled with his command, Ba so has rattled off 4 1/3 scorele s and hitle s innings. Hes only allowed one of 14 opponents to reach (a walk) and had fanned four batters. Things can change in a hurry in a small spring sample, but to this point he could scarcely have done more with the opportunities hed been given. The As will have more information on his timeline for recovery in the days and weeks ahead, but a shutdown at this point effectively takes him out of the running for the Opening Day roster. If theres a strain of any real significance, Ba so could be a 60-day IL candidate the next time the team needs a 40-man roster spot, but thatll hinge on the forthcoming prognosis and recovery timetable. Kira Lewis Jr. Jersey