OAKLAND – Stephen Vogt performed the final Main League Baseball recreation of his profession Wednesday — hitting a house run in his closing at-bat — however there’s one other veteran who may be saying goodbye to the Oakland A’s.
Chad Pinder, the longest-tenured and presently the highest-paid A’s participant, is about to grow to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason after 10 years within the group. Given the A’s latest historical past, and its present youth motion, Pinder’s departure appears all however assured.
“Simply attempting to soak all of it up if that is my final recreation right here,” Pinder stated earlier than Wednesday’s recreation with the Los Angeles Angels on the Coliseum. “Soak it up with these guys that I like, to attempt to get pleasure from each minute of it.
“It’s a really particular place to me. I don’t know what the long run holds, however all I've proper now's to deal with in the present day and luxuriate in this time that I've with the fellows.”
Pinder, 30, signed a one-year, $2.725 million contract with the A’s final November however stated Wednesday that there haven’t been any talks with the crew about an extension for 2023 and past.
If Wednesday was Pinder’s final recreation in Oakland, he leaves with one other nice reminiscence.
Within the fifth inning, after Vogt labored a stroll off Shohei Ohtani for the A’s first baserunner, Pinder doubled to left to place runners on second and third with one out.
A’s supervisor Mark Kotsay then changed Pinder with pinch runner Ernie Clement, and Pinder exited the sport to an ovation from the Coliseum crowd and hugs from his teammates.
“It means rather a lot, it actually does,” Pinder stated of the ovation. “It exhibits all of the onerous work that you just put in, it's observed. Whether or not I used to be one of many superstars on the crew or not, or no matter it could be, you're appreciated for the work that you just put in.”
Earlier than Wednesday, Pinder was hitting .234 with a .643 OPS and had 12 residence runs and 42 RBI in 110 video games this season. He’s principally been an outfielder for Oakland however has performed each place over his MLB profession with the A’s besides catcher.
As a nod to that versatility, Kotsay stated he had an concept of possibly enjoying Pinder at each place Wednesday — besides catcher. Pinder declined.
Kotsay stated the unique plan was for Pinder to return out after his first plate look, which passed off within the second inning. However Pinder didn’t wish to doubtlessly finish his time with the crew with a strikeout, so he remained within the recreation and got here again in his subsequent at-bat with a double — his 89th with the A’s.
“He will get one other at-bat and will get an opportunity to exit with the final hit as an Oakland Athletic,” Kotsay stated.
Conner Capel adopted Pinder’s double with a sacrifice fly to middle that scored Vogt from third base for a 1-0 A’s lead, main to a different loud cheer from the gang.
Pinder, drafted within the second spherical in 2013 by Oakland, started his large league profession with the A’s in 2016 and is the one holdover remaining from the group’s earlier rebuild final decade.
“Chad, the staple of six years, drafted, developed, and helped this group get to the playoffs,” Kotsay stated earlier than the sport. “His future on this recreation, he’ll have an effect wherever he goes, if it’s not again with us subsequent yr.”
“I'm wanting ahead to (free company),” Pinder stated. “It’s one thing that I’m blessed to have the ability to get to. Not a variety of guys get to that time of their profession, and so it’s one thing I’m going to get pleasure from with my household and my spouse. I’m excited for what the long run holds.”
If Pinder isn’t re-signed, he leaves with some nice reminiscences, together with one final one Wednesday.
“I needed to take in the present day as only a big day,” Pinder stated. “It’s the final recreation of the season. It might be the final of my profession right here. However the final six years have given me a lot, I simply actually cherished that point that I had on the market in the present day, soak it in with the fellows and take satisfaction in that uniform and taking satisfaction in being an Oakland A.
“If it was my final at-bat, to have the ability to do this was particular.”
PUK HEALTHY: Left-handed reliever AJ Puk’s essential objective for this season was to stay wholesome and obtainable for 162 video games. Though his performances have been uneven at occasions, his continued well being offers him one thing to construct on for subsequent season.
The query for A’s now's whether or not they wish to hold Puk within the bullpen, and maybe make him their nearer, or return him to the beginning rotation. Puk began 4 video games for Triple-A Las Vegas in 2021 however has been completely used out of the bullpen with the A’s.
“We’ll consider that,” Kotsay stated. “A.J.’s a max-effort man. From an innings standpoint, he pitched 66, and to leap to 166 is an enormous bounce. However we’ll check out it and we’ll decide a path that we really feel will assist our crew and likewise the one which A.J. thrives in and is as profitable.”
Puk missed the 2018 season after he had Tommy John surgical procedure, and likewise didn’t pitch in 2020 with shoulder points that finally required surgical procedure.
Previous to Wednesday, Puk had thrown 66⅓ innings over 62 video games with a 3.12 ERA and 1.146 WHIP to go together with 4 saves. He improved his document to 4-3 this season with the A’s 10-inning win over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.
“It’s at all times in my thoughts to start out once more,” Puk stated. “I really feel like I can do it and get via lineups. However no matter occurs, occurs.”