MESA, Ariz. — Gil Patterson got the call in the Oakland Athletics’ bullpen on Feb. 14, while supervising a pitcher’s practice session. General Manager David Forst was on the line.

Forst asked if Patterson, the minor league pitching coordinator, had spoken yet to Jesus Luzardo, one of the team’s top prospects, who would soon report to camp. There had been a shooting in Parkland, Fla., at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Luzardo’s alma mater and where he throws in the winter.

“Give him a call now,” Forst told Patterson. “Don’t wait.”

Luzardo was unharmed; he wasn’t there. He had been running late, finishing up on the golf course with a friend when the Douglas baseball coach texted him a warning to stay away from campus because an active shooter was on the grounds. Luzardo was planning to throw to hitters on the high school baseball team that day and had hoped to arrive just after classes ended. The rampage claimed 17 lives.

“I went home, but it was a mess. Just chaos all around Parkland,” Luzardo said last week, in an interview at the Athletics’ minor league complex. “I started texting some of my buddies on the baseball team. One of my real good friends, his little brother is a guy I grew up with, because he was a catcher. I texted him right away; he told me he was locked in a room, hearing gunshots. Another buddy of mine — basically like my brother — his little sister hadn’t answered him in a while, so everyone was on edge.