MESA, Ariz. — For the third time in 12 years, the A’s will play their season opener in Japan in 2019, The Chronicle has learned.

The Japan opener has yet to be officially announced, but according to league and team sources, Oakland and Seattle will begin next season at the Tokyo Dome. The two clubs opened the 2012 season in Tokyo. The A’s also started their 2008 season in Japan against the Red Sox.

“If we’re in the running, I’d be 100 percent all for it,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin at Fitch Park on Wednesday. “Not only did we have a great time — it’s a life lesson as much as anything — but it significantly helped our team come together in 2012.”

The 2012 A’s — coming off an 88-loss season — went 94-68 and won the AL West crown.

Brandon Moss was on the opposing side when the A’s played Boston at the Tokyo Dome in the 2008 opener.

“I hit my first major-league home run. It was awesome!” Moss said. “I love Tokyo, I love Japan, I loved everything about it. I would go back in a heartbeat even without baseball.”

Luzardo to join team Friday: The A’s will bring minor-league pitcher Jesus Luzardo, who graduated from Florida’s Majory Stoneman Douglas High School two years ago, to their Cactus League opener so he can be part of pregame activities in remembrance of the 17 people killed at his alma mater last week, including athletic director Chris Hixon.

Luzardo, 20, set up a youcaring.com fund for Hixon’s family last week that had reached $7,845 by Wednesday afternoon.

Like the rest of the major-league teams, the A’s will wear hats Friday honoring the victims of the shooting. Oakland plays the Angels at Hohokam Stadium to begin Cactus League play.

Luzardo, who was acquired in the Sean Doolittle deal with the Nationals last summer, might make his first appearance with the A’s on Saturday, when he’ll be among the pitchers borrowed from minor-league camp.

Neuse, utilityman? Former A’s second baseman Mark Ellis is working with prospect Sheldon Neuse on the finer points of playing that position. Neuse, acquired from the Nationals in the Doolittle-Ryan Madson deal, has primarily played shortstop and third base, but the A’s would like to see him become a Chad Pinder-type utility player.

“He moves well,” Ellis said, adding of the barrel-chested Neuse. “I wasn’t expecting him to move as well as he does. He looks really good and he wants to be more versatile. If you can play shortstop, it’s such a demanding position, you can usually play second base.”

Neuse, 23, said he is fine with any infield position. “I don’t care where they play me,” he said. “I just want to hit. Put me wherever you want.”

The Fort Worth, Texas, native, a second-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2016, is in big-league camp for the first time after batting .321 combined with 16 homers and 79 RBIs in 117 games last season. He also hit .314 with five homers and a league-high 23 RBIs in 22 games in the Arizona Fall League.

Briefly: On the final pitch of batting practice, Moss hit a homer off Melvin that cleared the batter’s eye in center. “Got to end on a feel-good,” Moss said. Added Melvin: “You don’t see him really go straight-away center field. He’s been working on using the whole field and driving the ball. I gave him a cookie. Gave him a chance.” … According to sources, the A’s were not among the teams to scout former Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum’s showcase last week.