Rise and shine A’s fans! We got a brand new series to get started today up in Seattle.
The organization has had some massive hits in the first round of recent MLB Drafts. The team’s 2019-2024 picks have all made it to the major leagues with varying success but they really hit it big in recent years with Tyler Soderstrom, Jacob Wilson, and Nick Kurtz. Those three are anchor players among the position player side of things.
While the team has done well drafting position players, they’ve lacked in the pitching
department due to a lack of trying. The Athletics did not select a pitcher with their first round pick in the last nine years. No wonder the big league squad has had pitching problems.
That nearly decade-long streak was snapped last year when the club selected southpaw Jamie Arnold, the first pitcher selected with the A’s top pick since another lefty in A.J. Puk way back in 2016. A product of Florida State University, Arnold was widely considered one of the top pitching prospects and one that could move through the system quickly.
Arnold has looked as advertised so far and his ascent up the minor league ladder has been quick. He didn’t pitch after getting drafted last year and began his professional career at Double-A, where he’s spent most of the year. In 23 starts he posted a 3.27 ERA but he was especially dominant in four August starts where he allowed just four runs in 23 innings. That earned him a promotion to Triple-A, where he made his Aviators debut a couple days ago.
Now 23, the left-hander has now arrived at the final stop of the minor leagues and he looked like he hasn’t skipped a beat. Facing Triple-A hitters for the first time Arnold pitched five shutout frames while allowing just four hits. He also punched out five batters compared to just two walks. It doesn’t get much better than that for a top prospect reaching that level for the first time.
That’s now put him on the radar of a possible promotion over the final month. The A’s have been aggressive in recent years with some of their youngest players and if Arnold continues to look comfortable in Triple-A, then the A’s could feel comfortable getting his feet wet in the big leagues in a relief role, or heck even a start before the year is up. That sure would give A’s fans something exciting to watch.
The more likely scenario is that Arnold wraps the year where he is and contends for a spot in the rotation next Spring. As of right now he’d have a decent shot to crack that top five but we’ll have to wait and see what the A’s do to bolster the starting rotation this offseason. Either way, it’s not much longer before we see Arnold donning the Green & Gold in a regular season game.
Have a great Thursday everyone.
A’s Coverage:
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- A’s Plan to Test Top Pitching Prospect Jamie Arnold at Next Level
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- Why Athletics Will Have Scary Offense in 2027
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- Behind the Plate, the A’s Face an Offseason Reckoning
- Why The New GM Needs To “Clean House”
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- MLB Trade Grades: A’s Have Quiet Trade Deadline
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MLB News and Interest:
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- New Rays Owner: Stadium Deal Should Lead To Significant Payroll Increase
- Dodgers get Will Smith, Rushing, Wrobleski back from IL
- Mike Trout on ‘needed’ sale of Angels: It’s a ‘fresh start’
- Angels Notes: Stadium, Trout, Front Office
- Rays, Austin Slater Agree To New Minor League Deal
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
Arnold wasn’t the only one with a recent promotion to Triple-A:
Looking like it so far:
Very!
The injuries don’t stop:
