ANAHEIM - Chris Bassett will hit a major milestone Saturday when he pitches for Class-A Stockton, his first game action since Tommy John surgery last May 6. A’s manager Bob Melvin said that Bassett will throw three innings and about 45 pitches.
Minor-league rehab assignments are limited to 30 days for pitchers, which puts Bassett’s return date to the A’s right at the start of June. The A’s are likely to want Bassitt to use the full rehab assignment time after missing all but five games last year.
The A’s are currently without two other members of the rotation, but Kendall Graveman (shoulder) will come off the DL Thursday to start at Anaheim, and Sonny Gray (lat) appears to be a good bet to make a start at Minnesota next week.