MESA, Ariz. — East Bay native Paul Blackburn was among four players the A’s optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Monday, but manager Bob Melvin wouldn’t rule out the Heritage High-Brentwood product making his major league debut this year.
Blackburn got roughed up in his most recent outing, allowing six hits, five runs and a pair of home runs Friday in relief against the Kansas City Royals that closed the gap in what had been an 11-2 game entering the bottom of the eighth inning.
“He had a little bit of a tough time the other night in the night game, but we liked his stuff,” Melvin said.