Amped-up Honeywell takes crucial first step back

MESA, Ariz. -- Drawing the start for a Spring Training opener normally isn’t a huge deal. Given all that Brent Honeywell Jr. has gone through in his career, though, Friday’s start against the Angels might as well have been Opening Day.

Once one of baseball’s elite prospects, Honeywell was derailed by four elbow injuries that kept him off the mound for nearly four years. Though he finally made his Major League debut with the Rays last season, his limited workload left him feeling like he wasn’t truly back just yet.

“It was special,” Honeywell said of his debut in 2021. “I think when I take the mound to start with no reins, it’s going to be a different feeling. I truly see myself as a starting pitcher.”

Sensing that his first big league start without limitations might be on the horizon, Honeywell understandably felt some extra adrenaline in the A’s 10-8 win over the Angels at Hohokam Stadium. The elation upon hearing from manager Mark Kotsay that he would open Cactus League play was enough for Honeywell to place a phone call back home to his loved ones, who have been his backbone through his rough journey.

"When Kots told me, first person I called was my brother,” said Honeywell, who arrived to the A’s from Tampa Bay via trade in November. “I was excited. I think the biggest part about it is seeing where I’m at in the third inning. That goes for everybody, especially right now with the quick turnaround. I was able to feel good about it afterward.”

By no means was Honeywell’s performance flawless. He allowed three runs and seven hits across 2 1/3 innings. But even though he is competing for a rotation spot, the numbers in the first outing still don’t quite matter as much as coming away feeling healthy, which Honeywell did after facing 13 batters and throwing 40 pitches.

“I was able to get my feet wet again,” Honeywell said. “I’m working toward something now, whereas the last Spring Training I had, I wasn’t necessarily working toward anything. Results are results. At the end of the day, it gives you something that you've got to work on.”

A fastball Honeywell leaked out over the middle of the plate to Jo Adell that was crushed for a two-run home run stands out as the chief mistake. The right-hander was looking to throw the pitch to the outer half of the plate, and he was left even more frustrated by the fact that it came in a 2-2 count.

It’s a mistake that Honeywell said will help him map out the blueprint for his next outing. With a five-pitch mix that includes a rare screwball in his arsenal, Honeywell should have more of a chance to showcase the premium stuff that made him a lauded prospect before the injuries as his workload continues to increase.

“Make a couple better pitches and the result is a little bit different,” Honeywell said. “Good first step to get out there. It feels good to get back in the swing of things. Getting looked at as a starter again is fun to me.”

Game notes
• Though he still has 27 regular-season games left to serve on his suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Ramón Laureano is eligible to appear in Spring Training games for Oakland, and he started the opener in center field. It didn’t take long for him to remind everyone of his cannon of an arm, which was on display in the second inning as he fired a laser to Elvis Andrus that initiated an 8-6-2 putout of Jake Gatewood, who was trying to score from first on a hit by Braxton Martinez.

“Ramón loves baseball. He loves the game, and obviously, it was taken away from him by his own measures,” Kotsay said. “But he took accountability. He’s a part of this culture and a part of this team. We’re giving him an opportunity to get out there with his teammates. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to get games and reps to be ready.”

• A.J. Puk, ranked Oakland’s No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline, arrived to camp having added 25 pounds as he looks to build up his durability for the potential rotation slot he’s currently in the mix for.

The results weren’t what he hoped for as he allowed two runs and recorded just two outs in his first spring appearance. However, the left-hander showed off a fastball that sat between 94-96 mph, which is a promising sign as he goes forward.

“My slider was up a little bit. I gotta work on getting that down. Fastball command was a little scrambled a little bit. First outing, I was a little juiced up just trying to show people what I’ve worked on all offseason. That’ll come as it keeps going.”

• In contention for an Opening Day roster spot, outfielder Skye Bolt made the loudest contact of the day, sending a booming go-ahead homer well up the grass berm in left-center in the eighth. The three-run blast traveled a projected 443 feet.