A’s Mengden Comes Out Firing

OAKLAND—With an exaggerated delivery and a broad mustache, righthander Daniel Mengden pitches with a flair that the old-timers would have adored.

“He’s like the old throwback, with the high pants and a handlebar mustache,” farm director Keith Lieppman said. “He has a gritty, hard-core attitude on the mound. He comes right at you, like an old Western sheriff.”

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Mengden dominated at Double-A Midland to such an extend—he went 2-0, 0.78 in four starts, striking out 28 in 23 innings—that the Athletics quickly promoted him to Triple-A Nashville, where he tossed six shutout innings in his first start.

He credits his impressive start to his offseason training program at Fairchild Sports Performance in Houston, where he worked intensely to gain strength.

“The offseason is really crucial,” said Mengden, 23. “I worked out really hard in the offseason.”

The righthander also spent time improving his mechanics by learning to keep the same arm speed on his different pitches and engaging in a series of drills. He came to spring training more prepared than in past seasons.

This was Mengden’s first spring with Oakland. The Astros selected the Houston native and Texas A&M product with a fourth-round pick in 2014, and he advanced through the system until being traded last July as part of the Scott Kazmir deal.

The A’s liked what they saw immediately, but they were not prepared for the improved version.

In his sophomore season in college, Mengden went 8-4, 2.11. Then a stress fracture caused his mid-90s fastball to sag to the high 80s.

Healthy again, Mengden has his old fastball back. He varies speeds from 91-95 mph and throws two speeds of sliders and a changeup that Lieppman grades as above-average.

A’s ACORNS

• The A’s released Triple-A Nashville righthander Tanner Peters, who endured a number of injuries after making a big impression early in his career.

• Midland righthander Raul Alcantara continues to make progress, though his numbers have been subpar after returning from Tommy John surgery. Lieppman said Alcantara has hit 95 mph, but has not yet regained the sharpness on his pitches.