Morning A’s fans!
Much of the attention towards the team right now is justifiably on first baseman Nick Kurtz and shortstop Jacob Wilson. Those two cornerstone players should be key pieces for whatever future playoff team the A’s can cobble together in Las Vegas. They’ll also be making history as the likely first and second-place finishers for the American League Rookie of the Year award at the end of the month. So cool. But that hasn’t been enough to get the A’s out of the cellar of the AL West and two players can’t
carry an entire baseball team.
There is more help on the horizon! The acquisition of stud prospect Leo De Vries has really injected the organization with a sense of hope and excitement that it hasn’t had in a long time for a prospect. The shortstop has been everything and then some that the Athletics organization expected since coming over from the Padres. We still have some waiting to do with him but having De Vries, Wilson, and Kurtz all in the same lineup is going to be something to behold.
Just for reference for you all out there, De Vries is still 18 (!) and is now in some rare company, as far as the minor leagues go:
If his career ends up anything like Harper’s then A’s fans would be thrilled. It’s still incredibly early but looking to the future one does get nervous at the idea of negotiations with a 25-year-old De Vries testing the open market. That’s something the club should start considering now not only with De Vries but with Kurtz and Wilson as well.
There’s only a few games left in the season for the Triple-A squad as the Aviators have just 10 games left on their schedule (plus postseason). Still, de Vries is trying his best to get a promotion to the minor league’s highest level before the season is out:
The kid just continues to impress, and there’s more talent behind him. While the prized shortstop won’t be participating in the Arizona Fall League during the offseason, there are a few notable prospects other than De Vries that will be taking part, looking to continue their development as ballplayers during the winter months:
That’s a couple bigs names right there. Third baseman Tommy White is obviously the biggest and most notable name of the bunch. The club’s second-round pick last year, White has impressed in his first season in the organization with a solid .271/.331/.437 slash line with 12 home runs across High-A and Double-A. The LSU product will be joined by his fellow ‘24 draftee Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, a third rounder who hit .291 across two levels with 27 stolen bases and also made it to the Double-A level. And then you have 2023’s second rounder Ryan Lasko joining those two on the AFL roster. After spending the majority of the year at High-A Lasko skipped Double-A altogether and made it to the Aviators, with the outfielder getting into three games for them so far.
On the pitching side there aren’t as many big names but still some potential late-bloomers. Lefty Will Johnston is the only one that ranks among the top-30 prospects in the system. The 24-year-old looks like he’s making the transition to full-time relief and could be an option for the A’s bullpen next year if he continues to progress, and the AFL should offer more chances to continue growing as a reliever. Righty Corey Avant was solid at High-A in a starting role but is also already 23 years old. Adamiak, Pontes and Dettmer are all right-handers also at High-A but even older than Avant. For a team that’s in need of developing arms the A’s don’t have any of their most intriguing arms pitching this offseason. Good move to keep their top young prospects healthy? Or a wasted opportunity for growth and experience? Something to ponder.
The A’s have the day off before welcoming Cincinnati tomorrow for three games. Other than that, have a great day everyone!
A’s Coverage:
- Athletics defeat the Reds Sox 5-4, take series finale
- Kurtz, Langeliers make A’s history with 30th HRs before Butler’s walk off winner
- A’s drop second consecutive to the Red Sox, 6-0
- Kurtz leads final Rookie of the Year poll
- Athletics’ Jacob Wilson has Tony Gwynn-like numbers through first 137 MLB games
- A’s Slugger on His Way to Becoming the Next Aaron Judge
MLB News & Interest:
- Cubs legend Anthony Rizzo retires after 14-year career
- Astros starting pitcher Luis Garcia returns to IL with elbow soreness after 28-month absence
- Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts cleared to resume baseball activities
- Aroldis Chapman allows first hit since July in loss to Athletics
- Yankees going “day-to-day” with shortstop Anthony Volpe
- Braves manager Brian Snitker leaves door open to possible return in 2026
- Cardinals’ Masyn Winn needs offseason knee surgery
- Twins right-hander David Festa dealing with possible Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Rankings the best deadline rentals in MLB history
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
Getting Butler to be more than a platoon bat would be huge for the team next year. Let it ride:
Think Wilson can catch Judge?
Roster moves. The return of Mitch Spence:
Ah yes, the 35-year-old prospect…
