Call to the pen
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 12
Next
Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

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

Home/Oakland Athletics