A's Minor League Position Players Database

April 2024 update: This database has been completely overhauled for the 2024 season, and I've updated all of the below entries at some point in 2024. There are a few players that I haven't included: outfielders Jeison López and Darling Fernández, who only played a few DSL games in 2023, none of which were available on video, newly-signed minor league free agent Quincy Nieporte (coming soon), and any international free agents who have yet to debut. I think otherwise I've got everyone listed who should be. I'll be updating some of the entries further as the 2024 season progresses and there are notable changes.

Descriptions are intended to give a sense of what the players' skillsets are, not necessarily provide an OFP or make a final evaluation; that's for prospect lists and other content. I'll add 2024 draftees and new international signees if/when there's video of them to digest.

Click on the arrow next to any player to expand and view details about them.

Armando Alvarez, INF

The A’s are Alvarez’s third organization, after he spent many years in the Yankees system and 2023 with the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate. Now 29, he’s had increasingly strong Triple-A performance over the past three years, which he’ll look to bring to Vegas in 2024. An interesting wrinkle with his early-season deployment is that Alvarez, almost always a corner infielder in previous seasons,  is seeing most of his time at second base. Alvarez has a balanced offensive skillset, using a short if somewhat unorthodox swing to make contact all over the zone while generating solid power from his lower body. Despite its short path, Alvarez’s swing does get some loft on the ball, allowing him to clear a lot of fences even with relatively average exit velocities. He can get somewhat chase-prone against high fastballs and low offspeeds but has the hand-eye coordination to spoil a lot of those pitches, and he’s come into improved walk rates in recent seasons. Alvarez does enough well at the plate to merit a big league roster spot if he can be defensively versatile, which is where the second base experiment becomes very important. If it takes, he could be a valuable utility infielder in the Brandon Drury/Matt Duffy mold. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Carlos Amaya, C/INF

Amaya was signed in 2020 out of Venezuela and hit over .400 in the DSL the following year. Despite the fact that he followed that up with solid (though unspectacular) performance in Arizona in 2022, the A’s mostly had him as a third catcher in Lansing in 2023 and early 2024. Finally sent to Stockton in mid-2024, Amaya has gotten regular reps and looked promising but lacked polish on both sides of the ball. He has surprising strength and can lift the ball with real ferocity, but he doesn’t always get to his power; despite his swing itself being quite simple, he sets up very far away from the plate and tends to lunge at pitches without consistent balance. Amaya still covers the strike zone quite well and doesn’t strike out a lot, but he also has had a tendency to expand the zone against breaking balls. Defensively, he’ll show a solid, accurate arm and flash some snazzy receiving, though he’s overall still raw and inconsistent defensively, in large part because he’d only caught about 50 games from 2021-23. If the A’s continue to give Amaya regular playing time, it’s very possible his skillset could round into a more polished and intriguing form. (Last updated 8/14/24)

Bryan Andráde, INF

Signed in 2021 out of Venezuela, Andráde spent 2022-23 as a DSL utilityman, spending the majority of his time at third base. He moved up to Arizona in 2024 but played sparingly. He has yet to stand out offensively as a pro, as he has three extra-base hits in 79 career games, though he definitely could get stronger, and Andráde does flash solid plate coverage and feel for contact. He’s played a solid third base and could probably play second as well if called upon. In addition to getting physically stronger, Andráde will need to improve his pitch selectivity in order to find better pitches to impact. He’ll probably repeat Arizona in 2025 and look to stand out more. (Last updated 8/14/24)

Euribiel Ángeles, INF

The prize of the Sean Manaea trade in 2022, Ángeles was already in the Midwest League at age 19 at the time, but that’s where he’s spent almost all of his time since, wowing at times and frustrating at others. Ángeles has preternatural bat-to-ball ability and hand-eye coordination, and he has a special knack for getting on top of shoulder-high fastballs and roping them to all fields. He also has a tremendous internal clock and great hands in the middle infield, and his bat speed and strength give him enough power to reach double-digit homer totals down the line. 

Like a lot of hitters with this sort of special hand-eye coordination, Ángeles thinks he can hit anything–because he can–but this has resulted in a wildly aggressive approach that makes Ángeles entirely reliant on batting average, especially because it also means he gets fewer pitches to drive. He seemed to change his setup at the plate on a weekly basis at 2023 and his focus seems very idiosyncratic, as he’ll suddenly have plate appearances where he takes several pitches with nonchalant body language. Perhaps relatedly, he’s run very hot and cold in his two-plus years in the A’s system, though he did finish 2023 strong and has started 2024 with an unusually disciplined approach at the dish. Defensively, the hands and internal clock make Ángeles a competent shortstop, though his arm isn’t a natural fit for the position and he rarely throws at max effort (partially a good thing that results from him estimating the right effort so well). All of this accounted for, Ángeles is still shy of his 22nd birthday, and all of the positive attributes he had are still there, so if he can get momentum going consistently, he could rise back up A’s prospect lists. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Ángel Arévalo, INF/OF

Arévalo was the standout player of the 2021 DSL A’s, dominating the circuit at age 17, though he’s been inconsistent in the two years since, primarily in Arizona. The muscular infielder did begin to show more power and speed in 2023, and the one skill that he’s clearly demonstrated his whole career is a strong eye at the plate. He showed the ability to catch up to quality fastballs on the inner half and hit them very hard, with his short arms getting the barrel to meet the ball in front, but the uphill trajectory of his swing meant that he struggled to get to high heaters, and he has yet to show he can impact offspeed pitches. Arévalo is a good athlete with baseball physicality, but he has yet to eradicate serious error trouble as a middle infielder, which led to him getting some outfield time in a brief trial run in Stockton in late 2023. He’s now 20 and didn’t get a full-season assignment to start 2024, but Arévalo figures to get there at some point this year. Finding a defensive home and getting more consistent with his in-zone contact are the two primary goals for him. If he can accomplish those two things, Arévalo will get squarely on the prospect map. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Dáyker Baldállo, INF

A lefty-swinging Venezuelan infielder, Baldállo has spent three years in the DSL, where he’s run a nearly-even strikeout-to-walk ratio and started at least six games at six different positions. The problem is that he also has only 7 career extra-base hits–all doubles–in 96 career games, and the attendant lack of strength there has led to a career average of .169 and slugging percentage of .198. Baldallo is more filled out than his listed 135 pounds, but he definitely could get stronger still. His swing is short to the ball and quite flat and he focuses on using the whole field; he does a good job covering the plate and getting the bat to the ball, but that approach keeps him from actualizing the strength he has. He does have some athleticism and can capably handle a few different positions, though he needs a normal amount of polish in the field, like most teenagers. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Danny Bautista, Jr., OF

The son of the longtime big league outfielder of the same name, Bautista was born in Arizona but moved to the Dominican Republic as a high school senior so that he could sign as an international free agent rather than go through the draft. After he signed with the A’s in 2017, Bautista quickly came stateside the following year and then spent the next half-decade putting up okay statlines as a corner outfielder while being mentioned by some observers as a possible sleeper in the A’s system. In High-A for the first time in 2023, he developed into an extreme contact hitter, running about a 94% in-zone contact rate in my pitch charting and striking out just 10% of the time. That came at the tradeoff of more out-of-zone chasing than he’d had previously and thus an excess of soft contact. Bautista is a well-rounded player otherwise, with a medium build, decent speed, and a bit of raw power he could unlock more if he traded some of the contact for it. He’s also shown a better batting eye in the past than he had in 2023. Defensively, Bautista played a lot of first base in 2023, but that was out of organizational need; he’s a fine defensive corner outfielder with a slightly above-average arm. Bautista is repeating Lansing in 2024 in an effort to unlock something beyond the low strikeout rate and solid batting average. He’s a free agent after the season, so if he can bring more talents to the forefront, the 23-year-old will likely get to continue his career and keep developing further. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Nelson Beltran, OF

Beltran was originally signed out of the Dominican Republic as a third baseman in 2018, but poor fielding there saw him move to the outfield by the time he got to the States in 2022. Beltran had big seasons in Arizona in 2022 and 2023 but struggled in Stockton. Beltran swings with authority and can use the whole field, but he’s often off balance and struggled with high fastballs and breaking pitches away from him in 2023. He did retain a solid batting eye in Stockton. Beltran is bulked up but retains some athleticism, enough to play solid corner outfield defense. He returned to Stockton in 2024 but hit the IL after two games. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Henry Bolte, OF

Bolte was seen as a high-upside project when the A’s took him in the second round in 2022, but he had a good first full season in Stockton and moved up to Lansing in 2024 at age 20. Bolte’s tools have definitely showed up as a professional, with easy plus power to all fields, plus speed that allows him to play a solid center field, and excellent bat speed with a surprisingly short swing. The biggest revelation of Bolte’s career thus far is that he’s proven to have a strong batting eye, working very deep counts and drawing a ton of walks. The A’s made some adjustments to his swing and got him more balanced in the box, and Bolte flashes the ability to move the barrel around and hit even non-strikes hard. However, there was still a lot of swing-and-miss in Bolte’s game in 2023, perhaps due to the normal developmental hurdles of adapting to the swing change and pro pitching, but also because his timing is very inconsistent. Bolte’s ability to outthink the sequencing of pitchers is impressive, but when he guesses wrong, he tends to be late on fastballs (especially up) and get fooled by breaking stuff off the plate. Overall, the impression he left in 2023 was that of a very talented and cerebral player who sometimes over-thought his way out of at-bats. The good news is that his simple setup and bat speed should allow him to find significantly more consistency in time. Bolte’s off to a slightly slow start in Lansing in 2024, still working a ton of 3-2 counts but seeing far more of them turn into strikeouts than walks. He’s exactly the sort of player who would be affected by the early-season Midwest League cold, like California high schoolers Tyler Soderstrom and Max Muncy before him, so his tools should allow him to adjust as the weather warms. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Cooper Bowman, INF

Bowman was the final player included in the Frankie Montas trade in 2022. Known for his gaudy stolen base totals both before and during his time in the A’s system, he hit well in Midland in 2023 but saw his season interrupted by enough injuries that he was returned back to the Texas League in 2024. Bowman’s hands are fairly direct to the ball and he has some ability to adjust the barrel, but his timing and bat path have varied a fair bit in his time in pro ball, as has his approach. After being acquired in 2022, he was very aggressive at the dish, whereas in 2023, he appeared very passive; early in 2024, he’s swinging much more frequently again. Bowman shows some ability to loft the ball to all fields, though he sometimes hits too many popups, and the A’s have worked to get him to more of a line-drive orientation. Defensively, he shows plus range and good instincts at second base but a well-below-average arm. He should be able to handle center field as well, though he has yet to be tried there. Bowman will need to settle into a more consistent offensive identity, but his speed and broad offensive skillset make him an intriguing potential utility player. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Brayan Buelvas, OF

A 2018 Colombian signee, Buelvas was considered one of the A’s top prospects after excelling in Arizona at age 17 in 2019, but he’s spent the last several years trying to solve A-ball pitchers. The broad skillset that got evaluators so excited about Buelvas still exists. For a wiry 5’11” player, Buelvas is capable of shocking power displays, a function of how explosive his wrists are through the zone. He doesn’t have to sell out for power, though he goes through stretches where he swings from his heels and gets off balance. Buelvas runs well and plays an inconsistent but exciting center field, and although he’s had trouble hitting for average in most of the last several seasons, his bat speed and his swing's relatively short path have been formidable enough to keep him from running into a lot of strikeout trouble. Buelvas’ difficulty coming up with acceptable batting averages and struggling to bring his power into games has come from an inconsistent approach at the plate and a swing path that doesn’t keep the barrel in the zone for very long, in addition to getting off balance and ending up on his front foot too early against breaking stuff. As a result, he has dealt with a preponderance of poor-quality contact at extreme angles, especially popups. He simplified his setup and got somewhat more selective in 2023, which allowed him to finally conquer the Cal League authoritatively, and his approach looks better in Lansing in early 2024, allowing him to finally bring his power in games at that level in his third try. Buelvas is still just 21, so if the improvements continue to translate into productivity, he still has plenty of upside. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Jonny Butler, OF

A power spike in his senior season got the ACC batting champ drafted in the 14th round in 2021, and Butler’s college exploits were dominant enough to get him skipped over Stockton and assigned immediately to Lansing. A series of injuries and trouble recapturing that power stroke has kept Butler mostly at that level since, including to open 2024. However, that assignment is more a function of the organization’s outfield depth than an indictment of Butler, who ended 2023 in Midland and performed well there after a dominant early-summer stretch in Lansing. Butler isn’t tooled up by any means, but he’s a classic “ballplayer:” a medium-build corner outfielder who knows how to hit. He battles pitchers with his short swing and can work extremely long at-bats with his tendency to foul off almost anything, and his swing has just enough loft and authority that he can rope backspinning line drives over the fence to all fields. He’s difficult to beat in the zone and hangs back well on offspeed stuff, and he’s so experienced at High-A at this point that he has developed good selectivity as well. Butler is now 25 and will have to prove he can continue to be an authoritative offensive presence in the upper minors and not just an adequate one. He’s not a defensive liability and is a fine athlete with the ability to steal the occasional base, but he’s mostly just a left fielder on account of below-average arm strength. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Denzel Clarke, OF

Seen as a high-risk but very high-upside selection in the 4th round in 2021, Clarke has impressed more than he’s struggled as a pro, though he’s dealt with a series of injuries that have slowed his progress somewhat. A massive presence on the field at a hulking 6’5”, Clarke has huge tools, starting with his massive power. He’s a plus runner with good instincts, and though his reads, routes, and throwing in center field are inconsistent, they’re all capable of providing jaw-dropping defensive moments as well. Clarke has bat speed to spare and tracks pitches well, leading to high walk totals that significantly buoy his offensive output even when he’s struggling and making him a formidable on-base presence. He’s got a plan in the box and employs a better two-strike approach than you might think given his high strikeout totals. Clarke does, however, still swing and miss in the strike zone with alarming frequency, mostly because of his challenge coordinating his long limbs and getting his hands on a good path to the ball. He struggles to get on top of pitches up in the zone and can get his weight way out in front on offspeed offerings. He’s a renowned hard worker who’s adjusted his setup at the plate several times as a pro to try to get a comfort level, and he tends to alternate months of locked-in dominance with months where he gets out of sync and strikes out a ton, leading to the next adjustment. Injuries have held him back from getting enough reps to gain more consistency, but he still was excellent overall in Midland in 2023, though the A’s sent him back there to open up 2024 and he’s started cold. Clarke has special, Aaron Judge-level ability if everything goes perfectly for him–recall that Judge developed relatively slowly as well–and he could still be an electrifying MLB player even if inconsistency dogs him forever. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Cole Conn, C

A 12th-round pick in 2023 out of UIC, Conn opened 2024 as Stockton’s everyday catcher. He stood out in college for his athleticism behind the plate and his throwing arm, and he’s immediately become one of the best defensive catchers in the system. A switch-hitter with a line-drive approach, Conn works the count from both sides of the plate and thus has gotten the rare-for-a-catcher honor of being a regular leadoff man thus far in 2024. He does work a ton of very deep counts and runs the risk of getting overly passive and letting hittable pitches go by. Mostly a doubles hitter who doesn’t sell out of power but has enough strength to clear a few fences, Conn already looks like a great find given his draft status, though he’ll have to prove he can maintain impact offensive performance against tougher competition. Overall, his trajectory feels a lot like Shane McGuire’s did in 2022. (Last updated 4/28/24)

Bjay Cooke, INF

Signed out of Australia as a teenager in 2022, Cooke got off to a solid start in Arizona that summer but scuffled badly in Stockton in 2023. He was billed as a two-way player at signing and reportedly could push his fastball up to 94 on the mound, but he’s exclusively been a position player as a pro. Cooke has a classic baseball build, solid speed, a plus arm in the field, and he’s still got some power projection. He also flashed reasonable selectivity at the dish in 2023. Cooke remains very raw as a hitter, though, and his swing remains quite stiff and grooved. He struggled to catch up to quality velocity up in the zone in 2023 and couldn’t adjust to quality breaking pitches off the plate. He also struggled with infield footwork and has increasingly moved to second base despite his strong arm in an effort to minimize his throwing miscues. Center field may ultimately be his best position, but the A’s have yet to try Cooke out there. He’s back in Stockton in 2024 at age 21. Cooke’s struggles in 2023 are understandable given his nontraditional background and youth, but he’ll need to begin translating his tools into baseball skills sooner rather than later. Given his two-way history, pitching may be an option if that doesn’t happen. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Logan Davidson, INF

It’s been a strange journey for the A’s first-round pick in 2019, as he was sent all the way up to Midland to begin his first full season when minor league baseball resumed in 2021, but struggled badly there and didn’t fully solve the level until the middle of 2023. In Triple-A to start 2024, Davidson still has an interesting skillset. He’s done good things from both sides of the plate, hitting for a fair bit of power with good leverage in his swing and drawing a number of walks. He was one of Las Vegas’ leaders in average exit velocity after his midseason promotion there in 2023. Davidson’s swing can get long and his approach tends to oscillate from free swinging to near passivity, and he’s had a tendency to alternate scorching months with extended slumps his whole career. Drafted as a shortstop, Davidson remains a solid defender with a strong arm, though he’s been moved all over the field in preparation for a possible career as a utility player. He doesn’t have great speed, though, so he fits best as an infielder. In any case, Davidson’s ability to credibly switch-hit and show good secondary skills while manning multiple positions could make him a strong utility player in relatively short order if he makes enough contact. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Reinaldo De La Cruz, INF

De La Cruz signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2022 and was the DSL A’s everyday second baseman the following year. Though his statline didn’t turn out to be very good at the plate, De La Cruz flashed good bat speed and the ability to hit fastballs with surprising authority for such a young player. He’s a solid athlete in the field who could perhaps play shortstop more regularly; he did play there some in 2023 and held his own but mostly deferred to Jesus Fernández at the position. De La Cruz’s main issue in 2023 was that he was one of the freest swingers on the team, and he’d frequently expand the zone against offspeed pitches and get caught out in front. If he can improve his approach as he matures, De La Cruz has some interesting upside on both sides of the ball. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Reynaldo De La Paz, OF

De La Paz was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2022 and became one of the DSL A’s top hitters the following year at age 17. He’s a prototypical right fielder physically, with a big frame that has plenty of room for De La Paz to add muscle and strength. De La Paz impressed with his feel for the strike zone in 2023, showing good plate coverage with his long arms, though he can get jammed inside by quality heat. He doesn’t sell out for power and went homerless in his debut, though he still roped 16 extra-base hits in 50 games. More than anything, that’s symptomatic of De La Paz’s relatively flat bat path more than a lack of power, and it will be an interesting optimization problem to figure out the right angle of attack as he grows into more pop. De La Paz isn’t a burner and is somewhat raw defensively, but he’s coordinated and has a good arm, so he should be fine defensively in right field. If he can maintain his approach and start clearing fences, he’ll emerge as a player to watch. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Jared Dickey, OF

An 11th-round pick of the Royals in 2023, Dickey impressed enough in High-A the following year to be the third player included in the Lucas Erceg trade in July 2024. Assigned to Lansing upon his arrival in the A’s organization, he got off to a hot start, exuding a hard-charging vibe in all aspects of the game while roping liners. Dickey’s setup at the plate is very noisy, with a large hand pump as a trigger, but though he swings with a ton of effort, he keeps the barrel in the zone for a long time and covers the zone very well. Overall, his skillset has a bit of similarities with that of Colby Thomas, though Dickey isn’t quite the same caliber of athlete in the box and doesn’t quite have Thomas’ tendency to expand the zone, though he certainly doesn’t get cheated out of opportunities either. Dickey is a solid athlete in the outfield with a plus arm, likely fitting best as a solid-average right fielder. He’ll have to continue to bring all of his tools into games in the upper minors, but his feel for the game and ability to hit the ball hard without sacrificing contact make give him a chance to do so. (Last updated 8/12/24)

Kevin Dumé, 1B

Dumé signed in 2021 but missed all of 2022 with an injury, finally making his pro debut in the DSL and showing Three True Outcomes skills. Even at age 18, he’s a huge presence in the batter’s box, and Dumé is patient and works very deep counts. He’s got a lot of strength and can hit the ball over the fence to all fields, but like a lot of players of this size and skillset, his swing has a lot of length and plays best when he can get his arms extended on pitches on the outer half. He was very susceptible to back-foot breaking balls from righties in 2023 and also tended to be beaten by quality high heat. Dumé doesn’t have big range at first base but presents a big target and has fairly soft hands; he should be adequate there defensively. He’ll look to find more consistency in 2024, and could lead the A’s Rookie ball teams in homers if he does. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Frándy Durán, OF

A 2022 Dominican signee, Durán was the 2023 DSL A’s everyday left fielder. He made a lot of contact in his debut as a 17-year-old, but like a lot of players that age, he didn’t show the strength to turn the quantity of contact into quality. Durán has some nascent physical and skillset similarities to Jonny Butler, being a medium-build line-drive hitter with a solid but aggressive approach who runs well enough to play a capable left field. The thing that separates him from Butler–other than seven years of age and thus the attendant strength–is that Durán takes a long time to get his hands in a good hitting position and thus is very beatable within the zone. As he heads into his second full season, getting more mechanical directness and punch is going to be key for his advancement. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Jeremy Eierman, INF

A second-round pick out of Missouri State all the way back in 2018, Eierman has spent the majority of his career in Double-A, but he entered 2024 with a career .282 OBP and nearly 5-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio. Eierman still has tools: he’s hit 29 homers in 179 career Double-A games as of this writing, as he has strong wrists, plus bat speed, and a ton of lift in his cuts while keeping his swing relatively short. Eierman has also played all over the infield in his career but is an easy plus defender at third base with an above-average arm and strong instincts; he’s capable at the two middle infield spots. Eierman’s career-long offensive troubles stem from his rotational swing being fairly grooved and his pitch recognition being suspect. His swing has some up-down adjustability, but its steep path does make it inaccurate in the upper parts of the zone, and Eierman struggles to do much with pitches away from him, which is compounded by his inability to lay off breaking stuff off the plate in that direction. He’s on his fourth year in Double-A in 2024. A free agent after the season, he has shown some improvement in his selectivity in the early going. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Clark Elliott, OF

Elliott was taken in the second supplemental round in the 2022 draft after a power breakout at Michigan in his junior season. His 2023 was one of the most mystifying seasons of any A’s farmhand. On one hand, Elliott showed a surgical approach at the plate, drawing a ton of walks and taking consistently balanced cuts from the left side. On the other hand, he amassed only twelve extra-base hits in 93 games, slugging .276 as his power seemed to evaporate. The bizarre thing about it was that in quite a large sample of video, Elliott still seemed to hit the ball hard fairly consistently, lining balls at outfielders seemingly a dozen times per week. Still, his measly two-homer total speaks for itself, as Elliott hasn’t figured out how to backspin the ball against pro competition. He did improve toward the end of the season, hitting his first High-A homer in his final at bat of 2023, and his defense also came on toward the end of the year after his reads and routes were poor in the early going. Elliott is a solid athlete and baserunner who can put a charge into the ball, and his approach is easily one of the best in the A’s system. He wasn’t assigned to an affiliate to open 2024 for reasons that are unclear. Whenever he returns to Lansing, Elliott needs to prove his power isn’t just theoretical. If he can, memories of the 2023 power outage should fade quickly. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Jesús Fernández, INF

Fernández was one of the more notable signees in the 2022 international class, and the Venezuelan delivered on that intrigue in his pro debut, serving as the DSL A’s everyday leadoff man and shortstop and hitting .300. His overall contact rate both inside and outside the zone was elite at just age 17, a testament to his hand-eye coordination, mechanical simplicity, and approach at the dish. Unlike a lot of contact mavens, Fernández is quite disciplined, getting ahead in counts and then lining mistakes into the outfield; he walked more than he struck out in 2023. Fernández didn’t show elite speed or athleticism, but he played a relatively sound shortstop for his age in his debut; he may not have the arm for the position long term but should at least be able to be solid at second base. The big question going forward is whether Fernández can hit for any power, as hard-hit balls were exceedingly infrequent from him despite the other superlative qualities of his plate appearances. He’ll presumably be in Arizona this summer looking to reinforce the superlative quantity of his contact while upping the quality. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Carlos Franco, C

Franco is a bulky backstop signed out of Venezuela in 2020. Among a talented group of young Latin American catchers in the system, his offensive numbers in Rookie ball have never stood out, but Franco’s defensive polish and feel for contact got him to Stockton in mid-2023 ahead of most of the others. Franco sets up with a wide, balanced stance and focuses on being short to the ball in the batter’s box, and his short, balanced cut and solid pitch tracking allow him to consistently meet in-zone fastballs. Though he’s got the strength to muscle a few homers over the fence, Franco doesn’t hit a lot of balls in the air, so he’s dependent on his on-base ability to stand out offensively. On defense, he’s a developing receiver and solid blocker who should become more of a defensive asset as he gains more experience, as he’s had to split reps with so many other catchers in previous years. He enters 2024 in Stockton as Cole Conn’s primary backup. (Last updated 4/19/24)

Luis Freitez, OF

A 2020 Venezuelan signee, Freitez hit two of the DSL A’s season total of four home runs next year, but the fact that he was able to occasionally clear fences in the Caribbean humidity hasn’t translated to the more hitter-friendly environment of Arizona in the two years since. Freitez has made a reasonable amount of contact and will work counts, and he got some time in center field in 2023, but he has yet to establish a carrying tool. He hasn’t hit the ball very hard and often ends up in more of a passive approach than a functionally patient one, taking hittable fastballs and then chasing with two strikes. He is still just 20 and doesn’t have any singular giant weaknesses, though. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Erubiel Fuentes, INF

Signed out of Mexico in 2020, Fuentes has walked more than he’s struck out in three Rookie-level seasons, though he also has just four career extra-base hits and a .200 average. He has a patient approach at the plate, and though his swing has a bit of length to it, Fuentes has good bat control and can make contact all over the zone, but much of it is on the ground. He’s fairly physically developed and has some strength, but it’s unclear how well it translates into usable bat speed. He’s played all over the infield competently as a pro but fits best at second base. Fuentes will try to ascend up the ACL depth chart in 2024. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Ray Garrett, INF

Signed out of Venezuela in 2020, Garrett’s career highlight has to be hitting a home run in his first US at-bat after going homerless in two DSL seasons. He’s a short, bulky second baseman with a bit of punch in his bat who’s shown some awareness of the strike zone, though he didn’t show consistent ability to time pitches in Arizona in 2023. Garrett is mostly a second baseman defensively but is adequate there. He’ll look to slow the game down in 2024. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Mario Gómez, C/1B

Signed out of Mexico in 2020, Gómez had a superlative offensive season in the DSL the following year. He missed 2022 with an injury but then repeated his strong offensive performance the following season in Arizona and enters 2024 with a career .399 OBP. Gómez is a line-drive hitter who controls the strike zone and looks to fill the gaps. He has a good two-strike approach and can fight off tough offspeed pitches, and he’s got enough strength and lift in his swing to hold his own in the power department for a catcher. He did have some trouble with high fastballs in 2023 and will need to make sure he can cover the top of the zone against better competition. Despite his superlative offensive history, Gómez wasn’t given a full-season assignment in 2024, which likely largely has to do with his defense. He’s played mostly first base–where his lack of height makes him a less-than-ideal target–in Rookie ball due to the catching glut the A’s have had there, and thus is well behind schedule defensively for a player in his fourth pro season. Gómez has a typical catching body, but with so little experience back there, he’s got a long way to go in terms of his feel for blocking and framing. At 21, he’s offensively ready for Stockton; when he gets there, he’ll look to firm up his future defensive home. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Cesar González, C

González was one of the A’s top international signees in 2021, and though he’s spent the intervening two years in the DSL, the big Venezuelan catcher has certainly continued to show promise, walking more than he struck out, putting up nearly a .400 OBP, and tying for the DSL A’s team lead in homers in 2023. Still a teenager, González is already big and strapping, but he has some more room to add strength. His signature skill thus far has been his very strong batting eye, but he can also lift the ball into the air with some authority. González doesn’t have overwhelming bat speed, but his pitch selection has been so strong that he’s been able to consistently catch up to fastballs, and he’s okay against spin as well. Like most young catchers, he has a lot of work to do behind the plate; his blocking and receiving show promise and his arm has some strength, but he tends to have a slow transfer and release and has thus struggled to slow the running game. González is one of the system’s most promising young catchers and his presumed US debut in 2024 will be interesting to follow. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Colby Halter, INF

Drafted in the 17th round out of Florida in 2023, Halter was almost immediately pushed to Lansing after signing and was sent back there in 2024, the lowest-drafted A’s player to start his first full season in Lansing in the 20-round-draft era. Halter was never a super-productive hitter in the SEC, but he’s a patient lefty swinger who looks to line the ball into the gaps. He’s a solid athlete at second base. In the early going in Lansing in 2024, he’s run a lot of deep counts and drawn walks, but he’s struggled to drive the ball in the April Midwest cold and has tended to pull off of changeups away from him. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Ramón Landaéta, C

Landaéta was one of the A’s most-prized 2022 international signings (non-Luis Morales category), and he immediately showed why in his 2023 pro debut in the DSL. Landaéta is a big, physical catcher with strong plate coverage and bigtime leverage in his swing, and he’s got a solid arm and the beginnings of what could be solid defensive skills behind the plate as well. Bringing power into games as a 17-year-old–Landaéta launched three homers across 88 plate appearances–is exceedingly rare in the DSL, let alone in for the DSL A’s, who’ve sometimes had whole seasons with about that many team home runs. Landaéta’s swing does have a lofted uppercut path and he’ll have to prove he can make consistent contact with it. He did expand the zone a fair bit in his pro debut and will need to get better at laying off of spin as well as punishing mistake breakers. He also, like any catcher of this age except for maybe Ethan Salas, will need defensive development in a variety of areas. Still, Landaéta has some very exciting potential. He’ll probably be one of the youngest players on the ACL A’s this year, and if he plays well there, he could clearly establish himself as the best catching prospect in the system beyond Daniel Susac. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Ryan Lasko, OF

Lasko was the A’s 2nd-round pick in 2023 after a decorated career at Rutgers. He’s been handled unusually conservatively since signing, first getting held back in Arizona for the remainder of his signing summer and then going to Stockton to start 2024. He’s scuffled there in the early going. Lasko does have a broad skillset and stands out for his high-energy hustling approach. He plays fundamentally sound all-out defense in center field with a plus arm and has above-average speed on the bases. He works counts well, recognizes spin, and has solid bat speed that can produce power to all fields, and he’s looked to drive the ball up the middle rather than selling out to the pull side. Lasko hasn’t come out of the gate as hot as one would hope for a second-round college star in Low-A, and that has a lot to do with persistent swing-and-miss against high fastballs, as he’s gotten his hands in hitting position very late and struggled with timing. It’s possible he’s having some challenges adjusting to wood bats, as his college summer-ball performances were also unspectacular. It’s hard to know how long-term his acclimation difficulties might last, but if it’s just a brief hiccup, Lasko will have a lot to offer. (Last updated 4/28/24)

Drew Lugbauer, 1B

Lugbauer is a lefty slugger who came over to the A’s as a minor league free agent after hitting 112 homers in six minor league seasons in the Atlanta system. He’s 27 and didn’t have much Triple-A experience prior to 2024, but the A’s started Lugbauer in Las Vegas. Originally drafted as a catcher but moved to first base several seasons ago, Lugbauer has a long, sweeping swing that works best when he can get his arms extended. He’s got solidly plus power that he’s brought into games consistently at the Double-A level because he works counts so well. Even with that in mind, he’s always been very strikeout-prone and will need to take a step forward in his consistency to clear the minors’ final hurdle. (Last updated 4/20/24)

Anderson Machado, INF/OF

Machado was signed in 2020 out of Venezuela and proceeded to put up two solid OBP-driven seasons in the DSL while playing every position except catcher and center field. Moved up to Arizona in 2023, he struggled to repeat the offensive performance and played mostly first and third base. Machado is still a fairly wiry player with some athleticism and should be able to fit somewhere other than first defensively, but he isn’t particularly refined anywhere yet and will probably end up in third base or right field. Machado worked a lot of deep counts in Arizona in 2023, but he let a lot of hittable pitches go by. Though he did show some plate coverage and barrel control, he wasn’t able to turn on pitches with authority and is going to need to get stronger. (Last updated 4/21/24)

Luke Mann, INF

Mann was the A’s 14th-rounder in 2023 after a banner fifth-year senior season at Missouri. The decorated college slugger was sent to Stockton to open his first full season as the Ports’ everyday third baseman. Mann is a patient hitter who tracks pitches well and has a surprisingly direct swing for a player of his power-hitting history, and he doesn’t look to be selling out for the longball in his initial pro experience. He’s also shown to be a solid defender at third base with strong hands, a solid-average arm, and strong instincts for the position. The A’s have experimented with him in the middle infield but he doesn’t look as fluid there. Mann is strong and swings with leverage and lift, but his bat speed is only fair, which could become more of an issue against quality velocity. He also has struggled to hang in against in-zone breakers from lefties. Still, his combination of the quality swing path, strength, selectivity, and defense gives Mann a lot of positives to bring into pro games. (Last updated 4/28/24)

Luis Mariñez, 1B/C

Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2020, Mariñez has some significant superlatives: he has plus power, one of the best throwing arms in the system behind the plate, and a solid eye that can lead to a lot of walks. That was enough to see him open 2023 as Stockton’s cleanup hitter, but that stretch emphasized the career-defining problem Mariñez has had: contact. Across 2021-23, Mariñez has struck out 97 times in 236 plate appearances, as he’s struggled to find much ability to adjust the barrel and catch up to fastballs, particularly up in the zone. A nominal catcher, Mariñez has struggled to find playing time behind the plate among the many talented young backstops in the system and has looked very raw in his blocking and receiving in his limited opportunities. He has as many career starts at first base as catcher and has looked fine there defensively, but he’ll have to make much more contact and bring his strength into games more consistently to be a force there. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Shane McGuire, C

A 9th-round pick in 2021 out of San Diego, McGuire immediately stood out the following season for his exceptional eye at the plate, and he’s consistently exhibited perhaps the best approach in the A’s system in the years since, running strong walk rates and keeping his strikeouts fairly low up through Double-A. McGuire has some strength but doesn’t sell out for power, employing a short, flat swing with a small stride, and he uses the whole field adeptly. He frustrates opposing pitchers not only by taking borderline pitches for balls, but also using that swing to foul off tough strikes and extend plate appearances long enough to force mistakes. McGuire is also a solid receiver and above-average blocker with a solid, accurate throwing arm. He flashes power to the pull side at times, but McGuire has struggled to fully incorporate his lower half in his swing and thus doesn’t drive the ball as well as he could. Catchers sometimes develop late offensively (see Stephen Vogt for an A’s example), so it’s possible there could be more offensive growth on the way as McGuire gets into his age-25 season repeating Midland in 2024. He won’t need much to profile as a solid backup catcher at the major league level. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Brennan Milone, INF

A 6th-round pick in 2022 out of Oregon, Milone was billed as a hit-first player on draft day, and that’s exactly what he’s proven to be, dominating the A-ball levels in 2023 and earning the everyday first base role in Midland in 2024 at age 23. Milone has an unique setup in the box, lifting his front foot off the ground as he waits for the pitch to come in and rotating his body while keeping the bat itself quite still. Unorthodox as it is, Milone moves very athletically in the box and tracks pitches very well, leading to strong strikeout-to-walk ratios at every stop of his career thus far. Though his raw power is a notch below some of the system’s strongest players, all of the other offensive strengths allow Milone to maximize the power he has in games, and he’s certainly capable of hitting impressive, towering shots to the pull side as well as plenty of doubles. The questions about Milone tend to be on the other side of the ball. Though he’s an adept first baseman with good range and flexibility, he’ll really have to maximize his offensive output (he might!) to profile there, but would really increase his offensive margin for error at another position. He played third base in college and some second and third in 2022-23 (and he didn’t look terrible there but certainly had work to do with his throwing and footwork), but he’s been moved exclusively to first base for the moment in 2024. Milone isn’t a traditional slow-moving giant one would associate with that position, though, and it’s possible he could have enough range for left field. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Dárlyn Montéro, 1B/OF

Signed in 2018 out of the Dominican Republic, Montéro–originally a switch-hitter but now lefty-only–has showed some promise at the plate in Arizona in 2022 and 2023. He’s grown into some power, showing the ability to backspin the ball with a swing that is fairly simple and direct but has significant loft and leverage. As such, he’s been able to move the bat around the zone and keep his strikeout rates reasonable, though it’s all added up to competent-across-the-board offensive performance rather than true breakthroughs in any single area. Montéro was overmatched in a season-opening trial at Stockton in 2023 but is back there to open 2024 as the Ports’ everyday first baseman and looks significantly more comfortable. He still has some inconsistency in his approach and has been especially vulnerable to offspeed pitches down and out of the strike zone, especially back-foot sliders. He’s a solid athlete who has experience at a variety of positions beyond first base, but he hasn’t been fundamentally sound at any of them (hands in the infield, routes in the outfield); he’s got great range at first, though, and should round into being a plus defender there. He’ll look to take advantage of Banner Island Ballpark’s favorable hitting conditions and put up the best statline of his career; if he can do that, he’ll continue to advance. (Last updated 4/28/24)

Jose Mujica, C

Signed out of Venezuela in 2017, Mujica has advanced slowly through the A’s system but finally got to Stockton in 2023 and Lansing in 2024. Still just 23, Mujica is a catcher with some all-around offensive skill, and his poor 2023 Stockton statline undersells his abilities in the box. His swing is very short to the ball and results in a lot of line drives with an all-fields approach, and Mujica has shown the ability to work counts in his favor and lay off of spin out of the zone. He doesn’t sell out for power he's got some strength and can hit the ball with authority to the pull side at times. Between his below-average bat speed and inconsistent balance in the box, however, there can be some low-quality contact mixed into the equation. Still, Mujica has all the offensive tools to be a long-tenured organizational catcher; the questions lie more on the other side of the ball. After not having a season in 2020, Mujica got scant reps behind the plate in 2021 and 2022, playing a lot of first base, and he still looked very raw as a receiver and blocker in Stockton in 2023 along with below-average arm strength for the position. He’s known for working well with pitchers, and some of the issues are improveable and can be ascribed to lack of reps, but controlling the running game could be a long-term issue for Mujica, who also is a notably slow baserunner even by catcher standards despite not being all that bulky. Even with those weaknesses considered, Mujica’s offensive ability makes him a more interesting player than his statlines might indicate. If he at his age were a recent draftee with many years of organizational control ahead of him, Mujica would be poised for a long career that would be destined for the upper minors. However, given his tenure in the A’s organization, he’s a free agent after 2024 and will likely need to produce this season in order to continue his journey in affiliated baseball. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Max Muncy, INF

The fact that Muncy’s journey from first-round pick out of high school in 2021 to Triple-A to open 2024 can at all be described as “circuitous” is strange, but even as he advanced across three levels in two seasons, the big shortstop had his ups and downs. It’s ultimately resolved well, though, as 2024 is seeing him produce well in Las Vegas in the early going in his age-21 season. Muncy takes an aggressive swing with some lift that can really crush pitches in the lower two-thirds of the strike zone. He’s shown power to all fields and has flashed a cerebral, disciplined approach to working the count. He’s also a solid defender with good instincts and a plus arm; his footwork at short has betrayed him at times in his career, but he’s far enough along in his defensive journey to project cleanly to shortstop if he’s needed there. Muncy’s inconsistency manifests in slumps where he overthinks and tries to play the hero. This was most evident early in 2023, where he started frequently expanding the strike zone and taking max-effort cuts that saw his in-zone contact rate plummet to under 60%. During that stretch, he tried out new setups at the plate seemingly every five plate appearances–often in the middle of games–and couldn't find any rhythm. Muncy is a renowned hard worker, though, and the fact that he was able to pull himself out of the slump so dramatically in the remaining three months of 2023 is a testament to his ability to adjust. As long as he doesn’t slide into bad habits, he should make a big league impact. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Nate Nankil, OF

The A’s 7th-rounder in 2023 out of Cal State Fullerton, Nankil was notably young for a college junior on draft day and didn’t turn 21 until that October. Assigned to Stockton for his first full season, he’s started strong, making a lot of contact and hitting line drives all over the ballpark with surprising exit velocity given that he wasn’t a big power producer in college. Nankil has a low-maintenance swing and looks the part of a complete hitter in the box, and he has the frame to add more strength and become an imposing power threat. He shows the foundation of a solid approach at the plate and recognizes spin well, though he’s still refining the finer points of managing counts. He’ll have to hit to stand out, as Nankil profiles as strictly a corner outfielder defensively, albeit a capable one with a solid arm. He’s off to a good start and has more time than most college draftees to build from this starting point. (Last updated 4/28/24)

Jesús Natéra, C

Natéra was signed in 2023 and was the only 16-year-old on an active roster in the A’s organization that year, though he mostly served as a third catcher in the DSL–in fairness, behind two big-bonus guys in Ramón Landaéta and Cesar González. Natéra took a few good at-bats when he played and roped a couple of liners, but unsurprisingly given his youth, he clearly needs to get stronger in order to make an impact on either side of the ball. The fact that he was patient at the plate with a workable swing and the ability to put a charge into the ball bodes well, but it’s obviously too early to say all that much about Natéra’s development possibilities. He’ll presumably get more playing time in the DSL in 2024. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Myles Naylor, INF

The younger brother of Josh and Bo and the cousin of Denzel Clarke, Naylor was picked in the 2nd round out of a Canadian high school in 2023. Sent up to Stockton ahead of many of the college players from his draft class that summer, Naylor showed off huge power by unleashing a barrage of six homers in 32 games just a couple of months after his eighteenth birthday, but he looked very raw in all other aspects of the game and struggled to slow the game down. Back in Stockton for 2024, he’s looked more comfortable, taking long, disciplined at-bats and continuing to get some hard contact mixed in; however, his swing is still long and mostly only functions against pitches down in the zone right now, leading to a ton of in-zone swing and miss. Defensively, Naylor was projected to third base when he was drafted, but the A’s have elected to play him at shortstop, which isn’t a natural fit for his big, muscular frame. He doesn’t have typical range for the position and struggled with errors in 2023 when he tried to throw everything at max effort. He’s showed better hands and fundamentals in 2024 but is still rough with his footwork overall, particularly going to his left. Naylor does have a strong arm and could be a solid defender at third base, and right field is also a possibility in the long term. Overall, he shares some skillset similarities with Max Muncy, with perhaps a bit more raw power compensating for his more limited defensive possibilities. Time will tell if Naylor can figure out his contact consistency as much or as quickly as Muncy did; if he can, he’ll be held in similar regard. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Germán Ortíz, INF/OF

Ortíz was a 2021 signee out of the Dominican Republic and he quickly debuted that summer as a 16-year-old and held his own. Through 2023, he’s played in the complexes–moving to Arizona that season–and posted strong on-base percentages while controlling the strike zone, but he has yet to homer. That could change significantly, though, as despite his low slugging percentage, Ortíz showed the ability to rope line drives all over the park in 2023, with some bad-luck BABIP deflating his statline. He takes a powerful rotational cut and is very athletic in the box, showing a good approach, strong bat-to-ball skills, and solid exit velocities for a teenager. He has hit the ball on the ground quite a lot, and clearing fences is going to be more about trajectory than strength for Ortíz, who brings above-average bat speed to generate his power. The other questions around his prospectdom have to do with his defense, as Ortíz has been tried at a variety of positions, most frequently second and third base, and has yet to look particularly comfortable at any of them. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Carlos Pachéco, OF

Pachéco was a high-bonus international signing in 2021 from Venezuela, but after struggling in the DSL in 2022, he had to repeat the level in 2023. That went better, and the reasons Pachéco got $1 million remain clear. The foremost is that he can absolutely fly on the bases and in center field. He’s also shown a very disciplined approach, hangs back well on spin, and has some wiry strength, bat speed, and barrel control. He’ll presumably move to the US in 2024, and if he can continue to hit there, he’ll be a fast ascender up A’s prospect lists. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Javier Pariguan, C

A 2020 Venezuelan signee, the burly Venezuelan backstop came to Arizona in 2023 and showed both promise and rawness. Pariguan works counts, can lift the ball to the pull side with some oomph, and he has one of the best throwing arms behind the plate in the A’s system. However, he struggled to adjust the barrel against quality stuff in 2023 and was very raw as a receiver and blocker. He’ll look to make inroads in those areas repeating the ACL in 2024; if he does, he should progress to Stockton next year with some upside remaining. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Junior Pérez, OF

Pérez was acquired for Jorge Mateo in 2020 when he was coming off a dominant age-17 season in the ACL in 2019. He’s always shown some of the best tools in the A’s system, with easy plus speed that can translate to impressive range in center field, where he plays with an enthusiastic, all-out style. He’s the owner of probably the best outfield arm in the system, and the wiry Dominican has above-average bat speed that can result in bigtime homers to the pull side. The problems for Pérez have been with the swing and the hit tool overall. His swing is extremely long, with a bat wrap that gets the operation off to a slow, segmented start that compromises Pérez’s barrel control. He has enough hand-eye coordination to hang in despite the swing, and he tracks pitches well and can work walks, but high fastballs have caused him increasing trouble as he’s advanced to Lansing in 2023 and Midland in 2024, and the rotational nature of his swing can get him bailing out in front of offspeed pitches and makes him a very pull-oriented hitter overall. Pérez was at his best in the second half of 2022, when an adjustment to start his hands higher freed him up to adjust the barrel, but he’s reverted toward his old bad habits in 2023 and at the outset of 2024. He’s still just 22 and has big upside if he could get the swing in a workable form, but Pérez is a free agent after the season and will need to take steps in 2024 if he’s going to get a 40-man add to keep him in the A’s organization, as Lázaro Armentéros was this past offseason. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Pedro Pineda, OF

Pineda was considered one of the A’s organization’s best prospects after his 2021 pro debut, which saw the Dominican outfielder tear up the Arizona complex at age 17. Since then, however, he’s had two-plus frustrating seasons trying to get over the full-season hurdle, marred by injury and inconsistent performance. Still just 20 and still in Stockton in 2024, Pineda continues to flash exciting tools. He’s a strong, wiry player with legitimate bat speed, and he plays engaged, high-effort defense in center field with a plus arm. He’s flashed the ability to think through plate appearances well and work deep counts and find a pitch to drive. But Pineda has looked increasingly uncomfortable in the batter’s box as his woes have continued over the years, and he’s long struggled with getting his timing down and preventing his very long swing–featuring a sizeable bat wrap–from chopping down on the ball from his high starting position. He tends to press and try to make something happen when things aren’t going well and plays himself out of at-bats. Pineda hit better in the second half of 2023 and has still shown the ability to hit hard liners early in 2024. If he can get some momentum going like Brayan Buelvas did in Stockton last year, Pineda’s tools are still prominent enough to change the conversation about him. (Last updated 4/28/24)

Yohel Pozo, C

Pozo is a former big leaguer (‘21 Rangers) who came to the A’s as a minor league free agent before the 2023 season and is back in Las Vegas in 2024 after a strong 2023 campaign. He’s an idiosyncratic player who basically brings Willians Astudillo’s swing-at-everything, hit-everything philosophy with Alejandro Kirk’s body type. Pozo doesn’t have huge exit velocities but hits the ball hard enough–despite his pitch selection–to routinely post fairly gaudy PCL statlines (career batting average over .300 there with over a .500 slugging percentage). He’s not a great defensive catcher but is adequate behind the plate in all respects. He’s still just 26 even though he’s been in pro ball for a decade and will likely get another look in the bigs at some point. Whether that’s with the A’s, given the bevy of catching talent in the organization, is an open question. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Elvis Rijo, INF

Rijo debuted in the DSL in 2022 and was part of a group of smallish, OBP-oriented middle infielders on the ‘22 DSL A’s with Erubiel Fuentes and Ray Garrett, all of whom moved up to Arizona the following year as bench/utility infielders. Rijo actually got moved up to Stockton for a couple of weeks in 2023 to fill an organizational void, but he was clearly overmatched at that level at age 19. Even then, though, he did put the bat on the ball with some frequency, and he showed the ability to stay back on breaking pitches when they were in the strike zone. Rijo chased a lot out of the zone in his small 2023 sample, though, and is going to have to keep a good grip on the zone to advance, since he hasn’t shown the ability to drive the ball much yet. He’s played all over the infield but, like a lot of inexperienced infielders, is still working on cutting his miscues there to an acceptable level. (Last updated 4/22/24)

Ángel Rivéra, C

Signed at age 18 out of Panama in 2021, Rivéra was the undisputed star of the DSL A’s the following year, putting up an OPS over 1.000, walking more than he struck out, and even committing just a single passed ball in 22 games caught while catching 30% of basestealers. Rivéra moved up to Arizona in 2023 and didn’t stand out as much, and both years were shortened enough by nagging injuries that it’s hard to fully know what to make of the compact catcher yet. Rivéra’s swing has some length, but his arms are short enough that it doesn’t seem to impact his ability to adjust the barrel and get to pitches. He’s quite strong already and could get to more in-game power if he incorporated his legs better, as he tended to hit more off his front foot in 2023. Defensively he’s a work in progress like most young catchers but has a solid arm and flashed some leadership qualities. He’s got to show he can withstand the grind of the catching position over a longer timeframe. If he can, there’s a real possibility Rivéra’s skills could blossom into an exciting package. (Last updated 4/22/24)

CJ Rodriguez, C

Rodriguez caught some legendary amateur pitchers at Vanderbilt, and his defense and leadership acumen were at the top of the list of positives about him when the A’s picked him in the fifth round of the 2021 draft. That’s generally continued to be the case in pro ball, as pitchers rave about working with the diminutive backstop, and he’s gotten good reviews for his framing. Rodriguez also enjoyed a strong season at the plate with Stockton in 2022, built on a patient approach that took advantage of his small strike zone. That season, he proved adept at consistently lining pitches into center field with a compact, flat swing, but he looked more overmatched offensively in Lansing in 2023, struggling with high fastballs, swinging from his heels, and expanding the zone with much more frequency. He’s looked closer to 2022 form repeating that level in 2024, however. Rodriguez is limited by below-average power and speed even by catcher standards, and he’s been a bit less consistent defensively in blocking and throwing than his amateur reputation indicated. Still, his offensive polish and rapport with the pitching staff make him a valuable asset to the organization. He’s still just 23, and catchers often develop late; he’ll try to follow that trend as he moves forward. (Last updated 4/27/24)

Joseph Rodríguez, OF

Though Rodríguez has been a bit on the older side for a Rookie ball player since he signed as an 18-year-old out of Venezuela in 2021, all he’s done since is get on base, easily topping the .400 mark both in the DSL in 2022 and the ACL in 2023. He began to show a more well-rounded game the latter season, hitting for a bit more punch and playing some center field. Rodríguez still wasn’t assigned to a full-season affiliate in 2024 despite that excellence, perhaps because there are questions about how his tools will hold up against full-season competition. He doesn’t have overwhelming bat speed and swung through a lot of in-zone fastballs in 2023 despite his excellent approach allowing him to really shrink the strike zone. He’s also going to have to refine his reads and routes in the outfield to become a defensive asset even in the corners, though Rodríguez has the athleticism to have some defensive upside. Rodríguez likely will get the opportunity to advance to the Cal League at some point this season; if he’s able to continue performing there, his stock could really rise. (Last updated 4/26/24)

Jeisson Rosario, OF

Rosario came over to the A’s as a minor league free agent in the 2023-24 offseason, and though he’s just 24 years old, they are his fourth pro organization. The outfielder was once considered a top prospect in the Padres organization in the late 2010s, but he has been stuck at the Double-A level since the outset of the 2021 minor league season, first in the Red Sox organization, then the Yankees, and now the A’s in 2024. Rosario has never truly struggled at that level, but he has yet to break out. He’s got some strength in his bulky build and has hit double-digit homers in two consecutive seasons, but Rosario tends to choke up on the bat and employ a fairly flat swing that gives him an opposite-field orientation. He shows some plate coverage and can hang back on offspeed pitches, and Rosario has long been able to work walks. Formerly known as a plus athlete and speed-oriented center fielder, Rosario has been increasingly moved to the corners as he’s bulked up, though he remains a solid athlete with a plus arm who can excel in right and play center adequately if called upon. The A’s will try to take Rosario’s solid collection of skills and find a way to draw out some superlatives from them. (Last updated 4/26/24)

Dereck Salom, INF

Signed way back in 2017 from Venezuela, Salom has advanced slowly through the system, getting to Stockton full-time in mid-2023 and moving up to Lansing in 2024, his final year before hitting minor league free agency. Now 23, Salom’s calling cards have become sure-handed defense at second and third base and a discerning eye at the plate. He covers the plate well with a short, simple swing that acquired a bit more oomph in 2023, though that season still contains his only professional home run. Contrary to the impression given by his low power output, Salom is fairly bulky and has never been much of a speed threat, and he’s stretched at shortstop rangewise. Though he does a nice job recognizing and hitting offspeed pitches, he can get overpowered by high fastballs at times. He’ll try to make a bigger offensive impact in 2024. (Last updated 4/26/24)

T.J. Schofield-Sam, INF

Schofield-Sam was a 12th-round pick in 2019 out of a Canadian high school. He spent most of 2021-23 in Stockton, primarily as the Ports’ everyday third baseman, before finally moving to Lansing toward the end of the 2023 season. He’s always stood out for his smooth lefty swing, which can rope liners with impressive force all over the ballpark. Schofield-Sam is also a good athlete who has slightly above-average range for third base, enough that he could possibly play second base if asked, and he has some outfield experience. He has never been a particularly consistent defender, however, struggling at times with throwing accuracy from third. Schofield-Sam has average raw power and good plate coverage, though he goes through stretches where he gets chase-prone, particularly against breaking balls. Despite his long career, Schofield-Sam is still just 22 and has the ability to hit more than he has, particularly in the power department, if he can get more consistent with his pitch selection. (Last updated 4/27/24)

Nick Schwartz, C

Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Southern New Hampshire–where he posted some truly cartoonish collegiate stats–Schwartz was assigned to Stockton to start his first full professional season. He can put a charge into the ball and lay off breaking stuff out of the zone, but as with most players of this sort of background, the questions for Schwartz will be how both his bat and his glove can handle high-level professional pitching. (Last updated 4/26/24)

Will Simpson, 1B

A big slugger drafted in the 15th round of the 2023 draft out of Washington, Simpson has done nothing but hit so far in pro ball. He’s a classic first base prospect with huge strength that can produce power to all fields, a solid approach at the plate, and a swing that is relatively compact and flexible despite its force. Simpson is a solid athlete for his size and plays a quality first base. He did have a little bit of experience in the outfield as an amateur but has not been tried there professionally. First base is obviously a very tough position to profile at as a prospect, but if Simpson continues his all-around excellence, the talk of him being a potential long-term fit there will grow in volume. (Last updated 4/26/24)

Jesús Superláno, INF

A 2022 signee from Venezuela, Superláno is a potentially versatile defender–he played second and third base ably in his pro debut–who, like many teenagers, still was figuring out his offensive identity in the DSL in 2023. He has some bat speed and the frame to get to some strength as he matures, and Superláno did flash a capable batting eye and some plate coverage in 2023, but it didn’t come together into consistent performance at that stage. Though he likely won’t have the thump to carry a pure corner infield profile, Superláno’s primary role at third base was likely more a case of deferring to Jesús Fernández and Reinaldo De La Cruz than any commentary on his defensive limitations to at least play second base. His role may well expand in 2024, when he’ll likely repeat the DSL and look to settle into pro ball. (Last updated 4/26/24)

Daniel Susac, C

Susac was the A’s first-round pick in 2022 and immediately added to the deep well of catchers in the system. He’s advanced steadily, spending the first half of his first full season–after being drafted as a sophomore–hitting over .300 in Lansing, after which he moved to Midland. Back with the RockHounds in 2024, Susac is a big, strapping presence both at the plate and behind it, showing big swing leverage, absurd plate coverage, and a strong arm as standout skills. Though the rest of his defensive game is a work in progress, Susac is already a reasonably playable catcher who should get to somewhere in the neighborhood of average defense. Offensively, Susac has long faced questions about his hyper-aggressive approach, but though he did chase out of the zone at an above-average (though by no means extreme) rate in 2023, he was also oddly passive on pitches within it. Though he certainly shows the ability to golf ankle-high pitches and poke pitches in the lefty batters box over the first baseman’s head, Susac’s haphazard pitch selection likely played a role in his hitting for significantly less in-game power in 2023 than he could. Still, that’s the sort of skill that tends to develop late for catchers, who have to learn how to catch pro pitching, and Susac’s had to figure that out at an accelerated pace given his advanced assignments. If the walks and power come as he settles into his role consistently, Susac definitely has the talents to meet or exceed his first-round expectations. How he fits into the A’s long-term catching picture given the presences of Shea Langeliers in Tyler Soderstrom would become a tough question if those skills blossom, but it’ll be a good problem to have if so. (Last updated 4/27/24)

Drew Swift, INF

An 8th-round pick in 2021 out of Arizona State, Swift scores one for nominative determinism, as he is indeed a plus runner. He’s also a strong defensive infielder who could also probably play center field; he has good hands, actions, and instincts alongside excellent body control in the field. After a couple of years in Lansing, Swift made it to Midland in the middle of 2023 and held his own. Offensively, he’s all about getting on base any way he can: working walks with a patient approach, lining singles to the opposite field, and beating out infield choppers are three frequent conduits to that result for him. Swift has always been very slight of build and struggles to pull the ball with much authority, though he showed a bit more ability to do that in 2023, and he has 30-grade power. He’s also struggled with a lot of injuries that have limited his offensive development. His versatility and feel for the game on both sides of the ball make him an excellent upper-minors utilityman, which should buy him time to try to make inroads on the offensive impact front. (Last updated 4/27/24)

Colby Thomas, OF

A 3rd-rounder in 2022 out of Mercer, Thomas has done nothing but hit so far in pro ball, first across A-ball in 2023 and now in Midland early in 2024. The outfielder has a broad and exciting skillset. Though he’s lean and fast enough to be a threat on the bases and an above-average defender in right field (who can maybe play center, though the A’s haven’t tried that much yet), Thomas also produces some of the highest exit velocities in the system, courtesy of his plus bat speed. He keeps the barrel in the hitting zone for a long time and can hit rockets at all angles when he’s going well. Thomas is a self-described “aggressive” hitter, and it shows. His main challenge is knowing when to rein in that aggressiveness, as he goes through stretches where he’s so focused on not getting cheated that he starts expanding the zone on breakers well off the plate away from him. He also had an odd split of contact in 2023, making much more contact in the strike zone on offspeed pitches than fastballs but the reverse being true out of the zone, and he’ll need to cement the consistency of his plate coverage against heaters. The early results on that front in 2024 are encouraging, though the question remains what Thomas will do when he finally faces pitchers who can exploit his aggressiveness on a consistent basis. The fact that that might be the only real adaptation he’ll have to make across the entire minor league ladder speaks to Thomas’ strong skillset, though. He’s quickly become one of the organization’s most exciting position players to watch. (Last updated 4/27/24)

Caeden Trenkle, OF

A 9th-round pick in 2022 out of Oklahoma State, Trenkle impressed as Lansing’s primary leadoff man early in 2023 despite still being just 21, showing a broad skillset that included a discerning eye, solid speed center field defense, the ability to adjust the barrel, and surprising power for a smaller player. Trenkle gets a good amount of lift in his swing and can hit some surprisingly majestic blasts to the pull side, though that focus also tends to get him swinging underneath high fastballs and pulling off of changeups. As a result, he’s run pretty high strikeout rates that he’ll need to curb if he’s going to continue showing OBP prowess at higher levels. Trenkle was bumped up to Midland late in 2023 and his season was interrupted by some injury woes; he’s back there in 2024. He hasn’t mastered that level yet but is just 22 and has a lot of time to put the pieces together. (Last updated 4/27/24)

Sahid Valenzuela, INF

Valenzuela is a great player to have around in utility roles on a minor league roster because he’s extremely versatile–he’s a switch-hitter who can play basically anywhere but catcher and center field–and he’s a model teammate who goes max-effort on every play. Originally drafted in the 13th round of 2019 out of Cal State Fullerton, he’s bounced around between Stockton, Lansing, and Midland in his career, filling in where he’s needed. Valenzuela is primarily a second and third baseman on defense and is above-average at the former position. He’s at his best when he works counts and focuses on lining the ball up the middle, and he doesn’t have a lot of power. He swings hard, though, and can occasionally surprise with a real blast, though he has a tendency to go through stretches where he gets overaggressive and plays his way out of at-bats. He’s on the IL in Midland to open 2024 and feels like the sort of player who would make a heck of a manager. (Last updated 4/27/24)

Jacob Wilson, INF

Wilson was the A’s first-round pick in 2023 out of Grand Canyon. He was seen as a bit of a savings pick at the time, and he did sign under slot (which opened up the room to sign Steven Echavarria and Cole Miller later). Though Wilson was often evaluated as being more of a mid-first-round pick on merit, he was certainly seen as extremely polished, a notion he’s thoroughly reinforced by excelling in Lansing after signing and then in Midland to open 2024. Wilson has exceptional feel for contact in and out of the strike zone, spraying line drives all over the field. He’s well known for his unorthodox, twitchy batting stance and overall idiosyncratic look in the box, but he has tremendous hand-eye coordination and good flexibility. That also translates to the defensive side of the ball, where Wilson has great body control and instincts at shortstop and should remain an above-average defender at the position for years. Questions about Wilson tend to revolve around his non-contact skills on offense. He’s very skinny and was known for producing strikingly low exit velocities in college by first-round pick standards, though he’s hit the ball somewhat harder early in his pro career. He’s also expanded the strike zone a lot in Midland–though it’s hard to fault him for that–which can impact his ability to drive the ball and make consistent quality contact. Wilson’s done everything he can so far to quiet doubts about his draft spot. If he shows he can work walks and clear double-digit fences per season, he has star potential because of the strength of his bat-to-ball skills and his glove. (Last updated 4/26/24)

Jack Winkler, INF

A 10th-round pick in 2021 out of San Francisco, Winkler reached Double-A in late 2023 and is there in 2024 again. He’s distinguished himself for his versatile defense–playing every infield position and moonlighting in the outfield–and feel for line-drive contact. Winkler has a balanced swing and does a good job consistently staying inside the ball, and he has enough hand-eye coordination to allow him to hit the ball at consistently productive launch angles. He doesn’t have huge raw power but can occasionally rope a ball over the fence to the pull side. He’s a sure-handed defender with a strong if occasionally inaccurate arm who probably fits best at second base defensively, with some slight stiffness to his infield actions making playing shortstop a bit of a stretch. As a senior signee, Winkler has been a bit old for his levels as he’s progressed at is now 25, but he’s hitting well to open 2024 and could play his way into a Triple-A look late in the season. (Last updated 4/27/24)

Casey Yamauchi, INF

An undersized middle infielder who hit over .400 his final two years at Hawaii-Hilo, Yamauchi was signed as an undrafted free agent after his fifth-year senior campaign in 2023. Assigned to Stockton to start his first full season, he’s shown adept, instinctual defense at second base–he might have the fastest double-play exchange in the organization–and a feel for contact, covering the strike zone well and hanging in against quality stuff. Yamauchi’s swing is incredibly short to the ball, and he can let pitches travel very deep on him and still line them to the opposite field. He’s very slight physically and didn’t homer until his fifth season in college, and he’ll have to prove he can put a charge into the ball at the pro level. He also, like most high-contact hitters, tends to expand the zone frequently–he still makes contact most of the time when he offers at balls, but it diminishes his already-limited exit velocity. Still, he’s quickly established himself as a useful contributor in Low-A. (Last updated 4/28/24)

Jonatan Yan, OF

Yan is just a career .192/.309/.292 hitter in two DSL A’s seasons, but he has significantly more potential than that statline might indicate. He’s a twitchy athlete with some wiry strength thanks to his bat speed, and he’s run nearly even K/BB ratios in Rookie ball–with notably low strikeout rates–thanks to his strong pitch recognition and swing decisions. Though he understandably didn’t man center field a ton due to the presence of Carlos Pachéco, Yan has the athleticism to play there and looked fine in spot duty at that position. Still, as the statline indicates, all of Yan’s skills haven’t coalesced into a complete package yet, and he’ll need some of his skills to stand out more as he advances. (Last updated 4/26/24)