A's give suspended pitcher Tyler Alexander another chance

MESA, Arizona - Tyler Alexander thought he was banished from Major League Baseball.

Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2013, Alexander worked hard to move his way up the club’s minor league system. But after testing positive for marijuana for the second time in 2015, Alexander was suspended for 50 games by MLB and released by the Brewers shortly after.

“I kind of counted it out,” Alexander said. “I didn’t think it was a possibility anymore in my career, given the off-the-field stuff.”

Alexander’s big-league dream was over, but the A’s have revived it after signing the ?left-hander to a minor-league deal Thursday with an invitation to major-league spring training.

It’s an opportunity Alexander created for himself as he pitched all around the world. Alexander’s battle to stay in baseball over the past four years has featured stints with leagues in Mexico, Canada and the Dominican Republic.

“I pretty much haven’t stopped throwing,” Alexander said. “I went to the DR this past winter and had a good season, next thing you know I’m here.

“I wouldn’t have chosen any other route. It’s been awesome.”

It was those years in countries like Mexico and the Dominican Republic where Alexander said he grew both as a person and a player. Adjusting to new cultures made him realize there are many different ways to get to the majors.

“I learned a lot and met a lot of people. I just talked to others about their paths; everyone has their own path,” Alexander said. “Playing over there made me who I am.”

While Alexander, 27, played in three different countries, it was a stint in the American Association - an independent baseball league in the United States - where Alexander said he evolved.

Alexander was playing for the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks when he linked up with pitching coach Michael Schlact, who Alexander credits for helping him improve his overall game.

“He just worked with me, helped me on the mental side of the game. It was all uphill from there,” Alexander said. “I learned my body. I learned that I throw different than everybody else and cut the walks in half. Your game changes when you throw strikes.”

Alexander’s delivery is a bit unusual.

He described it as a “low three-quarters” delivery that he believes is similar to the one employed by Red Sox ace Chris Sale.

“I’m nothing like Sale; he’s a beast,” Alexander said. “But I throw across my body. If you see me it’s a little funky, it doesn’t look like I can throw strikes, and I like to pat myself on the back thinking I can throw strikes.”

The A’s went into the offseason looking to add more left-handed pitching, and Alexander is the third lefty they’ve added over the past month. Though he was a starter for most of his time over the past four years, the club will likely take more of a look at him as a reliever.

“I’ve seen where he’s been the last four years. (Assistant GM Dan Feinstein) tells me this is someone they’ve had their eye on for a couple of years,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He had some good winter-ball numbers, probably not a whole lot of video or Statcast stuff to look at.

“Based on the fact he’s left-handed and his delivery looks pretty funky, we went from a position where we haven’t had too many left-handed relievers and now we have quite a few to choose from.”