A's spring training Day 20: Brugman hopes versatility gives him edge

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PEORIA, Ariz. — It’s a crowded competition among the A’s outfield roster hopefuls, and several factored into the storyline of Sunday’s victory over Seattle.

Jaycob Brugman tripled in the fifth inning and Alejandro De Aza drove him home with a ground-rule double to help the A’s to a 5-4 win over the Mariners. Both have impressed so far in camp, and they’re vying for a reserve outfield spot that once seemed destined to go to Jake Smolinski.

Sidetracked thus far by a sore right shoulder, Smolinski made his Cactus League debut Sunday with a start at designated hitter, going 0-for-2. He still isn’t throwing and thus hasn’t played in the outfield yet, but if he’s able to play defense relatively soon, Smolinski is very much in the thick of the race to make the 25-man roster.

Before Sunday’s game, Melvin had good things to say about Brugman, a 17th round pick in 2013 out of BYU who is in major league camp for the first time.

Melvin said he’s seeing “exactly what guys in development have told me, that he’s a gamer, sticks his nose in there, has tough at-bats, gets big hits, understands how to play center field. He had a really good year last year and deserves to be here and deserves to get a hard look.”

Brugman, who started in center Sunday, is solid in all three outfield spots. And if the A’s do indeed keep five outfielders, which seems likely, the ability to play center field when Rajai Davis isn’t out there figures to be important.

“I’ve had full seasons in left, full seasons in center,” Brugman said. “Having all that time here and there, it really helps to be comfortable when you’re thrown out in a certain situation. I feel good in all the positions.” De Aza, a non-roster invitee to camp, played left field against the Mariners but has substantial big league experience at all three spots. Smolinski can play all three too.

Melvin even mentioned that Mark Canha, who is slated to platoon in right field with Matt Joyce, will get game action in center this spring.

PROSPECT WATCH: Left-hander A.J. Puk, the A’s top draft pick in June, was sent down after the game. All told, the A’s reassigned seven players to minor league camp on their first day of cuts, leaving 63 players in camp.

Puk gave up a homer and walked two in one inning of work Sunday. But he earned praise from Melvin all through the early portion of camp, as the manager liked the four-pitch mix that he showed as well as the lefty’s coachability. The A’s have Puk working on a curve ball, a pitch he hadn’t thrown since high school, to go along with his fastball, slider and changeup.

NOTEWORTHY: Jharel Cotton threw two innings and allowed one run on two hits. His first inning was stronger than his second, when he walked two and gave up a triple to former to former A’s prospect Boog Powell, who scored on Shawn O’Malley’s groundout.

Cotton came away from his second start saying he needs to bear down on his fastball command, but catcher Stephen Vogt said he thought Cotton had good stuff overall.

QUOTABLE: “My first impression is he looks really good in green and gold. In my opinion, better than his former colors.” — Melvin, talking about the arrival of reliever (and ex-Giant) Santiago Casilla

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