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Oakland Athletics 2018 minor league awards

By Benjamin Chase |
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 03: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Lou Trivinno #62 of the Oakland Athletics in action against the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium on October 3, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Athletics 7-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 03: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Lou Trivinno #62 of the Oakland Athletics in action against the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card Game at Yankee Stadium on October 3, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees defeated the Athletics 7-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 08: Ramon Laurreano #22 of the Oakland Athletics catches a ball hit by Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers in the third inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 8, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 08: Ramon Laurreano #22 of the Oakland Athletics catches a ball hit by Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers in the third inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 8, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

The Oakland Athletics were one of the biggest surprises in the 2018 season. After making the playoffs and winning 97 games, could their farm system help them be even stronger in 2019?

As part of our continuing coverage at Call to the Pen of the minor leagues, we will be covering each organization’s top players for 2018. The coverage will go in reverse order of record. Today, we will look at the Oakland Athletics.

We are going to review the system’s leaders for each organization statistically, then choose one hitter and one pitcher to honor for every team. This will be primarily based on statistical performance, though some “age relative to level” could come into play, so a very impressive season from a 28-year-old in AA will rank below a nearly as impressive season from a 20-year-old at the same level.

After we review each organization’s hitter and pitcher of the year, we will close out October with Call To The Pen’s Minor League team of the year. That will lead into November starting our team top 10 prospect lists. In other words, there will be plenty of minor league content on the way at CTTP, so keep coming back for more each day this offseason!!

Oakland Athletics minor leagues

The Oakland Athletics had an amazing 2018 season. They were expected to finish last in their division as one of the worst teams in the American League, and they ended up winning 97 games and participating in the Wild Card game.

The A’s have built up a tremendous farm system over the last few years, but they interestingly did not dig deep into that system in their 2018 season. With a few key free agents in positions of system strength, that could mean leaning on that system for 2019.

Before we offer up awards on the season, let’s take a look at the system’s statistical leaders:

Organization Leaders (min. 150 PA, 50 IP)

BA: Dustin Fowler .341
OBP: Nick Martini .406
SLG: Ramon Laureano .524
OPS: Ramon Laureano .905
R: Eli White 81
H: Eli White 154
2B: Seth Brown 38
3B: Jorge Mateo 16
HR: Anthony Garcia 25
RBI: Anthony Garcia 91
SB: Givaine Basilia 26
TB: Anthony Garcia 230

W: Parker Dunshee 13
G: Angel Duno 48
GS: James Naile 26
IP: Matt Milburn 152 1/3
SV: Angel Duno, Seth Martinez 15
K: Parker Dunshee 163
ERA: Yorlenis Noa 1.04
WHIP: Livan Sanchez 0.80
K/9: Sam Sheehan 14.0
K/BB: Matt Milburn 6.94

Let’s look at the award winners…

Oakland Athletics Minor League Hitter of the Year: Eli White

Level(s): AA Midland
Stats: .306/.388/.450, 130 G, 578 PA, 30 2B 8 3B, 9 HR, 18 SB, 62/116 BB/K

Drafted as a polished college shortstop from Clemson in 2016 in the 11th round by the Oakland Athletics, Eli White has moved quickly as many figured he would with his offensive and defensive polish.

While White may not be a future shortstop at the big league level, he’s able to handle the position in short bursts, and he is able to hit well, and while it won’t be a big fantasy number line, he pounds the gaps with doubles and triples and runs the bases well, even if he isn’t a great base stealer.

White will likely move up to AAA in 2019, but he will have a chance to fill into a big hole being left by the departure of Jed Lowrie in the Oakland Athletics infield, playing around the infield with quality offensive production.

Runners-up

The Oakland Athletics got Anthony Garcia out of the St. Louis Cardinals system before the 2018 season, and while he is an older player, his power is real, and he does have a good eye at the plate, both of which could get him up at some point. At AAA in 2018, he hit .254/.357/.479 with 31 doubles and 25 home runs.

Skye Bolt has been a big plus for the Oakland Athletics since being drafted in the 4th round in 2015. He finished the season in AA in 2018. He hit .260/.347/.474, seeing his power finally come through and pair with his natural athleticism with 19 home runs and 19 steals on the season. The switch-hitting center fielder will get a bump up to AAA in 2019.

He had amazing moments in his major league debut with the Oakland Athletics, but Ramon Laureano had a very good minor league season to earn that call-up in his first year in the A’s system. He hit .297/.380/.524 with 12 doubles, 14 home runs, and 11 steals in 64 games.

Drafted in the 3rd round out of Wright State in 2016, Seam Murphy is icing his place as the Oakland Athletics catcher of the future. He fought through some injuries in 2018, but he was very solid in AA. His line was .285/.361/.489 with 27 doubles, 8 home runs, and a 26/50 BB/K ratio over 73 games. He’ll open in AAA in 2019 most likely with a chance to take over behind the plate with a big showing in AAA.

CORAL GABLES, FL – MARCH 31: Wake Forest right handed pitcher Parker Dunsshee (36) pitches during a college baseball game between the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons and the University of Miami Hurricanes on March 31, 2017 at Alex Roddriguez Park at Mark Light Field, Coral Gables, Florida. Wake Forest defeated Miami 2-1. (Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CORAL GABLES, FL – MARCH 31: Wake Forest right handed pitcher Parker Dunsshee (36) pitches during a college baseball game between the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons and the University of Miami Hurricanes on March 31, 2017 at Alex Roddriguez Park at Mark Light Field, Coral Gables, Florida. Wake Forest defeated Miami 2-1. (Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Oakland Athletics Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Parker Dunshee

Level(s): high-A Stockton, AA Midland
Stats: 13-6, 24 G, 22 GS, 150 2/3 IP, 2.33 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 31/163 BB/K

The Oakland Athletics nabbed Wake Forest ace Parker Dunshee in the 7th round in 2017, and he’s moved quickly based on his high level of feel on the mound. In 2018, he split the season with 12 games each at high-A and AA.

Dunshee’s results would have a stat line scout believing that Dunshee is set up to be a front rotation starter, but he’s still surviving heavily on feel and command, with a lot of hitters chasing what is above-average offspeed stuff that Dunshee plays up due to excellent command and control.

Most likely, Dunshee will open in AAA in 2019, and he still profiles as a very solid #4 starter, and he could be up to the majors if the rotation needs fill during the season as he’ll certainly provide quality innings.

More from Call to the Pen

Runners-up

Drafted in the 8th round out Texas Christian in 2017, Brian Howard is a long, lean guy at 6’9″ and not yet 200 pounds. As he fills out, he will be a guy to watch as he could be something special, though I still think he has a reliever future. He pitched with high-A and AA in 2018, posting a 2.91 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 37/140 BB/K ratio over 139 1/3 innings.

Jesus Luzardo has established himself as one of the top 15-20 prospects in the entire game after a huge season in 2018. He made it up to AAA, combining for a 2.88 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 30/129 BB/K over 109 1/3 innings at 20 years old. He is working to build up innings after coming back from Tommy John surgery in the 2017 season. He’ll open 2019 in AAA, and he will likely work to build up his innings for one more season before truly being launched into the Oakland Athletics rotation.

Another college arm drafted in 2017 by the Oakland Athletics, Wyatt Marks pitched across both A-ball levels in 2018, posting a 3.30 ERA and a 51/159 BB/K ratio over 133 2/3 innings. He’ll likely open in high-A in 2019, but he will jump quickly to AA.

The Oakland Athletics moved Ben Bracewell to the rotation in 2017 from the bullpen, and though that means he’s an older prospect, Bracewell had a very good 2018 season, reaching AAA. He tossed 149 1/3 innings, allowing a 3.31 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 29/127 BB/K ratio.

Next. Brewers minor league awards. dark

With some big holes in free agency for the Oakland Athletics in 2019, they will lean on their farm system to help fill those holes. Luckily, they have built their farm system up well.

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