by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
It’s been about a month and a half since this year’s amateur draft and just a little over a month since the first of the players picked by the A’s began playing with either the Class-A Vermont Lake Monsters or the rookie-ball Arizona League A’s.
The A’s managed to sign all of their 11 picks from the first 10 rounds of this year’s draft. The highest-drafted player Oakland’s front office wasn’t able to sign was right-hander Dakota Mills out of Sam Houston State, whom the team took in the 24th round. But the A’s were fortunate that they were able to ink all of the players they picked before him.
Of course, the team’s top pick, outfielder Kyler Murray, is set to play football for Oklahoma this fall and isn’t expected to join the system until next spring. But now that most of this year’s draft class has about a month of play under their belts, it seems like a good time to take a look at how the A’s newest prospects have been performing down on the farm.
You’ll find the A’s top 11 picks from the first 10 rounds of the 2018 draft along with their current statistics through games of July 19 listed below. The teams they’ve played for so far this season are noted, with the team they’ve appeared in the most games with listed first and their current team in bold…
1st Round
Age: 20 / Outfielder
Signed – Has Not Yet Played
The A’s top draft pick is set to play quarterback for Oklahoma this fall and is not expected to show up on a baseball diamond before spring training in 2019.
2nd Round
Age: 20 / Outfielder
Vermont Lake Monsters
86 AB / 1 HR / 9 BB / 24 K / .279 AVG / .347 OBP / .384 SLG
The A’s took Hannah because they really liked his bat, and he’s been one of Vermont’s best hitters this season, boasting a .279 batting average. Coming out of college, Hannah was also known for his speed, and he currently leads the Lake Monsters with 6 stolen bases in 6 attempts over his first 23 games. On the down side, Hannah’s had a high strikeout rate, whiffing 24 times in his first 86 at-bats for Vermont.
Competitive Balance Round B
Age: 21 / Shortstop
Vermont Lake Monsters
93 AB / 3 HR / 4 BB / 24 K / .204 AVG / .253 OBP / .333 SLG
Prized for his power potential at a middle infield position, Eierman hit 23 home runs in his sophomore season at Missouri State, and he currently leads the Lake Monsters with 3 home runs over his first 23 games. Eierman has only drawn 4 walks though while whiffing 24 times and is currently sporting a less-than-stellar .253 on-base percentage for Vermont.
3rd Round
Age: 21 / Left-Handed Pitcher
Signed – Has Not Yet Played
The A’s top pitching pick in 2018 has been sidelined with an elbow injury, and it’s possible that he may not make it back into action this season.
4th Round
Age: 21 / First Baseman
Vermont Lake Monsters
101 AB / 1 HR / 17 BB / 24 K / .277 AVG / .380 OBP / .386 SLG
Known for his plate discipline coming out of college, Rivas has appeared to be one of the most advanced hitters of the A’s draft class in the early going. He’s been boasting a solid slash line and is either leading or tied for the team lead in hits, runs, walks, doubles and extra-base hits for Vermont.
5th Round
Age: 22 / Right-Handed Pitcher
Vermont Lake Monsters
11 1/3 IP / 4 H / 3 ER / 5 BB / 19 K / 2.38 ERA / 0.79 WHIP
The top righty taken by the A’s, big Brady has looked dominant in the early going. He’s allowed just 4 hits while striking out 19 over 11 1/3 innings of work for the Lake Monsters.
6th Round
Age: 18 / Outfielder
AZL A’s
40 AB / 0 HR / 11 BB / 15 K / .275 AVG / .431 OBP / .350 SLG
The only high school player taken by the A’s in the first ten rounds of this year’s draft, the young prospect just turned 18 earlier this month, but he’s looked like a much more mature player at the plate. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that Butler has drawn 11 walks in his first 51 plate appearances as a pro and is currently boasting a .431 on-base percentage for the A’s.
7th Round
Age: 21 / Right-Handed Pitcher
Vermont Lake Monsters
9 1/3 IP / 6 H / 5 ER / 6 BB / 4 K / 4.82 ERA / 1.29 WHIP
Known as a control specialist in college, Cerny has struggled with his control in the early going, issuing 6 walks in his first 9 1/3 frames for Vermont.
8th Round
Age: 22 / Catcher
AZL A’s
2 AB / 0 HR / 0 BB / 0 K / 1.000 AVG / 1.000 OBP / 1.500 SLG
The A’s top catching selection’s pro debut was delayed while he was busy appearing for Florida in the College World Series. Schwarz finally appeared in his first game for the AZL A’s on Thursday and looked impressive, going 2 for 2 with a double.
9th Round
Age: 21 / Right-Handed Pitcher
Vermont Lake Monsters + AZL A’s
12 IP / 8 H / 2 ER / 4 BB / 12 K / 1.50 ERA / 1.00 WHIP
Despite struggling with control issues at times in college, Cohen has looked in command in the early going this season, issuing 4 walks and striking out 12 over his first 12 frames as a pro.
10th Round
Age: 21 / Right-Handed Pitcher
Vermont Lake Monsters + AZL A’s
7 1/3 IP / 6 H / 5 ER / 6 BB / 10 K / 6.14 ERA / 1.64 WHIP
Cota was a solid closer in college. He put up big strikeout numbers but also struggled with his control at times, and not much seems to have changed in his early days as a pro. Over his first 7 1/3 innings of work, Cota has notched 10 strikeouts, but he’s issued 6 walks while also hitting a pair of batters.
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Chase calabuig!!!