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 Their outdated facilities are a reason that they often cite for why they cannot draw significant crowds to help bring in more money.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
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
2. A.J. Puk, LHP
Birthdate: 4/25/95 (21 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: short season A
Stats in 2016: 32 2/3 IP, 3.03 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 8.76 BB%, 29.2 K%
Coming into the 2016 season, many figured that it was simply a matter of how much money Puk would get as the top overall pick, not whether or not he would be that pick.
Instead, he had a very up and down final collegiate season in a loaded Florida rotation that ended up bumping him off of the “ace” Friday slot due to some of his struggles. This caused him to drop to the 6th overall selection of the draft and into Oakland’s lap.
Puk was so highly regarded for good reason. He’s 6’7 and uses his excellent size to get tremendous plane on his fastball that can touch 97. He also has a plus slider and a change that flashes the ability to be plus but currently is more consistently an average pitch.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
The big issue in Puk’s 2016 collegiate season was a back injury early in the year, and with a guy of Puk’s height, a back problem can be a considerable concern. Discomfort in his back caused him to get offline in his mechanics, which led to him having significant control and command issues.
If he can get his back issues under control with proper rest and training at the pro level, he has shown the physical strength to take his premier velocity and excellent slider break deep into games.
Puk flashed all of the good and bad in his short time in the New York-Penn League in 2016. It will be interesting to see where he’s sent in 2017, but it will certainly be to a full season league.
Next: #1
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