Cedar Rapids’ A.J. Puk stands tall at Futures Game

MIAMI — More than A.J. Puk's physical stature at 6-foot-7, the Cedar Rapids Washington graduate had that towering feeling among his USA teammates on the third base line during team introductions Sunday afternoon at Marlins Park.

After all, he was side-by-side with baseball's best major league prospects.

Among the minor leaguers gathered in Miami for the All-Star Futures Game, a prelude to Tuesday's Major League Baseball All-Star Game, only Miami Marlins pitching prospect Tayron Guerrero on the World Team, listed at 6-foot-8, stood taller than Puk.

Protecting a 7-4 lead with one out in the ninth, Puk followed a line of the USA's nine other pitchers.

He closed out the game in the ninth, but not before making the game interesting with two runs surrendered, one unearned, in the USA's 7-6 victory.

'Sitting for eight innings and starting to get going, it took a little while, but it was all right,' said Puk, 22, who's in his second professional season in the Oakland Athletics organization after being picked sixth overall in the 2016 draft out of the University of Florida.

Despite a shaky ninth, USA Manager and former Marlins catcher Charles Johnson said he was impressed.

'I like his stuff. He really pounded the (strike) zone,' Johnson said. 'He throws hard from the left side and I believe he's going to be a solid, solid big league player one day.'

Before Sunday, Puk last pitched on July 2 with Midland, the Athletics' Double-A affiliate in the Texas League. It was the best of the left-hander's three starts with the RockHounds since his June promotion from Stockton (Class A) in the California League. Puk pitched five shutout innings against Tulsa before he was touched for two runs in the sixth, his final inning of work in Midland's 5-3 loss.

That was a major step forward after Puk's previous start, a nightmare in the midst of his shortest outing of the year. Tagged for three hits, combined with three walks, Puk lasted only one-third of an inning June 24 at San Antonio.

Puk said he already has noticed a difference in the two levels of professional baseball.

'I'd definitely say the hitters' approach,' said Puk, who makes his home in Tampa during the offseason. 'They're definitely more patient. They don't chase as much.'

Puk was promoted from Stockton after his June 19 start when he surrendered one run, struck out 11 and walked one in 6 2/3 innings. However, without any run support, the Ports lost to Visalia, 3-0.

That pitching line was more reminiscent of his days with the Gators. In his junior season last year, Puk dominated with opposing hitters compiling only a combined .191 average against him, second-best in the SEC. Even with 16 starts for the Gators in '16, Puk didn't rank among the top 15 in the SEC in innings pitched (73.2 IP) because his Florida Coach, Kevin O'Sullivan, closely monitors his pitchers' workload.

'In college we do a good job, especially in the beginning of the year, of keeping our pitch count low,' Puk said. 'It's definitely helping now. I feel fresh.'

After signing with the Athletics on June 30 last year, Puk made 10 starts for Vermont, pitching 32.2 innings and finishing 0-4 in his first professional stint.

He's still looking for his first Double-A win after compiling a 3-2 record at Stockton. In three years with the Gators, Puk's combined record was 16-9 over that span.

In his last two years at the University of Florida, Puk helped the Gators reach the College World Series in Omaha. This year, several of Puk's former Gators teammates experienced the thrill of winning the first NCAA baseball title in program history.

Puk hopes to have more thrills as a big league pitcher down the road.