Estes, Spence among 'friendly' rotation competition after strong spring debuts

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Joey Estes and Mitch Spence are more than just two pitchers on the same team. They became good friends as they both navigated through their first full season as big leaguers in 2024 and entered Spring Training sharing the same space as locker mates.

The right-handed duo ended last year as members of the Athletics’ rotation. But after the club added veteran starters Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs this offseason, Estes and Spence, along with fellow right-hander J.T. Ginn, are all in the mix for what is likely only one available rotation spot.

“There’s a healthy competition, which is great,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “That’s something that we really haven’t had the last three years on the pitching side. … I think there are a few guys who are in a very similar situation this spring.”

Fittingly, Estes and Spence made their Cactus League debut in tandem. Estes started Wednesday’s 8-5 victory over the Mariners at Peoria Sports Complex and allowed one run on one hit -- a solo home run by Rowdy Tellez -- and one strikeout across two innings. Spence followed out of the bullpen with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with one strikeout.

Although Estes and Spence might be competing for the same job, there is no animosity or tension between the two. On the contrary, upon returning to the visiting clubhouse to cool down after his outing, Estes was ecstatic to hear about Spence’s two scoreless frames.

“It’s all friendly,” Estes said. “We know it’s competitive, but we treat each other the same. We’re there for each other. I bounce stuff off Mitch and Mitch bounces stuff off me. I ask him questions all the time.”

Around this time last spring, Estes entered A’s Spring Training a wide-eyed 22-year-old partaking in his first big league camp. He had gotten his feet wet in 2023 with a couple of starts to end the season, but he was still uncertain of what it took to compete at the highest level.

This year, Estes returns from a 2024 campaign in which he made 24 starts, and while the overall body of work was up and down, outings like his ‘Maddux’ against the Angels on July 3 at the Coliseum showed what type of brilliance he is capable of producing on the mound.

“I feel more confident in who I am,” Estes said. “I’ve been here and I’ve done it. … It’s definitely a different feeling going out there.”

Labeled a “command specialist” by pitching coach Scott Emerson, Estes’ focus this offseason was to improve his changeup as a way to enhance his fastball, which averages around 91-92 mph, as well as finish off hitters.

“That’s all I really worked on this offseason,” Estes said. “I’m still working on it. Improving my changeup is something that would put me at the next level.”

The first overall selection of the 2023 Rule 5 Draft, Spence successfully spent the entire season with the A’s and fared well in multiple roles. After starting out in the bullpen, injuries created a spot for him in the rotation, which he grabbed ahold of and never looked back. The end result was a 4.58 ERA in 35 games (24 starts) with 126 strikeouts over 151 1/3 innings.

“He’s solidified a role for himself,” Kotsay said of Spence. “He pitched really well out of the bullpen and as a starter for us. It’s going to be fun to watch him through Spring Training and determine where we see his fit and how we can maximize that for our ballclub.”

It is conceivable that Estes and Spence both end up making the team out of camp, with one taking the fifth rotation spot while the other fills a multi-inning reliever role in the bullpen. Both said they are open to pitching in whatever capacity the A’s ask of them.

In Kotsay’s mind, the expectation is that, whether or not they break camp with the big league club, Estes, Spence and most of the several other young pitchers in camp will get an opportunity to contribute at the Major League level in 2025.

“We talked about what Severino and Springs would bring to our ballclub, which is depth,” Kotsay said. “Again, starters generally take a little bit longer to develop and need that time. They need time to come to the big leagues, get experience and learn from that experience. … The messaging is going to be, 'It’s not always where you start, it’s where you finish.'”