ANAHEIM — A’s rookie Paul Blackburn’s right hand seems to be taking a lot longer than expected to heal.
Originally placed on the 10-day disabled list after sustaining a contusion that developed after getting hit by a comebacker on Aug. 22, Blackburn is still unable to throw a baseball. A’s manager Bob Melvin expects the Brentwood native to miss at least two to three more starts before there is any possibility of him returning.
“He’s just doing strengthening stuff right now. We don’t really have a timetable for him to start throwing,” Melvin said. “The farther we go without him throwing the more extensive it would be getting him back.