Danny

Putnam

Putnam, drafted 36th overall out of Stanford last year, is batting .294/.363/.450 in 62 games for Stockton. Time will tell if he’s quite good enough to be a regular outfielder in the majors.

Putnam, who saw time with the A’s last month, will be assigned to Triple-A Sacramento after finishing his rehab in the Arizona League.

Optioned to Sacramento earlier this month, Putnam was unlikely to get another extended look in the majors this season anyway.

Putnam made his major league debut in April, hitting .214 in 28 at-bats before being sent down. He suffered a broken hand not long after returning to the minors, and he struggled in the second half after returning. It’s likely that he’ll clear waivers, and if he does, he’ll still be a candidate to see time with the A’s this year.

Putnam drove in 100 runs at Single-A Stockton last year, but hit .307/.388/.479 line wasn’t all that impressive for a 22-year-old in the California League. He’s 23 now, and he’ll need a big year in Double-A if he wants the A’s to view him as a future regular.

Putnam, who was drafted 36th overall out of Stanford in 2004, has rebounded from a 2006 season in which he battled injuries to hit .327/.386/.615 in 52 at-bats for Midland. He’s 24 and he doesn’t offer much in the way of defensive value, so he needs to keep hitting if he hopes to reach the majors with the A’s. He might end up as a quadruple-A player.

Putnam will be making his major league debut after hitting .327/.386/.615 in 52 at-bats for Midland. The A’s aren’t likely to give him much playing time over Shannon Stewart and they’re now forced to use Nick Swisher in center field most of the time, so it’s hard to see Putnam getting enough playing time to amass fantasy value. The A’s will send him back down when either Dan Johnson or Milton Bradley comes off the DL.

Putnam had three hits in Thursday’s blowout to raise his average to .214, but he knew this day was coming. The A’s would prefer not to have to call on Putnam again this season.

Putnam is likely to return to the minors if the A’s get Milton Bradley back next week as hoped.