The strength of the A's system lies in the battery, where Jesus Luzardo looks like he could be a legitimate ace and A.J. Puk leads a group of high-upside starting pitchers all trying to return from injuries. Behind the plate, Sean Murphy is set to take over as the starting catcher as one of the better catching prospects in all of baseball, and there are quite a few coming up behind him as well. Elsewhere around the field, Robert Puason, Jorge Mateo, Nick Allen, Austin Beck, and Sheldon Neuse provide varying levels of upside, though it's overall a fairly unremarkable group that doesn't really rival what the A's have on the mound and behind the plate.
Affiliates: AAA Las Vegas Aviators, AA Midland RockHounds, High A Stockton Ports, Class A Beloit Snappers, short season Vermont Lake Monsters, complex level AZL and DSL Athletics
Catcher
- Sean Murphy (2020 Age: 25): With Josh Phegley out of the way, the stage is set for Sean Murphy to take over as the next starting catcher in Oakland. He broke out with the bat in 2018 and built on that success in 2019 despite missing time with a knee injury, slashing .293/.384/.580 with eleven home runs and a 36/22 strikeout to walk ratio over 41 games between AAA Las Vegas and complex level rehab work, also slashing .245/.333/.566 with four home runs and a 16/6 strikeout to walk ratio over 20 major league games. He's known for his defense, as he's already one of the better defensive catchers in the game and could challenge for Gold Glove awards in the future. That glove was going to get him to the majors regardless, but a couple of nice seasons with the bat are why he's going to take over as the every day starter. He's always had average power, but his feel for the strike zone and ability to make contact have helped it play up, and he could hit 10-15 home runs annually in the majors. He draws some walks but not enough to push his on-base percentages too too high, and in all, he projects as a steady #6 or #7 hitter, which you'll absolutely take if it's coming from a catcher with great defense. The one road block to this point has been health, as he has yet to crack 100 games in any season.
- Austin Allen (2020 Age: 26): Allen is a bat-first catcher who was acquired from the Padres for Jurickson Profar this offseason, and he'll fit well as Murphy's backup if he can indeed land that role. In 2019, he slashed .330/.379/.663 with 21 home runs and a 56/22 strikeout to walk ratio over 67 games at the Padres' AAA affiliate, also hitting .215/.282/.277 with a 21/6 strikeout to walk ratio in 34 major league games for San Diego. He has a lot of power in his 6'2" frame and has proven his ability to get to it in the upper minors, and he keeps his strikeouts reasonably low. Like Murphy, he doesn't walk a whole lot, though with his mediocre defense behind the plate, he doesn't hit quite enough in order to overcome that and land a starting role.
- Jonah Heim (2020 Age: 24-25): Heim has been around forever, as he was the Orioles' fourth round pick out of high school in the Buffalo area in 2013 and he's already been traded twice: once in 2016 to the Rays for Steve Pearce, then on to the A's in 2017 as the PTBNL for Joey Wendle. Always a glove-first guy, he finally began to figure it out with the bat in 2019, slashing .310/.385/.477 with nine home runs and a 45/35 strikeout to walk ratio over 85 games at AA Midland and AAA Las Vegas. Those numbers were probably a bit inflated by Vegas' hitter-friendly context, but he did hit .282/.370/.431 at more pitcher-friendly Midland and that on its own is well above his career norms. He's unlikely to hit for a ton of impact at the major league level, but the breakout in 2019 means he might hit just enough to land a backup spot. The A's will have the luxury of being creative with the bat-first Austin Allen and the glove-first Heim as they decide who will back up Sean Murphy in 2020 and beyond.
- Kyle McCann (2020 Age: 22): The A's drafted McCann in the fourth round out of Georgia Tech in 2019, but he's much more about upside than safety. After blasting 23 home runs and striking out 77 times as a junior, he demolished complex level pitching in his five game stint in the Arizona League (2 HR, .400/.520/1.000, 6/5 K/BB) before being a bit more humbled at short season Vermont (7 HR, .192/.289/.343, 81/25 K/BB in 55 games). As with his college numbers, the pro numbers tell the story. He has big power from the left side and has never had any trouble getting to it, even against advanced pitching. However, he also has big swing and miss issues, and those caught up to him in a hurry in the New York-Penn League. Additionally, he's a work in progress behind the plate, and he'll need further refinement back there in order to stick. Back on the plus side, he's a patient hitter who draws plenty of walks, so that should at the very least help pad his on-base percentages if his batting averages fall. There's a huge gap between his ceiling, which could see him smack 20-25 home runs annually as a starting catcher, and his floor, which could see him move to first base and then fail to live up to the added offensive pressure that comes with the position.
- Keep an eye on: Drew Millas
Corner Infield
- Sheldon Neuse (2020 Age: 25): Neuse was selected out of Oklahoma in the second round of the 2016 draft by the Nationals, then got shipped over to the A's as part of the Sean Doolittle deal. He hit really well after the trade in 2017, then faltered a bit at AAA in 2018, but a repeat of the level in 2019 helped him get back to where he needed to be. In 2019, he slashed .317/.389/.550 with 27 home runs and a 132/56 strikeout to walk ratio over 126 games at AAA Las Vegas, numbers certainly padded by the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League but still a step in the right direction. Neuse also slashed .250/.295/.304 with a 19/4 strikeout to walk ratio over 25 major league games. He has some moderate power but it's really only shown up at his most hitter-friendly stops in High A Stockton in 2017 and AAA Las Vegas in 2019, but he has good feel for the barrel that should enable him to hit for plenty of extra base power even if he only projects for maybe 15 home runs per season in the majors. Defensively, he's pretty good over at third base, but with the left side of the infield completely locked up by Marcus Semien and Matt Chapman, his best bet to start will be second base. The bat is fairly fringy for a starter on a contending team, so his ultimate projection may be more of a utility man, but he's a competent enough hitter to take another step forward and start.
- Alfonso Rivas (2020 Age: 23): Rivas was a fourth round pick out of Arizona in 2018 due to his advanced bat and ability to control the strike zone, and he filled out that profile well in 2019. He slashed .283/.383/.408 with eight home runs and a 113/66 strikeout to walk ratio over 114 games at High A Stockton, then slashed .406/.441/.625 with a home run and a 7/2 strikeout to walk ratio over eight games at AAA Las Vegas after he completely bypassed AA. There's no question about Rivas' ability to hit advanced pitching, and he should continue to post solid on-base percentages in the majors, but he's limited to first base defensively and without a ton of power, it's hard to project him as much more than a left handed platoon bat. On the bright side, it's hard to project him as much less, either.
- Jordan Diaz (2020 Age: 19-20): Diaz hasn't had the most eye-popping numbers yet, but he's still young and he's gotten better and better each season. In 2019, he slashed .264/.307/.430 with nine home runs and a 46/18 strikeout to walk ratio over 70 games at short season Vermont, as he started to lift the ball a bit more and tap into some of his power. He has a smooth, line drive-oriented swing from the right side, and he makes consistent hard contact while avoiding strikeouts. He's also improving defensively and should be able to stick at third base. As it stands today, he's not the most eye-catching prospect, and he'll need to continue to steadily improve in order to reach the majors. We'll have to play the wait and see game before projecting him for any specific role or level of output.
- Keep an eye on: Mikey White, Jonah Bride, Joshwan Wright
Middle Infield
- Jorge Mateo (2020 Age: 24-25): Mateo has now played eight professional seasons, yet he's still somehow just 24 years old and is finally ready for the major leagues. In 2019, he slashed .289/.330/.504 with 19 home runs, 24 stolen bases, and a 145/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 119 games at AAA Las Vegas, and his 14 triples led all of minor league baseball for the third straight season. He's had pretty much the same profile throughout his pro career: top of the scale speed, wiry strength, athleticism, and inconsistent performance. He probably doesn't threaten for 20 home runs in he majors like he did at AAA this year, instead likely to settle around ten or so per year or perhaps a hair under, but he should be able to stretch lots of singles into doubles and lots of doubles into triples with his elite speed. Defensively, the A's are set at shortstop with Marcus Semien, so he'll likely battle Sheldon Neuse for the starting second base job in 2020 with the chance to hit for decent on-base percentages, lots of doubles and triples, and plenty of stolen bases, though his ceiling is higher significantly higher than that. The one thing that may hold him back in the majors is his approach, as he's very aggressive at the plate, rarely walking and swinging and missing a bit more than perhaps the A's would like.
- Nick Allen (2020 Age: 21): The A's drafted Allen in the third round out of a San Diego high school in 2017 for his glove, and while they knew the bat would take time to develop, his .239/.301/.302 line at Class A Beloit in 2018 was somewhat disappointing. He flipped the script in 2019, slashing .292/.363/.434 with three home runs, 13 stolen bases, and a 52/28 strikeout to walk ratio over 72 games at High A Stockton, and the A's hope there's even more to unlock. He's just 5'9" and skinny at that, but he's begun to add strength to his small frame and that was the difference in 2019, has he already does a good job of avoiding strikeouts and putting the ball in play. He won't ever be mistaken for a power hitter, but with the loft in his swing and a bit more growth, he could profile for 5-10 home runs annually in the majors while posting high on-base percentages. That would go great with his glove, which is his best asset as he is an all around exceptional defender at shortstop. The A's have deployed him a bit at second base as he's fought Jeremy Eierman for the premium position, and if that ends up being his long term home, he could be a Brandon Phillips-esque Gold Glover there.
- Jeremy Eierman (2020 Age: 23): Eierman was a competitive balance pick out of Missouri State in 2018, though he turned out to be a bit more raw than expected. In 2019, he slashed .208/.270/.357 with 13 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and a 177/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 131 games at High A Stockton, his propensity to swing and miss keeping him from getting to his power as much as he would have liked. I don't think he'll ever hit consistently enough to be a full time starter, as his power is probably closer to average when you factor in that he'll probably have to ease up his approach in order to cut down his strikeouts. Still, his cannon arm and speed mean he should be able to handle shortstop and second base adequately and third base very well. And he does maintain a high ceiling, because if he does shorten up his swing a bit to start hitting for more contact, he might be able to take enough of a step forward that he could learn to tap the power even with a less aggressive approach.
- Logan Davidson (2020 Age: 22): Jeremy Eierman isn't off to the hottest start to his pro career, and with their end of the first first round selection in 2019, the A's picked up a fairly similar player in Logan Davidson, though Davidson has a bit better of a hit tool. Davidson, a Clemson product, then slashed .239/.345/.332 with four home runs and a 55/31 strikeout to walk ratio over 54 games at short season Vermont in his pro debut. I prefer him as a prospect to Eierman, though while he hit really well at Clemson and in the ACC, he struggled in the Cape Cod League and I'm not convinced he'll be able to get to his power consistently in pro ball. He's also a good defender at shortstop, which should buy his bat some time, and he has about the same upside as Eierman with a bit better of a chance to get there.
- Robert Puason (2020 Age: 17): Puason has not played a professional game yet, but he's already one of the top prospects in the system after signing for $5.1 million out of the Dominican Republic at 16 years old. He's a 6'3" switch hitter with plenty of room to grow, and while we haven't seen him against pro competition, he has the chance to hit for both average and power with good feel for the strike zone, barrel control, and the explosiveness from both sides. He's also very good defensively and will stick at shortstop, giving him the opportunity to be an impact player on both sides of the ball. We'll have to wait and see before we start projecting him for anything specific, but his upside is probably the highest in the entire system.
- Keep an eye on: Marcos Brito, Sahid Valenzuela, Jalen Greer
Outfield
- Luis Barrera (2020 Age: 24): Barrera has worked his way up to a fourth outfielder projection, and in 2019 he slashed .321/.357/.513 with four home runs, nine stolen bases, and a 48/12 strikeout to walk ratio over 54 games at AA Midland. He doesn't have a ton of power, but he has proven adept at finding the barrel and hitting line drives, which will help him hit for high averages. If he walked more, he'd have a chance at being a starting center fielder, but he's an aggressive hitter and his offensive value will end up entirely tied to his batting average. He's also sound defensively and will be able to handle all three outfield spots well, and few players in this system have a ceiling and floor as close together as he does as a fourth outfielder in the near future.
- Buddy Reed (2020 Age: 25): Reed was a second round pick to the Padres out of Florida in 2016, then was shipped to the A's in the Jurickson Profar deal this offseason. In 2019, he slashed .228/.310/.388 with 14 home runs, 23 stolen bases, and a 126/42 strikeout to walk ratio over 121 games in AA, a bit of a step back after he hit .271/.319/.435 with 51 stolen bases in 2018. Reed is extremely athletic, with exceptional speed that's enabled him to steal 74 bases over the past two seasons, and he also plays excellent defense in center field that makes him a true asset out there. At the plate, he's been extremely streaky, showing very good gap power with some over the fence pop at times, though swing and miss problems have kept him from hitting for much impact. His defense will get him to the majors, but at this point it's unlikely he hits enough to be a regular, so he'll probably end up as a streaky fourth/fifth outfielder, albeit one with exciting speed and defense.
- Skye Bolt (2020 Age: 26): I was 50-50 on including Skye Bolt in this writeup, but with a name like that and the chance to be a big league contributor, how could I not? Bolt had a strong first half, hitting .318/.379/.540 with nine home runs, but he slumped in the second half and finished at .269/.350/.459 with eleven home runs and a 94/37 strikeout to walk ratio over 89 games at AAA Las Vegas, numbers which are a bit more disappointing considering Vegas' extreme hitter-friendly context. He also played five major league games and picked up one hit in ten at bats. Bolt's a good all around player with some power and feel for the barrel, and while he can draw a few walks, he also strikes out a bit more than you'd like. He's a good defender who can handle all three outfield spots, giving him a good shot at becoming a fourth outfielder. Early in the season, it really looked like Bolt, a former fourth round pick out of UNC in 2015, was finally beginning to put it together, but the late season slump clouds that a bit again. He probably ends up a fringy outfielder who splits time between AAA and the majors, though he does have the talent to be a full time backup and stick in the majors.
- Chase Calabuig (2020 Age: 24): Calabuig was a four year starter at San Diego State, but a lack of upside at the plate caused him to fall to the 27th round in 2018, where the A's happily picked him up. He was on a positive trajectory in college and he's maintained that in pro ball, as his first full season has pushed him from 27th round roster filler to legitimate fourth outfielder prospect. In 2019, he slashed .283/.388/.365 with five home runs, eight stolen bases, and a 111/75 strikeout to walk ratio over 122 games at Class A Beloit and AA Midland (mostly the latter), and just like that he's knocking on the door to the majors. Calabuig's 5'11" frame and simple, line drive swing limit his power projection, but he has made that swing work in pro ball and he's found the barrel more often than not. He's also carried over his strong plate discipline from college, which is the main reason he was able to handle AA pitching within a year of facing Mountain West arms in college. A strong defender who can handle all three outfield spots, he has a similar outlook to Barrera, albeit with a few more walks but lower batting averages.
- Austin Beck (2020 Age: 21): The A's are waiting on an Austin Beck breakout, though to this point they're still waiting. In 2019, the 2017 sixth overall pick from high school in Lexington, North Carolina handled a fairly aggressive assignment to High A Stockton by slashing .251/.302/.411 with eight home runs and a 126/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 85 games. He generates plus raw power from an explosive right handed swing, and he began to tap it more in 2019 than he did in 2018, but to this point his aggressive approach and mediocre strike zone judgement have kept him from really getting to it regularly. The good news is he's also strong defensively and would profile well in center or right field, taking some pressure off his bat, and he will play all of 2020 at 21 years old, giving him time to figure out the strike zone. His ceiling and his floor remain far apart, but it's still an impact ceiling.
- Lazaro Armenteros (2020 Age: 20-21): Armenteros, a similarly highly regarded amateur who signed for $3 million out of Cuba in 2016, has manned the outfield with Beck every step of the way and has run into similar issues. In 2019, he slashed .222/.336/.403 with 17 home runs, 22 stolen bases, and a 227/73 strikeout to walk ratio over 126 games at High A Stockton, the 227 strikeouts leading the minor leagues by 37. He's an explosive player with plenty of power in his right handed swing, but his swing and miss issues are even worse than Beck's. In this case, it's not a product of him being overly aggressive and chasing too many pitches, but more that he simply has too many holes in his swing and approach and struggles to make contact in general. The good news is he doesn't turn 21 until May and he could afford to repeat a level, but Armenteros has got to figure out how to make more contact, because he's a very dangerous hitter when he does but he doesn't quite have the power to be a Joey Gallo-type hitter. Defensively, he's probably limited to left field, and while he should be a solid defender there, the pressure on his bat is increased.
- Marcus Smith (2020 Age: 19): Smith comes with a lot of risk and less upside than some other high school picks, but his successful pro debut earned him a spot in this write-up. After being drafted in the third round out of a Kansas City high school in 2019, he went out and slashed .361/.466/.443 with a 29/20 strikeout to walk ratio over 29 games in the complex level Arizona League. He's mostly a slap hitter for now, but he has big time speed that enables him to generate positive value as a hitter even without power, and he made better contact and controlled the strike zone better than expected for a raw high school talent. He should be able to grow into some gap power, which he could use to hit plenty of doubles and triples with his speed, though a ton of over the fence power is unlikely for the 5'11" lefty. He's a project but he might be more advanced than anticipated and he has a leadoff ceiling with a fourth outfielder projection being more likely.
- Keep an eye on: Greg Deichmann, Brayan Buelvas
Starting Pitching
- Jesus Luzardo (2020 Age: 22): Despite him having undergone Tommy John surgery, the Nationals drafted Jesus Luzardo in the third round of the 2016 draft out of Stoneman Douglas High School in South Florida, then shipped him to Oakland a year later in the Sean Doolittle trade. While I don't think the Nationals have any regrets as they hoist the 2019 World Series trophy that Doolittle helped bring, the A's are certainly happy with what they have in Luzardo. The 6' lefty was absolutely dominant in 2018 (2.88 ERA, 129/30 K/BB), then overcame shoulder problems in 2019 to post a 2.51 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and a 57/8 strikeout to walk ratio over 43 innings between complex level rehab work, High A Stockton, and AAA Las Vegas. He even reached the majors in September, posting a 1.50 ERA, a 0.67 WHIP, and a 16/3 strikeout to walk ratio over 12 dominant innings. When he's healthy and on the mound, Luzardo is the complete package. He's added velocity since high school and now sits in the mid 90's with his fastball, adding a hard sweeping curveball and a very good changeup. Additionally, he can command everything, giving him true ace potential. The one ding in his profile is health, as he overcame the high school Tommy John surgery successfully and it looks like he's past his shoulder woes, but he's yet to prove he can hold up under a full major league workload. Still, he has a very good shot to make the A's rotation out of spring training and should contend for the 2020 AL Rookie of the Year Award.
- A.J. Puk (2020 Age: 25): Puk went sixth overall out of Florida in 2016, but to this point his path to the majors has been up and down. After missing 2018 with Tommy John surgery, the A's were careful with the 6'7" lefty in 2019 and held him to a relief role, where he posted a 4.97 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and a 38/10 strikeout to walk ratio over 25.1 innings at High A Stockton, AA Midland, and AAA Las Vegas before putting up a 3.18 ERA and a 13/5 strikeout to walk ratio over 11.1 major league innings. When he's on, he's probably the toughest pitcher to hit in the system. He sits consistently in the mid 90's with his fastball, and his 6'7" frame makes it look even faster than that. He also adds a devastating slider that helps him rack up K's in bunches, and his changeup has come along to be a weapon in its own right. His command comes and goes, which has been the chief complaint in his profile since college, and it probably won't ever be much better than average. Still, so long as he can prove he can stay healthy, the fastball/slider combination is good enough to overcome those command issues, and he could be a #2 or a #3 starter so long as his command is on more often than it's not. If he can't figure out his command and has to move to the bullpen, he has true closer upside.
- Parker Dunshee (2020 Age: 25): Dunshee was a seventh round senior sign out of Wake Forest in 2017, but he's exceeded expectations every step of the way and there's no reason to think he can't continue to do so. After a dominant pro debut in 2017 (0.67 ERA, 48/8 K/BB) and first full season in 2018 (2.33 ERA, 163/31 K/BB), he started out at AA Midland in 2019 and dominated there to the tune of a 1.89 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP, and a 34/11 strikeout to walk ratio over 38 innings. Earning a promotion to AAA Las Vegas after six starts, he held a 5.38 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP, and a 90/37 strikeout to walk ratio across 92 innings, numbers which are actually pretty good when you consider his fly ball tendencies and the hitter-friendly nature of Las Vegas and the Pacific Coast League as a whole. He only sits a tick above 90 with his fastball, but he's got a bit of a funky delivery that makes it look like the ball is getting on you a little quicker than that. It also helps his full array of secondaries, highlighted by a downer slider, play up, as does his above average command. He might not earn a rotation spot straight out of spring training, but with good numbers in AAA in 2020, he could be one of the first men called upon if somebody gets hurt.
- Brian Howard (2020 Age: 25): Howard has had a similar career path to Dunshee, drafted one round later as a TCU senior in 2017, and like Dunshee he dominated in his pro debut (1.15 ERA, 29/1 K/BB) and in his first full season (2.91 ERA, 140/37 K/BB). In 2019, he pitched well at AA Midland, posting a 3.25 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and a 118/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 130 innings, but he got shelled in four starts for AAA Las Vegas to the tune of a 13.81 ERA and a 16/8 strikeout to walk ratio over 14.1 innings. The one guy in the system who can look down on A.J. Puk, Howard stands a massive 6'9" and uses his long arms to make it look like he's releasing the ball right in front of you. That helps his fastball, which sits around 90, play up, and he can change grips to make the ball do pretty much whatever he wants with a full array of secondary pitches. Nothing he throws stands out as plus, but his feel for pitching combined with his height have made him effective most of the way up through the minors. If he can figure out how to get over the hump with AAA and major league lineups, he could fit in as a #4 or a #5 starter, similar to Dunshee.
- Grant Holmes (2020 Age: 24): Holmes was a Dodgers' first round pick out of a Conway, South Carolina high school in 2014, but it's been a long road up for the 6' righty. He was traded to the A's in the Rich Hill/Josh Reddick trade in 2016, then missed most of 2018 with shoulder problems. He returned healthy in 2019, posting a 3.23 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and an 81/28 strikeout to walk ratio over 86.1 innings, mostly at AA Midland with one start at AAA Las Vegas. He rolls a lot of ground balls with his low to mid 90's fastball and low 90's cutter, adding a swing and miss curveball and a changeup as well. Holmes has big league stuff, though his command has come and gone and at times he's been hit harder than he should. At this point, he'll probably never gain the consistency with that command to be a true impact starter, but he should still be a useful back-end guy who can toss a few gems now and then.
- Daulton Jefferies (2020 Age: 24-25): Jefferies is somewhat of a hometown guy, as he grew up in the Central Valley town of Atwater and attended Cal before being drafted in the competitive balance round in 2016. However, Tommy John surgery wiped out most of his 2017 and 2018 seasons, then he was extremely impressive on his short leash in 2019, posting a 3.42 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, and a 93/9 strikeout to walk ratio over 79 innings at High A Stockton and AA Midland. He's added a tick of velocity since college, now sitting comfortably in the low 90's, and he adds a solid slider and a great changeup. His most important weapon is his plus command, as he controls the strike zone extremely well and rarely pitches behind in the count. He's struck out more than 12 batters for every walk so far in his pro career, and if he can stay healthy and put his shoulder and elbow issues behind him, I think he can be a very effective mid rotation starter for the A's with a higher ceiling than both Dunshee and Howard.
- James Kaprielian (2020 Age: 26): Jefferies may have missed most of two seasons with Tommy John surgery, but it's been an even rougher ride for Kaprielian, who was drafted in the first round of the 2015 draft out of UCLA by the Yankees. He missed most of his 2016 season with forearm problems, then sat out all of 2017 and 2018 with Tommy John surgery, giving him just 29.1 total pro innings from 2015-2018. Like Jefferies, he was on a short leash in 2019, but he performed well, posting a 3.18 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, and a 75/16 strikeout to walk ratio over 68 innings at High A Stockton, AA Midland, and AAA Las Vegas. It took him some time to get his velocity back, but by the end of the season, he was back up consistently into the low 90's with his fastball, and at his best he shows the feel to spin two unique breaking balls and a changeup, all of which he commands very well. He's talented enough to be a mid rotation starter, though of course at this point set to turn 26 in March, all the lost time might mean he'll fit better in the back of the rotation. It's hard to say where he'll end up with all the lost time, so we'll really just have to wait and see how he fares on a longer leash in 2020.
- Tyler Baum (2020 Age: 22): The A's took Baum in the second round out of UNC in 2019, and he proceeded to post a 4.70 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and a 34/7 strikeout to walk ratio over 30.2 innings at short season Vermont. Baum has big league stuff, but he's been inconsistent enough that he's not quite a sure thing. He sits in the low 90's with his fastball and adds a curveball and a slider that can both look like plus pitches at times, as well as a changeup, but he's often struggled to bring everything together at once. The A's will need to work with him on getting more consistent with those breaking balls, though fortunately, despite his funky delivery, he already shows average command. He's got some ceiling as a mid rotation starter, but he also comes with more risk than the typical second round college starter.
- Keep an eye on: Brady Feigl, Joe DeMers, Gus Varland, Colin Peluse
Relief Pitching
- Hogan Harris (2020 Age: 23): Harris was the A's' third round pick out of Louisiana-Lafayette in 2018, but elbow problems kept him off of pro mounds until this year. In 2019, he posted a 2.80 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP, and a 65/19 strikeout to walk ratio over 54.2 innings at short season Vermont and at High A Stockton, and his numbers didn't take a hit when he was promoted to the higher level. Harris has a low 90's fastball that can climb into the mid 90's at times, and he adds a good curveball to go along with a slider and a changeup. However, he's struggled to stay healthy, as he missed time in college with a variety of nagging injuries and has yet to throw more than 67.2 innings in any season, pro or college. That in turn has hampered his command, though he did do a decent job of throwing strikes in 2019. If he can improve his conditioning and stay on the mound consistently, he could improve that command and become a #3 or a #4 starter, but I'm including him on the reliever list because he'll need both of those things to happen in order to avoid a move to the bullpen.
- Keep an eye on: Seth Martinez, Jesus Zambrano, Zack Erwin
Showing posts with label Sheldon Neuse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sheldon Neuse. Show all posts
Thursday, December 26, 2019
Friday, December 21, 2018
Reviewing the Oakland Athletics Farm System
The A's have graduated some high level prospects recently, such as Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Franklin Barreto, and Frankie Montas, leaving the system with less depth than it has had in recent years, and injuries have taken a toll on the pitching depth. Some of the team's top pitching prospects in A.J. Puk, James Kaprielian, Grant Holmes, and Daulton Jefferies combined to throw all of eight innings in 2018, leaving the system mostly hitting-heavy. There is a lot of high ceiling talent here, though the A's do have their share of safe bets too when it comes to hitters.
Affiliates: AAA Nashville Sounds*, AA Midland RockHounds, High A Stockton Ports, Class A Beloit Snappers, Short Season Vermont Lake Monsters, complex level AZL and DSL Athletics
*AAA affiliate will move from Nashville, TN to Las Vegas, NV in 2019
The Headliner: LHP Jesus Luzardo
21 year old Jesus Luzardo, who came over from the Nationals in the Sean Doolittle trade, is in my opinion the top left handed pitching prospect in all of baseball. The 6'1" lefty, a 2016 alumnus of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, dominated the minors in 2018 by putting up a 2.88 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and a 129/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 109.1 innings at High A Stockton, AA Midland, and AAA Nashville, though he was hit around a bit at the last stop. He was excellent at Stockton (1.23 ERA, 25/5 K/BB in 14.2 IP) and Midland (2.29 ERA, 86/18 K/BB in 78.2 IP), but his four starts in Nashville (7.31 ERA, 18/7 K/BB in 16 IP) skewed his numbers a bit. Still, Luzardo throws in the mid 90's with very good secondary stuff, and with his advanced command, he's a truly complete pitcher with ace potential, even Rookie of the Year potential if he gets called up early enough in 2019. A's fans should be very excited over their Peruvian-American star prospect, one who could be the next Sonny Gray or better in Oakland, starting this coming season.
Outfielders/Catcher: C Sean Murphy, OF Greg Deichmann, OF Lazaro Armenteros, OF Austin Beck, OF Jameson Hannah, and OF Kyler Murray
The A's have an interesting group of outfielders, mostly towards the bottom of the system, and there is a good mix of skills down there. Most of them are fast and good defenders, though there is some power in the group and each player is pretty unique. I'll start with the catcher that I threw onto this list, 24 year old Sean Murphy. Murphy is a fantastic defensive catcher, one who can block, frame, and throw with any catcher in the minors. Any type of production at all, such as in 2017 when he slashed .250/.313/.410 with 13 home runs, would be enough to make him a valuable back-up, but this year he broke out by slashing .285/.361/.489 with eight home runs and a 50/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 73 games, mostly at AA Midland. He missed a month and a half with a broken hand, but the power he showed (he also hit 27 doubles) could actually make him a starting catcher in the majors, something that is tough to find nowadays. He probably doesn't hit for high averages or even get on base at a high rate, but with some power and that great defense, he's one of the better catching prospects in baseball. 23 year old Greg Deichmann, a 6'2" outfielder, had a disappointing first full season this year by slashing .216/.294/.417 with seven home runs and a 71/22 strikeout to walk ratio over 58 games between High A Stockton and complex ball rehab, missing a big chunk of the season with a wrist injury. He was known for his power back at LSU, but the wrist injury may have sapped some of that this year, and he'll need that power to overcome his swing and miss tendencies. He'll get another shot in 2019, where a healthy Deichmann could break out with plenty of home runs, but that hinges on his ability to make contact against pro stuff. 19 year old Lazaro Armenteros and 20 year old Austin Beck are fairly similar prospects, both joining the system amid plenty of fanfare in 2017 and showing similar skill sets while they played together at Class A Beloit this year. Armenteros slashed .277/.374/.401 with eight home runs, eight stolen bases, and a 115/36 strikeout to walk ratio over 79 games, while Beck slashed .296/.335/.383 with two home runs, eight stolen bases, and a 117/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 123 games. While Armenteros posted numbers along the lines of what you would expect, showing some power, speed, and patience, Beck's numbers didn't quite match the scouting reports. He has a ton of raw power in his quick bat, but instead of hitting a bunch of home runs, he hit 29 doubles (plus four triples), not tapping into that home run power enough. Hopefully, the power will manifest itself soon, and with his high-level defense, the 2017 sixth overall pick could be an impact player on both sides of the ball. As for Armenteros, his offensive outlook is similar but he doesn't quite play the same defense as Beck. 21 year old Jameson Hannah doesn't quite have the offensive upside as Armenteros or Beck, but the 2018 second rounder (50th overall) has a good shot to become fourth outfielder or even a decent regular. Hannah slashed .279/.347/.384 with a home run, six stolen bases, and a 24/9 strikeout to walk ratio over 23 games at short season Vermont in his pro debut. His best tool is his speed, which goes a long way on the bases and in the outfield, and he also gets on base at a high rate as an advanced hitter. He lacks power, putting pressure on his on-base ability to play up if he wants to start. Lastly, we have 21 year old Kyler Murray, perhaps the most interesting prospect in baseball. He hasn't played yet despite being drafted ninth overall in 2018, and that's because he's busy getting ready for the College Football Playoff after winning the Heisman Trophy as Oklahoma's quarterback. As you would expect, he's both raw and ultra athletic, showing great speed and the ability to make adjustments on the field. After failing to produce much at the plate during his first two years in college baseball, he broke out with a big year last year and the A's hope he can continue that upward trajectory in the minors. At this point, he shows an average bat with a tendency to swing and miss, but as he focuses on baseball alone, he should improve. Just how much he improves will be the difference as to whether he's a fourth outfielder or an impact starter, but he's an exciting prospect to have in the system. There have been rumors that he wants to go to the NFL instead, but at this point that is unlikely.
Infielders: SS Jorge Mateo, 3B Sheldon Neuse, 3B Nate Mondou, SS Kevin Merrell, SS Nick Allen, and SS Jeremy Eierman
As with the outfield, the infield features a diverse array of players that can all do different things. There's not much in terms of impact talent here, though some guys (particularly Mateo and Eierman) have the potential to develop into impact prospects down the road. 23 year old Jorge Mateo is very well known, having come over from the Yankees in the Sonny Gray deal in the midst of a big 2017 (.267/.322/.459, 12 HR, 52 SB). His 2018 was a bit of a disappointment, as he slashed .230/.280/.353 with three home runs, 25 stolen bases, and a 139/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 131 games at AAA Nashville. His aggressive approach did not hold up well against the most advanced pitching in the minors, but he did continue to show off his blazing speed and good gap power. Though he only hit three home runs, he knocked 17 doubles and 16 triples, so he's not just a singles hitter. Defensively, he looks good enough defensively to stick at shortstop, but second base or center field may be in his future due to Marcus Semien and Matt Chapman owning the left side of the Oakland infield. Another year in AAA could be all he needs to get his bat going against advanced pitching, in which case he could be a valuable starter for the A's in late 2019 or 2020, but otherwise he'll end up a speedy utility man. 24 year old Sheldon Neuse came over with Jesus Luzardo in the Sean Doolittle trade, though like Mateo, his 2017 (.321/.382/.502, 16 HR) was much better than his 2018. This year, he slashed .263/.304/.357 with five home runs and a 172/32 strikeout to walk ratio over 135 games at Nashville, looking overmatched by upper level pitching and not getting to his power nearly as often as he would have liked to. Overall he has a pretty average bat, which is okay because he's up at the top of the minors and plays a pretty good third base. He's blocked by Chapman there, though he could try his hand at second and probably ends up a utility bat anyways given his strikeout issues. 23 year old Nate Mondou had a good season, slashing .279/.356/.399 with eight home runs, ten stolen bases, and an 84/52 strikeout to walk ratio over 136 games between High A Stockton and AA Midland, though most of his production came at hitter-friendly Stockton, which is also the lower level (.291/.361/.448 vs .255/.345/.297). He's a patient hitter with a good approach at the plate, though he is just an average hitter overall and is unlikely to challenge for a starting spot, instead looking like a utility guy. 23 year old Kevin Merrell is an interesting prospect, one whose numbers haven't quite matched the scouting reports. In 2018, he slashed .291/.335/.365 with no home runs, seven stolen bases, and a 70/19 strikeout to walk ratio over 71 games between Stockton and rehab work in complex and short season ball. He's one of the fastest players in the system, possibly behind only Jorge Mateo and Kyler Murray, but that didn't translate into stolen bases at Stockton this year as he was slowed by injury. He also makes ready contact and can get on base, but again the numbers didn't quite match (he hit just .267/.308/.326 at Stockton), though he was never expected to hit for much power. 2018 was disappointing, but the A's hope he can prove himself as a high on-base, high steal utility prospect in 2019. 20 year old Nick Allen is interesting for different reasons, coming off a season where he slashed just .239/.301/.302 with no home runs, 24 stolen bases, and an 85/34 strikeout to walk ratio over 121 games at Class A Beloit. He didn't hit a lick, but that was expected because the A's drafted him for his defense, hoping the bat would develop in time. He's a superb defender at shortstop, one who can not only stick there but win Gold Gloves too. His bat is far behind his glove, and he's listed at just 5'9" and 155 pounds, so the A's will continue to work with him to develop some gap power. The lowish strikeout rate (16.6%) was nice given that pitchers were probably going right after him, so there is something to build on offensively. Lastly, 22 year old Jeremy Eierman was just drafted in the competitive balance round (70th overall) out of Missouri State, and he slashed .235/.283/.381 with eight home runs, ten stolen bases, and a 70/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 62 games at short season Vermont. He has a high ceiling with power and good defense on the left side of the infield, possibly even at shortstop, but his approach needs a lot of work for a college hitter and he might not be up in the majors for a little while. If he cuts down the strikeouts dramatically, he could be an impactful starting infielder in the long run.
Injured Pitchers: LHP A.J. Puk, RHP Grant Holmes, RHP James Kaprielian, and RHP Daulton Jefferies
As I wrote at the top, this entire group combined to throw just eight innings in 2018, yet all are good enough pitching prospects that they still seriously factor into the A's' future. I'll start with 23 year old A.J. Puk, a 6'7" lefty who was drafted sixth overall out of Florida in 2016. In 2017, his only full season, he posted a 4.03 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and a 184/48 strikeout to walk ratio over 125 innings at High A Stockton and AA Midland, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2018 and after missing that season, he'll probably get a late start to 2019 as well. Still, when he steps back on the mound at some point next spring, he'll probably be the A's' top pitching prospect if Jesus Luzardo has exceeded rookie limits at that point. He throws in the mid to upper 90's and misses bats with a wicked slider, helping him mount up strikeouts at an incredible rate. He was supposed to spend 2018 working on his changeup and command, both of which are coming along but which need considerable work if he wants to start in the majors, so that work will be pushed to 2019. If he can take care of just one of those two, he will be a useful mid-rotation starter, and if he can take care of both, he'll be battling Luzardo for the role of #1 starter in Oakland. However, if he remains a fastball/slider pitcher only, he would be a very good late-inning reliever. I played against 22 year old Grant Holmes' former Conway (SC) High School in 2015, the year after he graduated and was drafted in the first round (22nd overall) by the Dodgers, but I'm not sure I would have wanted to face mid 90's sinkers. Holmes came over in the Josh Reddick trade in 2016 and after a pretty decent 2017 at AA Midland (4.49 ERA, 150/61 K/BB) he missed all but two games in 2018 with a shoulder injury. The good news is that he was healthy by the end of the season and made two pretty good starts at Stockton (6 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 8 K), and he should be ready to go for another crack at the high minors in 2019 at 23 years old. Aside from that great sinker, Holmes throws a very good curveball and a decent changeup with just enough command to make it all work, so he's really only one adjustment away from being a major league starter. In a healthy 2019, if he can improve that command a little, he could be a #3 or #4 starter by mid-season. 24 year old James Kaprielian, yet another former first round pick (16th overall out of UCLA in 2015), came over from the Yankees in the Sonny Gray trade. Tommy John surgery wiped out both his 2017 and 2018 seasons, and he only threw 29.1 minor league innings from 2015-2016, so the fact that he is still considered a valuable prospect is a testament to his skill. Since he hasn't pitched much at all over the past three seasons, it's hard to say exactly what his stuff will look like in 2019, but back when he was healthy he sat in the low 90's with a very advanced arsenal overall, and with his great command, he already looked the part of a major league pitcher and could have moved very quickly. Indeed, in his 29.1 career minor league innings, he has a 2.45 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP, and a 36/7 strikeout to walk ratio. Once healthy in 2019, the first box to check will be making sure he's still the same pitcher he was a couple years ago, but if he is, he could be up in the majors much sooner rather than later a a mid-rotation starter. Lastly, 23 year old Daulton Jefferies is the only pitcher on this list who wasn't a first rounder, having been drafted in the competitive balance round (37th overall, just missed!) in 2016 out of Cal-Berkeley. Like Kaprielian, he has been injured nearly constantly, throwing just 20.1 innings over his three years in the minors, though he holds a 2.21 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and a 28/3 strikeout to walk ratio when he's on the mound. Tommy John surgery and a slow recovery has been the issue for him as well, and while his arsenal isn't quite as advanced as Kaprielian's, he still has good command of pretty good stuff and should move fairly quickly when he returns for a healthy 2019. I like Kaprielian better as a prospect, but Jefferies could still be a #4 starter, though there is significant reliever risk.
Healthy Pitchers: RHP Parker Dunshee, RHP Brian Howard, RHP Wyatt Marks, and RHP Brady Feigl
So the A's have lots of injured pitchers who could be impact starters down the road, but what do they have left in terms of guys who actually pitched in 2018? The answer is not much in terms of impact pitching talent (behind Jesus Luzardo, obviously), but there are some interesting back-end starter types and out of the players I chose to highlight, they're all 23. 23 year old Parker Dunshee was fantastic in the mid-minors this year, posting a 2.33 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and a 163/31 strikeout to walk ratio over 150.2 innings between High A Stockton and AA Midland, losing no effectiveness at the higher level and bringing his career minor league ERA to 1.98. His stuff is just average, as he throws a low 90's fastball with decent secondary pitches, but he commands it all very well and knows how to mix his pitches to keep hitters off balance well enough to dominate everywhere he has been. He looks like a #5 starter at this point, but these guys can sneak up on you and he shouldn't be counted out for more just yet. As a fun aside, he was teammates with Nate Mondou (see infielders section) at Wake Forest from 2014-2016, now again at AA Midland, and potentially in the future in Oakland. 23 year old Brian Howard had a great season right alongside Dunshee, posting a 2.91 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and a 140/37 strikeout to walk ratio over 139.1 innings at Stockton and Midland, though unlike Dunshee he was noticeably better at the lower level. Howard, out of TCU, is an absolute string bean at 6'9" and 185 pounds, using his height to make his average stuff play up. He has a similar outlook to Dunshee given his similar skills and performance, and while some would give him the higher ceiling due to his height (pun completely intended), I hesitate to project further height-related development to guys his age; I think he is what he is at this point, give or take a few mechanical adjustments. 23 year old Wyatt Marks posted a 3.30 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and a 159/51 strikeout to walk ratio over 133.2 innings between Class A Beloit and Stockton, blowing his good fastball/curveball combination by A ball hitters who weren't quite as advanced. His mediocre command and lack of a trustworthy changeup give him reliever risk, with his fastball and curveball not being quite good enough to make up for deficiencies on those fronts. There is still an outside shot he can make it to the majors as a starter, but as a reliever he could be fairly valuable. Lastly, 23 year old Brady Feigl (not to be confused with 27 year old Rangers minor league pitcher Brady Fiegl) was just drafted out of Ole Miss in the fifth round in 2018, and he had a successful debut in which he posted a 1.73 ERA, a 0.73 WHIP, and a 34/8 strikeout to walk ratio over 26 innings between short season Vermont and Beloit. The 6'5" right profiles as a workhorse back-end starter type, one who could move through the minor leagues fairly quickly but whose upside is limited.
Affiliates: AAA Nashville Sounds*, AA Midland RockHounds, High A Stockton Ports, Class A Beloit Snappers, Short Season Vermont Lake Monsters, complex level AZL and DSL Athletics
*AAA affiliate will move from Nashville, TN to Las Vegas, NV in 2019
The Headliner: LHP Jesus Luzardo
21 year old Jesus Luzardo, who came over from the Nationals in the Sean Doolittle trade, is in my opinion the top left handed pitching prospect in all of baseball. The 6'1" lefty, a 2016 alumnus of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, dominated the minors in 2018 by putting up a 2.88 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and a 129/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 109.1 innings at High A Stockton, AA Midland, and AAA Nashville, though he was hit around a bit at the last stop. He was excellent at Stockton (1.23 ERA, 25/5 K/BB in 14.2 IP) and Midland (2.29 ERA, 86/18 K/BB in 78.2 IP), but his four starts in Nashville (7.31 ERA, 18/7 K/BB in 16 IP) skewed his numbers a bit. Still, Luzardo throws in the mid 90's with very good secondary stuff, and with his advanced command, he's a truly complete pitcher with ace potential, even Rookie of the Year potential if he gets called up early enough in 2019. A's fans should be very excited over their Peruvian-American star prospect, one who could be the next Sonny Gray or better in Oakland, starting this coming season.
Outfielders/Catcher: C Sean Murphy, OF Greg Deichmann, OF Lazaro Armenteros, OF Austin Beck, OF Jameson Hannah, and OF Kyler Murray
The A's have an interesting group of outfielders, mostly towards the bottom of the system, and there is a good mix of skills down there. Most of them are fast and good defenders, though there is some power in the group and each player is pretty unique. I'll start with the catcher that I threw onto this list, 24 year old Sean Murphy. Murphy is a fantastic defensive catcher, one who can block, frame, and throw with any catcher in the minors. Any type of production at all, such as in 2017 when he slashed .250/.313/.410 with 13 home runs, would be enough to make him a valuable back-up, but this year he broke out by slashing .285/.361/.489 with eight home runs and a 50/26 strikeout to walk ratio over 73 games, mostly at AA Midland. He missed a month and a half with a broken hand, but the power he showed (he also hit 27 doubles) could actually make him a starting catcher in the majors, something that is tough to find nowadays. He probably doesn't hit for high averages or even get on base at a high rate, but with some power and that great defense, he's one of the better catching prospects in baseball. 23 year old Greg Deichmann, a 6'2" outfielder, had a disappointing first full season this year by slashing .216/.294/.417 with seven home runs and a 71/22 strikeout to walk ratio over 58 games between High A Stockton and complex ball rehab, missing a big chunk of the season with a wrist injury. He was known for his power back at LSU, but the wrist injury may have sapped some of that this year, and he'll need that power to overcome his swing and miss tendencies. He'll get another shot in 2019, where a healthy Deichmann could break out with plenty of home runs, but that hinges on his ability to make contact against pro stuff. 19 year old Lazaro Armenteros and 20 year old Austin Beck are fairly similar prospects, both joining the system amid plenty of fanfare in 2017 and showing similar skill sets while they played together at Class A Beloit this year. Armenteros slashed .277/.374/.401 with eight home runs, eight stolen bases, and a 115/36 strikeout to walk ratio over 79 games, while Beck slashed .296/.335/.383 with two home runs, eight stolen bases, and a 117/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 123 games. While Armenteros posted numbers along the lines of what you would expect, showing some power, speed, and patience, Beck's numbers didn't quite match the scouting reports. He has a ton of raw power in his quick bat, but instead of hitting a bunch of home runs, he hit 29 doubles (plus four triples), not tapping into that home run power enough. Hopefully, the power will manifest itself soon, and with his high-level defense, the 2017 sixth overall pick could be an impact player on both sides of the ball. As for Armenteros, his offensive outlook is similar but he doesn't quite play the same defense as Beck. 21 year old Jameson Hannah doesn't quite have the offensive upside as Armenteros or Beck, but the 2018 second rounder (50th overall) has a good shot to become fourth outfielder or even a decent regular. Hannah slashed .279/.347/.384 with a home run, six stolen bases, and a 24/9 strikeout to walk ratio over 23 games at short season Vermont in his pro debut. His best tool is his speed, which goes a long way on the bases and in the outfield, and he also gets on base at a high rate as an advanced hitter. He lacks power, putting pressure on his on-base ability to play up if he wants to start. Lastly, we have 21 year old Kyler Murray, perhaps the most interesting prospect in baseball. He hasn't played yet despite being drafted ninth overall in 2018, and that's because he's busy getting ready for the College Football Playoff after winning the Heisman Trophy as Oklahoma's quarterback. As you would expect, he's both raw and ultra athletic, showing great speed and the ability to make adjustments on the field. After failing to produce much at the plate during his first two years in college baseball, he broke out with a big year last year and the A's hope he can continue that upward trajectory in the minors. At this point, he shows an average bat with a tendency to swing and miss, but as he focuses on baseball alone, he should improve. Just how much he improves will be the difference as to whether he's a fourth outfielder or an impact starter, but he's an exciting prospect to have in the system. There have been rumors that he wants to go to the NFL instead, but at this point that is unlikely.
Infielders: SS Jorge Mateo, 3B Sheldon Neuse, 3B Nate Mondou, SS Kevin Merrell, SS Nick Allen, and SS Jeremy Eierman
As with the outfield, the infield features a diverse array of players that can all do different things. There's not much in terms of impact talent here, though some guys (particularly Mateo and Eierman) have the potential to develop into impact prospects down the road. 23 year old Jorge Mateo is very well known, having come over from the Yankees in the Sonny Gray deal in the midst of a big 2017 (.267/.322/.459, 12 HR, 52 SB). His 2018 was a bit of a disappointment, as he slashed .230/.280/.353 with three home runs, 25 stolen bases, and a 139/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 131 games at AAA Nashville. His aggressive approach did not hold up well against the most advanced pitching in the minors, but he did continue to show off his blazing speed and good gap power. Though he only hit three home runs, he knocked 17 doubles and 16 triples, so he's not just a singles hitter. Defensively, he looks good enough defensively to stick at shortstop, but second base or center field may be in his future due to Marcus Semien and Matt Chapman owning the left side of the Oakland infield. Another year in AAA could be all he needs to get his bat going against advanced pitching, in which case he could be a valuable starter for the A's in late 2019 or 2020, but otherwise he'll end up a speedy utility man. 24 year old Sheldon Neuse came over with Jesus Luzardo in the Sean Doolittle trade, though like Mateo, his 2017 (.321/.382/.502, 16 HR) was much better than his 2018. This year, he slashed .263/.304/.357 with five home runs and a 172/32 strikeout to walk ratio over 135 games at Nashville, looking overmatched by upper level pitching and not getting to his power nearly as often as he would have liked to. Overall he has a pretty average bat, which is okay because he's up at the top of the minors and plays a pretty good third base. He's blocked by Chapman there, though he could try his hand at second and probably ends up a utility bat anyways given his strikeout issues. 23 year old Nate Mondou had a good season, slashing .279/.356/.399 with eight home runs, ten stolen bases, and an 84/52 strikeout to walk ratio over 136 games between High A Stockton and AA Midland, though most of his production came at hitter-friendly Stockton, which is also the lower level (.291/.361/.448 vs .255/.345/.297). He's a patient hitter with a good approach at the plate, though he is just an average hitter overall and is unlikely to challenge for a starting spot, instead looking like a utility guy. 23 year old Kevin Merrell is an interesting prospect, one whose numbers haven't quite matched the scouting reports. In 2018, he slashed .291/.335/.365 with no home runs, seven stolen bases, and a 70/19 strikeout to walk ratio over 71 games between Stockton and rehab work in complex and short season ball. He's one of the fastest players in the system, possibly behind only Jorge Mateo and Kyler Murray, but that didn't translate into stolen bases at Stockton this year as he was slowed by injury. He also makes ready contact and can get on base, but again the numbers didn't quite match (he hit just .267/.308/.326 at Stockton), though he was never expected to hit for much power. 2018 was disappointing, but the A's hope he can prove himself as a high on-base, high steal utility prospect in 2019. 20 year old Nick Allen is interesting for different reasons, coming off a season where he slashed just .239/.301/.302 with no home runs, 24 stolen bases, and an 85/34 strikeout to walk ratio over 121 games at Class A Beloit. He didn't hit a lick, but that was expected because the A's drafted him for his defense, hoping the bat would develop in time. He's a superb defender at shortstop, one who can not only stick there but win Gold Gloves too. His bat is far behind his glove, and he's listed at just 5'9" and 155 pounds, so the A's will continue to work with him to develop some gap power. The lowish strikeout rate (16.6%) was nice given that pitchers were probably going right after him, so there is something to build on offensively. Lastly, 22 year old Jeremy Eierman was just drafted in the competitive balance round (70th overall) out of Missouri State, and he slashed .235/.283/.381 with eight home runs, ten stolen bases, and a 70/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 62 games at short season Vermont. He has a high ceiling with power and good defense on the left side of the infield, possibly even at shortstop, but his approach needs a lot of work for a college hitter and he might not be up in the majors for a little while. If he cuts down the strikeouts dramatically, he could be an impactful starting infielder in the long run.
Injured Pitchers: LHP A.J. Puk, RHP Grant Holmes, RHP James Kaprielian, and RHP Daulton Jefferies
As I wrote at the top, this entire group combined to throw just eight innings in 2018, yet all are good enough pitching prospects that they still seriously factor into the A's' future. I'll start with 23 year old A.J. Puk, a 6'7" lefty who was drafted sixth overall out of Florida in 2016. In 2017, his only full season, he posted a 4.03 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and a 184/48 strikeout to walk ratio over 125 innings at High A Stockton and AA Midland, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2018 and after missing that season, he'll probably get a late start to 2019 as well. Still, when he steps back on the mound at some point next spring, he'll probably be the A's' top pitching prospect if Jesus Luzardo has exceeded rookie limits at that point. He throws in the mid to upper 90's and misses bats with a wicked slider, helping him mount up strikeouts at an incredible rate. He was supposed to spend 2018 working on his changeup and command, both of which are coming along but which need considerable work if he wants to start in the majors, so that work will be pushed to 2019. If he can take care of just one of those two, he will be a useful mid-rotation starter, and if he can take care of both, he'll be battling Luzardo for the role of #1 starter in Oakland. However, if he remains a fastball/slider pitcher only, he would be a very good late-inning reliever. I played against 22 year old Grant Holmes' former Conway (SC) High School in 2015, the year after he graduated and was drafted in the first round (22nd overall) by the Dodgers, but I'm not sure I would have wanted to face mid 90's sinkers. Holmes came over in the Josh Reddick trade in 2016 and after a pretty decent 2017 at AA Midland (4.49 ERA, 150/61 K/BB) he missed all but two games in 2018 with a shoulder injury. The good news is that he was healthy by the end of the season and made two pretty good starts at Stockton (6 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 8 K), and he should be ready to go for another crack at the high minors in 2019 at 23 years old. Aside from that great sinker, Holmes throws a very good curveball and a decent changeup with just enough command to make it all work, so he's really only one adjustment away from being a major league starter. In a healthy 2019, if he can improve that command a little, he could be a #3 or #4 starter by mid-season. 24 year old James Kaprielian, yet another former first round pick (16th overall out of UCLA in 2015), came over from the Yankees in the Sonny Gray trade. Tommy John surgery wiped out both his 2017 and 2018 seasons, and he only threw 29.1 minor league innings from 2015-2016, so the fact that he is still considered a valuable prospect is a testament to his skill. Since he hasn't pitched much at all over the past three seasons, it's hard to say exactly what his stuff will look like in 2019, but back when he was healthy he sat in the low 90's with a very advanced arsenal overall, and with his great command, he already looked the part of a major league pitcher and could have moved very quickly. Indeed, in his 29.1 career minor league innings, he has a 2.45 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP, and a 36/7 strikeout to walk ratio. Once healthy in 2019, the first box to check will be making sure he's still the same pitcher he was a couple years ago, but if he is, he could be up in the majors much sooner rather than later a a mid-rotation starter. Lastly, 23 year old Daulton Jefferies is the only pitcher on this list who wasn't a first rounder, having been drafted in the competitive balance round (37th overall, just missed!) in 2016 out of Cal-Berkeley. Like Kaprielian, he has been injured nearly constantly, throwing just 20.1 innings over his three years in the minors, though he holds a 2.21 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and a 28/3 strikeout to walk ratio when he's on the mound. Tommy John surgery and a slow recovery has been the issue for him as well, and while his arsenal isn't quite as advanced as Kaprielian's, he still has good command of pretty good stuff and should move fairly quickly when he returns for a healthy 2019. I like Kaprielian better as a prospect, but Jefferies could still be a #4 starter, though there is significant reliever risk.
Healthy Pitchers: RHP Parker Dunshee, RHP Brian Howard, RHP Wyatt Marks, and RHP Brady Feigl
So the A's have lots of injured pitchers who could be impact starters down the road, but what do they have left in terms of guys who actually pitched in 2018? The answer is not much in terms of impact pitching talent (behind Jesus Luzardo, obviously), but there are some interesting back-end starter types and out of the players I chose to highlight, they're all 23. 23 year old Parker Dunshee was fantastic in the mid-minors this year, posting a 2.33 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and a 163/31 strikeout to walk ratio over 150.2 innings between High A Stockton and AA Midland, losing no effectiveness at the higher level and bringing his career minor league ERA to 1.98. His stuff is just average, as he throws a low 90's fastball with decent secondary pitches, but he commands it all very well and knows how to mix his pitches to keep hitters off balance well enough to dominate everywhere he has been. He looks like a #5 starter at this point, but these guys can sneak up on you and he shouldn't be counted out for more just yet. As a fun aside, he was teammates with Nate Mondou (see infielders section) at Wake Forest from 2014-2016, now again at AA Midland, and potentially in the future in Oakland. 23 year old Brian Howard had a great season right alongside Dunshee, posting a 2.91 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and a 140/37 strikeout to walk ratio over 139.1 innings at Stockton and Midland, though unlike Dunshee he was noticeably better at the lower level. Howard, out of TCU, is an absolute string bean at 6'9" and 185 pounds, using his height to make his average stuff play up. He has a similar outlook to Dunshee given his similar skills and performance, and while some would give him the higher ceiling due to his height (pun completely intended), I hesitate to project further height-related development to guys his age; I think he is what he is at this point, give or take a few mechanical adjustments. 23 year old Wyatt Marks posted a 3.30 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and a 159/51 strikeout to walk ratio over 133.2 innings between Class A Beloit and Stockton, blowing his good fastball/curveball combination by A ball hitters who weren't quite as advanced. His mediocre command and lack of a trustworthy changeup give him reliever risk, with his fastball and curveball not being quite good enough to make up for deficiencies on those fronts. There is still an outside shot he can make it to the majors as a starter, but as a reliever he could be fairly valuable. Lastly, 23 year old Brady Feigl (not to be confused with 27 year old Rangers minor league pitcher Brady Fiegl) was just drafted out of Ole Miss in the fifth round in 2018, and he had a successful debut in which he posted a 1.73 ERA, a 0.73 WHIP, and a 34/8 strikeout to walk ratio over 26 innings between short season Vermont and Beloit. The 6'5" right profiles as a workhorse back-end starter type, one who could move through the minor leagues fairly quickly but whose upside is limited.
Monday, July 17, 2017
Nationals Bolster Bullpen With Doolittle, Madson
Nationals Get: Sean Doolittle (1-0, 3.38 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, 3 SV, 31/2 K/BB, Age 30)
Ryan Madson (2-4, 2.06 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 1 SV, 39/6 K/BB, Age 36)
A's Get: Blake Treinen (0-2, 5.73 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 3 SV, 32/13 K/BB, Age 29)
Sheldon Neuse (9 HR, 51 RBI, .291 AVG, 12 SB, 133 wRC+ at Class A, Age 22)
Jesus Luzardo (1-0, 1.32 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 15/0 K/BB at GCL, Age 19)
The Nationals and A's have made numerous trades in recent years, and less than a year after the Marc Rzepczynski for Max Schrock deal, the A's sent the Nationals two more relievers. Sean Doolittle has spent his entire six year career in Oakland, battling injuries but performing like a back-end reliever when healthy. Though the 3.38 ERA might not show it, he's been straight up dominant this year, striking out 31 batters while walking just two in 21.1 innings, leading to a much better 2.35 FIP. He had a rough patch from June 30th to July 5th, allowing five runs in 3.2 innings over four appearances, but he seems to have righted the ship, retiring nine straight batters in his three subsequent outings. He seems like the favorite to become the Nationals new "closer," if they decide to continue with that archaic bullpen model and lock one reliever into one inning. As an extra plus, he's under contract through 2020 for under $20 million total. For his career, Doolittle is 13-13 with a 3.09 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP, striking out 300 batters in 253 innings. Ryan Madson is also a veteran reliever, having pitched for the Phillies from 2003-2011, the Royals in 2015, and the A's since 2016, sandwiched around a lengthy Tommy John surgery recovery from 2012-2014. He has been better than ever in 2017, his age 36 season, putting up a 2.06 ERA, a 2.43 FIP, a 0.79 WHIP, and a 39/6 strikeout to walk ratio in 39.1 innings. He has been especially lights-out recently, allowing just one run on two hits, no walks, and a hit batsmen over his past nine appearances, coming out to a 0.90 ERA, a 0.20 WHIP, and eleven strikeouts in ten innings. He's under contract for this year and next, and he'll be paid just over $10 million for that year and a half. For his career, Madson is 56-43 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, striking out 693 batters in 797.1 innings.
Blake Treinen, who was originally drafted by the A's out of South Dakota State in 2011, is the only major leaguer going back to Oakland. He came to the Nationals in the Michael Morse trade and quickly made his mark, putting up a 2.49 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP over 15 games (seven starts) as a rookie in 2014. After a decent 2015, he seemed to put it all together in 2016, putting up a 2.28 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP over 73 appearances, striking out 63 batters in 67 innings and showcasing a nasty two-seamer/slider combination. However, he took a big step back this year, struggling to a 5.73 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP over 37 appearances, striking out 32 and walking 13 in 37.2 innings. His 3.75 FIP suggests he's due for some regression, but the Nationals need results now and Treinen wasn't providing them. He still has three years of arbitration ahead of him, meaning he'll be under team control through 2020, like Doolittle. For his career, Treinen is 8-11 with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP, striking out 190 in 223 innings. Sheldon Neuse was the Nationals' second round pick out of Oklahoma in 2016, and after a sluggish start to his pro career last year (.230/.305/.341), he broke out this year with Class A Hagerstown, slashing .291/.349/.469 with nine home runs over 77 games, showcasing the upside of a starting third baseman in the majors. He's still a long way off, and at 22, he's not old by prospect standards but he's not young either. He adds to the impressive infield depth Oakland is stockpiling in its system, joining Matt Chapman, Renato Nunez, Franklin Barreto, Richie Martin, Yairo Munoz, Joey Wendle, and former Nationals prospect Max Schrock. Jesus Luzardo was the Nationals' third round pick in 2016, but he could have gone higher had he not gone down with Tommy John surgery before the draft. Finally healthy, the 19 year old made his pro debut on June 28th, and through three starts so far, he's been excellent, going 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP, striking out 15 and walking nobody in 13.2 innings for the GCL Nationals. Focusing merely on pounding the strike zone for now, he's been fairly hittable, allowing 14 hits in those 13.2 innings for a .259 opponents' batting average, but given the overall results, you'll take it every time for a teenager working his way back from surgery. It will be a few years before he's ready for the majors, but he could be a mid-rotation starter around the year 2020.
Ryan Madson (2-4, 2.06 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 1 SV, 39/6 K/BB, Age 36)
A's Get: Blake Treinen (0-2, 5.73 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 3 SV, 32/13 K/BB, Age 29)
Sheldon Neuse (9 HR, 51 RBI, .291 AVG, 12 SB, 133 wRC+ at Class A, Age 22)
Jesus Luzardo (1-0, 1.32 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 15/0 K/BB at GCL, Age 19)
The Nationals and A's have made numerous trades in recent years, and less than a year after the Marc Rzepczynski for Max Schrock deal, the A's sent the Nationals two more relievers. Sean Doolittle has spent his entire six year career in Oakland, battling injuries but performing like a back-end reliever when healthy. Though the 3.38 ERA might not show it, he's been straight up dominant this year, striking out 31 batters while walking just two in 21.1 innings, leading to a much better 2.35 FIP. He had a rough patch from June 30th to July 5th, allowing five runs in 3.2 innings over four appearances, but he seems to have righted the ship, retiring nine straight batters in his three subsequent outings. He seems like the favorite to become the Nationals new "closer," if they decide to continue with that archaic bullpen model and lock one reliever into one inning. As an extra plus, he's under contract through 2020 for under $20 million total. For his career, Doolittle is 13-13 with a 3.09 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP, striking out 300 batters in 253 innings. Ryan Madson is also a veteran reliever, having pitched for the Phillies from 2003-2011, the Royals in 2015, and the A's since 2016, sandwiched around a lengthy Tommy John surgery recovery from 2012-2014. He has been better than ever in 2017, his age 36 season, putting up a 2.06 ERA, a 2.43 FIP, a 0.79 WHIP, and a 39/6 strikeout to walk ratio in 39.1 innings. He has been especially lights-out recently, allowing just one run on two hits, no walks, and a hit batsmen over his past nine appearances, coming out to a 0.90 ERA, a 0.20 WHIP, and eleven strikeouts in ten innings. He's under contract for this year and next, and he'll be paid just over $10 million for that year and a half. For his career, Madson is 56-43 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, striking out 693 batters in 797.1 innings.
Blake Treinen, who was originally drafted by the A's out of South Dakota State in 2011, is the only major leaguer going back to Oakland. He came to the Nationals in the Michael Morse trade and quickly made his mark, putting up a 2.49 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP over 15 games (seven starts) as a rookie in 2014. After a decent 2015, he seemed to put it all together in 2016, putting up a 2.28 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP over 73 appearances, striking out 63 batters in 67 innings and showcasing a nasty two-seamer/slider combination. However, he took a big step back this year, struggling to a 5.73 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP over 37 appearances, striking out 32 and walking 13 in 37.2 innings. His 3.75 FIP suggests he's due for some regression, but the Nationals need results now and Treinen wasn't providing them. He still has three years of arbitration ahead of him, meaning he'll be under team control through 2020, like Doolittle. For his career, Treinen is 8-11 with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP, striking out 190 in 223 innings. Sheldon Neuse was the Nationals' second round pick out of Oklahoma in 2016, and after a sluggish start to his pro career last year (.230/.305/.341), he broke out this year with Class A Hagerstown, slashing .291/.349/.469 with nine home runs over 77 games, showcasing the upside of a starting third baseman in the majors. He's still a long way off, and at 22, he's not old by prospect standards but he's not young either. He adds to the impressive infield depth Oakland is stockpiling in its system, joining Matt Chapman, Renato Nunez, Franklin Barreto, Richie Martin, Yairo Munoz, Joey Wendle, and former Nationals prospect Max Schrock. Jesus Luzardo was the Nationals' third round pick in 2016, but he could have gone higher had he not gone down with Tommy John surgery before the draft. Finally healthy, the 19 year old made his pro debut on June 28th, and through three starts so far, he's been excellent, going 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP, striking out 15 and walking nobody in 13.2 innings for the GCL Nationals. Focusing merely on pounding the strike zone for now, he's been fairly hittable, allowing 14 hits in those 13.2 innings for a .259 opponents' batting average, but given the overall results, you'll take it every time for a teenager working his way back from surgery. It will be a few years before he's ready for the majors, but he could be a mid-rotation starter around the year 2020.
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