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Oakland Athletics Top 10 Prospects for 2017

By Benjamin Chase

May 23, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Oakland Athletics hat, glove and ball lay in the dugout at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Oakland Athletics hat, glove and ball lay in the dugout at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

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.

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