Oakland Athletics Top 10 Prospects for 2017

After a streak of three straight playoff appearances, the Oakland Athletics suffered through a second straight 90-loss season. Is there help in the future on the farm?

An Introduction

Our minor league top 10 series is coordinated by Benjamin Chase, one of our contributors at Call To The Pen.

He has poured over thousands of minor league games over the course of the year via milb.tv along with speaking with a number of team and independent scouts. These lists are based out of those conversations.

Each system will have prospects from 10 to 1, and then finish with one newcomer to the system that is worth keeping an eye on that is not in the top 10 at this time.

Conversations are certainly encouraged in the comments section on each system as we go along!

Billy Beane has received plenty of scrutiny since the days of Moneyball, but his results have frequently been sporadic, to say the least

Athletics System Review

Billy Beane has received plenty of scrutiny since the days of Moneyball, but his results have frequently been sporadic, to say the least.

Part of this is due to Oakland’s self-imposed limited budget. Their outdated facilities are a reason that they often cite for why they cannot draw significant crowds to help bring in more money.

Just a scan across the 2016 A’s roster shows just how inventive Beane has had to be to create his teams. Of all players who had 300 or more plate appearances for the team in 2016, only one (Ryon Healy) was originally signed or drafted by the Athletics.

Likewise, of those pitchers who threw as many as 40 innings for the team in 2016, only Sonny Gray and Ryan Dull were originally signed or drafted by the Athletics.

Beane has been a master of trading his players for value, however, as seen in deals such as last year’s swap of Ben Zobrist for Sean Manaea and Aaron Brooks or this year’s deal of future free agents Josh Reddick and Rich Hill for three players that appear on this list.

There are a number of players ready to contribute in the next year or two, and it will be very intriguing to see how the A’s respond, especially with recent discussions of new facilities that could allow the team to take advantage of its media market better.

Let’s take a look at the top 10!

Next: #10

10. Jharel Cotton, RHP

Birthdate: 1/19/94 (22 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AAA, MLB
Stats in 2016: 135 2/3 IP, 4.31 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 7.09 BB%, 28.18 K% (minor league stats only)

While many places may have Cotton much higher, there’s really quite a wide range of opinions on Cotton, in spite of his tremendous showing in the major leagues at the end of 2016.

After throwing 29 1/3 major league innings to a tune of a 2.15 ERA and 0.82 WHIP, Cotton got plenty of attention for his future ability.

Cotton is the type of guy whose fastball and change are such that he could get a lot of guys swinging through early on in facing him

Cotton is the type of guy whose fastball and change are such that he could get a lot of guys swinging through early on in facing him, but he could struggle in his second or third time through a league.

Cotton works with a fastball that sits 92-94 and touches 96-97. He does a great job of spotting his four-seam fastball up in the zone and then dropping his change low in the zone.

Cotton uses a curve that grades out about average and a combination cutter/slider that flashes plus, but is more consistently average.

Cotton does an excellent job repeating his mechanics, in spite of having some effort to his delivery. Many have thought he would end up in the bullpen due to those mechanics.

Cotton will likely open 2017 in Oakland’s rotation.

Next: #9

9. Max Schrock, 2B

Birthdate: 10/12/94 (22 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: low A, high A, AA
Stats in 2016: .331/.373/.449, 9 HR, 22 SB

Schrock may only do one thing, but he does it so well that he is impossible for me to leave off of this list.

The Nationals picked Schrock out of South Carolina in the 15th round in 2015 with a big eye on his ability to put bat to the ball. The A’s saw the same skill when they acquired Schrock for LOOGY Mark Rzepczynski this season.

(Schrock) makes all the plays and receives praise for his baseball smarts on the field

Schrock has a plus contact ability from the left side with excellent hand-eye coordination, solid pitch recognition, and even some solid line drive power that could translate to 10-15 home runs per year along with 30+ doubles.

Schrock won’t set the world on fire defensively, but he makes all the plays and receives praise for his baseball smarts on the field. At his size (5’8), he really can only move to left if he can’t make second base work.

Schrock has above-average speed and once again brings his baseball acumen into play to really pick his spots well in using that speed to steal bases and take extra bases.

Schrock will likely open with AA Midland in 2017, and he could make a push for a major league call up late in the season with another big season.

Next: #8

8. Daulton Jefferies, RHP

Birthdate: 8/2/95 (21 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie
Stats in 2016: 11 1/3 IP, 2.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 4.55 BB%, 38.64 K%

At the outset of 2016’s collegiate season, there were few guys who had as much buzz as Jefferies. He showed plenty before being sidelined due to a mysterious injury that was originally labeled a calf strain but later revealed to be a shoulder issue.

The A’s grabbed Jefferies with the 37th overall pick, and they signed him to a slot-level bonus, meaning they were plenty fine with what they saw in his medical reports.

Jefferies can touch 95-96 at his top end, sitting in the low-90s

While small in stature, Jefferies has a three pitch mix that he uses plus control to really play up and set up hitters well.

Jefferies can touch 95-96 at his top end, sitting in the low-90s, but he has the incredible ability to add and subtract velocity while maintaining excellent control and solid movement late in the ball’s path to the plate.

Jefferies has a cross-fire breaking pitch that is really a slurve break, as he uses the delivery to get curve depth from a slider grip. His change is an average pitch, but like his fastball, he varies his velocity exceptionally well without sacrificing location on the pitch.

Jefferies showed well for the Athletics Arizona Rookie League team, showing his arm to be healthy in limited innings. This should allow the A’s to bump him up to full-season ball in 2017.

Jefferies could move quickly as a guy in the mold of Mike Leake that could move to the major leagues in a hurry as a smaller starter that uses location to generate success.

Next: #7

7. Renato Nunez, 3B

Birthdate: 4/4/94 (22 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AAA, MLB
Stats in 2016: .228/.278/.412, 23 HR, 2 SB (minor league stats only)

Nunez was moved up to AAA in 2016, and he showed that his power was truly legit, though his big issues showed quite bad as well.

Nunez is a 6’1 guy with a big build, listed at 220, but likely sitting 10-20 pounds heavier than that. He hits for power to all fields, but he has shown struggles with getting pull happy at the plate.

Nunez has a big, loft-driven swing that generates a ton of power upon contact

Nunez has a big, loft-driven swing that generates a ton of power upon contact, but it also leaves big holes to pitches that means he struggles to put solid contact on many pitches that a more conservative swing could push through for a single.

In spite of his long swing, Nunez has worked to lower his strikeout rate to a very acceptable pace, especially for a guy who has plus power.

Nunez was originally a shortstop, and he outgrew that position, but his lack of instincts and continued physical growth may end up forcing him to first base from third, and he began to see time at first in 2016.

Nunez will likely fight for a job in the bigs in 2017, but he could be a solid trade chip for the A’s as well with good depth in the system at the position.

Next: #6

6. Frankie Montas, RHP

Birthdate: 3/21/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AA, AAA
Stats in 2016: 16 IP, 2.25 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 4.69 BB%, 34.38 K%

Montas has bounced around the minor leagues since signing with the Boston Red Sox in 2009. He went from the Red Sox to the White Sox system in the deal that sent Jake Peavy to Boston. The White Sox then moved Montas to the Dodgers as part of a three-team deal that brought Todd Frazier to Chicago. In 2016, the Dodgers moved Montas as part of the mid-season trade to bring in Rich Hill and Josh Reddick.

Typically this sort of movement wouldn’t happen with a guy with an arm like Montas possesses. He has the ability to touch 102-103 and routinely touches triple digits in his starts. The fastball has some sink to it, but he struggles with over-effort straightening the pitch out.

(Montas) has the ability to touch 102-103 and routinely touches triple digits in his starts

Montas was limited in 2016 due to injuries, and many began to beat the drum louder of moving Montas to the bullpen on a permanent basis. While his raw velocity would indicate that to be a wise move, he simply has too much promise to make that move just yet.

Montas offers two off speed pitches, a fringe-plus slider that has tremendous break and a change that he’s developed great feel for, though he’s struggled in maintaining his arm deception on the pitch.

Montas struggles in challenge times to keep pitching rather than throwing and letting his pitches flatten out. He’s also struggled with his weight at time, listed at over 250 pounds now on his 6’2 frame.

Montas will likely get most of a season at AAA in 2017.

Next: #5

5. Matt Chapman, 3B

Birthdate: 4/28/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: .237/.328/.519, 36 HR, 7 SB
Stats in 2016: AA, AAA

All you need is about 30 seconds of seeing Matt Chapman in the batting cage in order to understand why he’s on this list. Watching him take infield will allow you to understand why he’s this high on the list.

Then you can watch him swing without much of a chance of contact at solid breaking stuff or premium velocity up in the zone, and you’ll wonder what all the hype is about.

That’s really where Chapman fits into the prospecting scheme overall.

Chapman has a plus-plus arm at third base and is an elite fielder at the position

Chapman was a college star for Cal State Fullerton that was a first round selection for Oakland in 2014. He came out in 2015 and in only 80 games due to injury, he led the Athletics system in home runs. He then followed that up with his powerful 2016.

Chapman has a plus-plus arm at third base and is an elite fielder at the position, the type that could win many Gold Gloves at the position as he plays out a possible future major league career.

It’s his bat that leaves many with as many questions as they have answers. Chapman’s power is obvious, but so is his extremely long swing that makes contact a big issue and leads to a strikeout rate beyond acceptable.

If he can shorten his approach while maintaining his power, Chapman would become one of the best prospects in all the game in short order. Until then, he’ll be a very high-risk type of prospect, even as he continues to AAA in 2017.

Next: #4

4. Lazaro Armenteros, OF

Birthdate: 5/22/99 (17 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: none
Stats in 2016: none

Arguably the most highly-regarded Cuban talent to leave the island, “Lazarito” signed as a Cuban defector soon after turning 17 years old. He was considered one of the biggest “prizes” of the 2016-2017 international free agent market.

Lazarito is a guy who has legit plus potential in every tool, if not already displaying plus ability in those tools. To start, he’s incredibly athletic, with his run tool being his best grade, a likely plus plus tool. This helps him to be an elite defender in the outfield, and his plus arm would allow him to be able to handle any outfield position.

Lazarito is a guy who has legit plus potential in every tool

Armenteros has played in some international competitions, and he’s shown an ability to handle high-end pitching in those situations. He has a smooth swing that generates big power in the cage.

He’s got a bit of a lofted approach to his swing, which could lead to some issues in contact and strikeout rate, but he’s athletic enough that he could definitely be coached up in this.

Lazarito will likely start in Oakland’s short-season teams.

Next: #3

3. Grant Holmes, RHP

Birthdate: 3/22/96 (20 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: high A
Stats in 2016: 134 IP, 4.63 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 8.91 BB%, 20.84 K%

When the Dodgers came calling for two free agents-to-be in Rich Hill and Josh Reddick, getting a player of the quality of Holmes would have been a tremendous get, let alone also getting Montas and Cotten, who we’ve already discussed.

Holmes was a first round pick out of high school by the Dodgers in 2014, and they’ve been very impressed with his performance as he’s worked up the system in his two pro seasons.

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Holmes was a guy out of high school known for a big fastball that can touch triple digits that has a bunch of movement. His breaking pitch is a slurvy pitch, but not in a bad way. He throws the pitch with the depth typically seen in a curve but with a slider’s velocity.

What has set Holmes apart from the average guy with big velocity and a big breaking pitch is that he has very solid feel for his change. He can get arm deception and excellent movement on the pitch.

Overall, Holmes generates a ton of his velocity from his legs and mid-section, so he has good projection to control pitches even better once he gets out of hitter haven leagues. Unfortunately for him, that won’t happen for him in the A’s system until he gets to the big league club.

Holmes will likely being 2017 in AA and will work to see his control be more consistent.

Next: #2

1. Franklin Barreto, SS

Birthdate: 2/27/96 (20 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AA, AAA
Stats in 2016: .284/.342/.422, 11 HR, 30 SB

Indicative of the Athletics variety of acquisition of players, Barreto was part of the trade of Josh Donaldson to the Blue Jays before the 2014-2015 season. Most believed that Barreto was truly the key component of the deal at the time, and he’s certainly played out to be the piece of highest value.

Barreto spent the entire season in AA at 20 years old, which is pretty incredible to be so successful at such a young age. That he was not just successful, but was considered one of the best players in the entire Texas League is indicative of the talent he possesses.

Barreto has a tremendously good hitting stroke from the right side that keeps the bat head in the zone for an extended time, yet has quick reaction time to get to pitches even if he was “fooled” on the pitch.

He’s a guy who doesn’t have elite power or speed to go along with that contact ability, but he has a very high level of baseball intelligence, which he uses very well on the bases.

In the field is really the biggest question mark with Barreto. He has the hands and arm to handle short, but he seems to go through streaks where it’s as if he suddenly cannot read the ball off the bat correct, leading to missing many plays that his natural range would typically allow him to get to.

If he’s needed off of short, he could make third or second work, but his high level of fielding ability and big arm could lead the A’s to leave him at short as long as he could handle it.

Next: Newcomer To Watch

Newcomer To Keep An Eye On: Sean Murphy, C

Birthdate: 10/10/94 (22 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie, short season A
Stats in 2016: .228/.307/.316, 2 HR, 1 SB

Murphy was one of those great story guys in college – a kid who was not even drafted out of high school and decided to go to the one offer he had for college baseball, an offer as a preferred walk-on, not even for a scholarship.

He worked his way up from there to be a 3rd round selection this summer, and some were even surprised he lasted that long!

Defensively, Murphy has a high reputation that would indicate an ability to move quickly through the A’s system. He possesses a power arm behind the plate and solid footwork to get to his big arm. For a 6’3 catcher, he also moves extremely well behind the plate.

It’s his bat that will determine how Murphy plays going forward. His frame and bat speed allow him to generate rare power out of a catcher, but his problem has been translating the batting practice power into the games.

Murphy does have a loopy swing that could lead to some issues with consistent contact going forward, but he does have solid pitch recognition that should allow him to have a solid OBP going forward along with the big power.

Next: Yankees Top 10 Prospects

Agree? Disagree? Someone you have a question about from the system? Leave a comment down below!