DEPARTURE:J. D. Martinez have just announced his departure today and now due to

D. Martinez had been out of game action since April 6, but the slugger made his return for the St. Lucie Mets on Sunday, and it sounds like there’s a chance he’s with the major league club by the end of the week.

 

Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Sunday that Martinez would DH for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday and Wednesday, and “hopefully he’s a player for us on Friday.”

 

Martinez had been shut down after receiving a cortisone shot to help with back stiffness, but he resumed swinging earlier this week.

In his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning for St. Lucie on Sunday, Martinez roped a single to left-center field.

 

Then, in the bottom of the second, Martinez ripped a double down the left field line.

After appearing only in 10 games last season due to a right UCL sprain that sidelined him for three months, the right-handed Mason Miller has been electric through seven appearances as the Athletics’ shut-down closer for the 2024 MLB season.

 

Oakland’s former No. 1-ranked pitching prospect continued to shine Monday, as he sealed the A’s 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees by striking out Anthony Volpe, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge — three of MLB’s most feared bats — in order in the ninth.

“I mean, walking around before the game, yeah, it’s definitely got a different air about it, for sure,” Miller said after pitching at Yankee Stadium for the first time. “But getting in the game, it’s me and the guy in the box. You know, obviously, three really talented hitters and a really talented team, so to lock it down like that was great.”

 

While his fastball peaked at 103.3 mph on Monday, Miller preserved his season total of hits allowed at six over nine innings.

 

Miller has emerged as a reliable arm in the A’s bullpen. Oakland manager Mark Kotsay acknowledged the 25-year-old’s dominance and adaptability, considering Miller originally was slated to be a starter when the A’s selected him 97th in the 2021 MLB Draft.

 

“I mean, the kid from day one in this role has embraced it,” Kotsay told reporters after the A’s win. “He’s got the stuff to be a back-end guy. He’s starting to prove it right now. There’s a lot of confidence when he takes that mound behind him, as well.