Oakland Athletics: RHP Jarrod Parker Optioned Following Shaky Start

Oakland Athletics rookie Jarrod Parker was assigned to minor league camp on Monday afternoon after the right-hander surrendered two runs on one hit over 3.2 innings, while issuing seven (yes, seven) walks.

The damage would have been far worse for the 23-year-old—he did somehow walk away with the win—had he not induced two double plays. His afternoon also included a wild pitch, and he failed to record a strikeout.

Parker's biggest issue on Monday stemmed from an inability to locate his fastball, a pitch that he has thrown with consistency in the past but struggled with as of late. In his 11 innings of work this spring, he posted a 3.27 ERA despite walking 13 batters.

Parker, who was the centerpiece in the offseason deal that sent 2011 All-Star Trevor Cahill to the Arizona Diamondbacks, was hoping to crack the A’s Opening Day rotation, but it appears that the organization’s No. 1 prospect will have to wait patiently for his call at Triple-A Sacramento.

Selected in the first round of the 2007 draft out of Norwell HS in Indiana, Parker missed the entire 2010 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.  However, he regained his form over the course of the 2011 season and ultimately finished 11-8 with a 3.76 ERA and 7.7 K/9 over 131 innings.

Furthermore, Parker was impressive in his major league debut on September 27 when he tossed 5.2 scoreless innings against the Dodgers. He flashed three plus pitches, including a fastball that reached 96 mph and a changeup with considerable fade, and showcased the smooth mechanics that made him such a coveted prep arm.

The A’s are simply being careful with their prized right-hander, as the last thing they want to do is foster an environment where he continues to struggle. So Parker will spend time down at Sacramento, probably no more than a month, refining his command and preparing for a lengthy stay in the major leagues.

That’s not to say that he’ll be free of all command issues once recalled. However, Parker has the ceiling of a solid No. 1 starter and should head a talented A’s staff for years to come.

Parker isn’t the only prospect recently cut by the A’s. First baseman Chris Carter and outfielder Michael Taylor were optioned to Triple-A on Sunday as well. In 23 at-bats this spring, Carter had collected only five hits while striking out 10 times. Similarly, Taylor was 4-for-20 at the time of his demotion, with zero extra-base hits.