MESA, Ariz. – There may be no man in the A’s camp who was more looking forward to Monday’s start of hitters facing pitchers than Mark Canha.
The right-handed slugger spent most of 2016 recovering from mid-May hip surgery. He’s taken swings since then, but Monday was the first chance to test himself against big league pitching.
“I’m definitely ready to go,” Canha said. “Right after the surgery there was along slow time when I had to pace myself getting better. Things have picked up since then, but now I’m really ready.”
Canha, who is likely to split a platoon in right field with Matt Joyce but who can also play first base and can fill in at third if needed, seems to feel it’s too early to worry about the number of at-bats he’ll get in the season.