OAKLAND -- Chris Herrmann appears to be in the final stages of his rehab from right knee surgery.

Before Monday’s series opener against the Angels, Herrmann took part in baserunning drills with A’s trainers at the Oakland Coliseum. The running progression was the final hurdle for Herrmann before beginning a potential Minor League rehab assignment.

“He’s coming along pretty quickly,” manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s one of the last things we look at, especially for a guy with a knee issue, is the baserunning stuff. I haven’t heard as far as the timing of when he would potentially go out, but he’s doing all baseball activities and running, which probably means he’s not too far away.”

The A’s signed Herrmann to a one-year deal in December. A left-handed hitting catcher, Herrmann was expected to begin the season splitting time with either Josh Phegley or Nick Hundley in a platoon role before a knee injury sidelined him early in Spring Training. In 36 games with Seattle in 2018, Herrmann hit .237 with two home runs and seven RBIs.

Preparing for Ohtani

When the A’s took three out of four games from the Angels earlier this season, it came against a lineup that was missing Shohei Ohtani, who was still recovering from Tommy John surgery.

It’ll be the first time the A’s face Ohtani in 2019, but they had a first-hand look at what the Japanese star brings to the table in his breakout '18 rookie campaign. Ohtani went 10-for-36 (.278) with a home run and six RBIs in 10 games against Oakland last season.

“We knew all about the pitching in Spring Training last year, and then got to see that he’s an excellent hitter,” Melvin said. “He’s got power, can hit the ball to all fields, athletic and can run. He just makes their lineup deeper and they have a better team now than we saw at the beginning of the year. They look like they’re playing a lot better.”