A’s Farm Report: Top 2018 Draft Picks Progress Report

by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor

With this year’s amateur draft just a week away, it’s a good time to take a look at how the A’s top picks from last year’s draft have been performing so far this season. You’ll find the A’s top 11 picks from the first 10 rounds of the 2018 draft along with their statistics through games of Sunday, May 26 listed below.

Be sure to check out our most recent A’s Farm podcasts featuring Las Vegas hitting and pitching coaches Eric Martins and Rick Rodriguez, Midland catcher Collin Theroux and Stockton starting pitcher Brady Feigl and A’s Assistant General Manager Billy Owens, Stockton play-by-play man Zack Bayrouty and outfield prospect Lazaro Armenteros right here – A’s Cast.

 

1^st Round

Kyler Murray

Outfielder / Age: 21

Arizona Cardinals

Will Not Play

The A’s top draft pick is set to play quarterback for Arizona this fall and, unfortunately, is no longer in the A’s plans.

 

2^nd Round

Jameson Hannah

Outfielder / Age: 21

Stockton Ports

168 AB / 1 HR / 13 BB / 36 K / .274 AVG / .330 OBP / .369 SLG

Though he got off to a slow start with Stockton this season, Hannah has slashed .333/.388/.427 so far in May, and he’s looked like one of the best hitters the A’s picked up in last year’s draft. He’s yet to show much of his vaunted speed on the bases though, swiping just 2 bases over his first 43 games for the Ports.

 

Competitive Balance Round B

Jeremy Eierman

Shortstop/Second Baseman / Age: 22

Stockton Ports

154 AB / 4 HR / 18 BB / 63 K / .175 AVG / .266 OBP / .312 SLG

While Eierman has shown some pop, his all-or-nothing approach at the plate hasn’t played well in High-A. His home run numbers haven’t been big enough to justify his strikeout rate, and he’s appeared to be a bit overmatched in the California League.

 

3^rd Round

Hogan Harris

Left-Handed Pitcher / Age: 22

Arizona League A’s

Has Not Yet Played

A variety on injuries have kept Harris on the sidelines since signing with the A’s last summer. He had a history of nagging injuries throughout his college career as well.

 

4^th Round

Alfonso Rivas

First Baseman / Age: 22

Stockton Ports

129 AB / 3 HR / 16 BB / 32 K / .248 AVG / .355 OBP / .364 SLG

Rivas has shown the plate discipline that he was praised for when the A’s drafted him. But the question will be whether or not he can develop another power to make himself a true threat at the plate.

 

5^th Round

Brady Feigl

Right-Handed Pitcher / Age: 23

Stockton Ports

57.2 IP / 53 H / 23 ER / 16 BB / 46 K / 3.59 ERA / 1.20 WHIP

Feigl looks like he just might prove to be the A’s best pick from the 2018 draft. Just a year out of college, he’s already been the most consistent starter for Stockton so far this season, allowing more than 3 earned runs just twice while issuing a total of just 16 walks over his first 10 starts for Stockton.

 

6^th Round

Lawrence Butler

Outfielder / Age: 18

Arizona League A’s

Has Not Yet Played This Season

Expected to get a shot with Vermont next month, Butler is still just 18. But he showed good plate discipline for a teenager by drawing 18 walks in 124 plate appearances last summer in the Arizona League.

 

7^th Round

Charlie Cerny

Right-Handed Pitcher / Age: 22

Beloit Snappers

22.1 IP / 16 H / 7 ER / 13 BB / 20 K / 2.82 ERA / 1.30 WHIP

Cerny’s done a decent job pitching out the bullpen for Beloit this season. But he’s struggled with control issues at times and has issued 13 walks in his first 22.1 innings for the Snappers.

 

8^th Round

JJ Schwarz

Catcher / Age: 23

Stockton Ports/Beloit Snappers

83 AB / 1 HR / 11 BB / 25 K / .108 AVG / .211 OBP / .157 SLG

The highly-touted college slugger from Florida struggled at the plate for Stockton before being sent to Beloit last week. The 23-year-old appeared to be overmatched in his short time in the California League.

 

9^th Round

Chase Cohen

Right-Handed Pitcher / Age: 22

Beloit Snappers

45.1 IP / 53 H / 38 ER / 26 BB / 43 K / 7.54 ERA / 1.74 WHIP

Cohen got off to a great start for the Snappers and posted a 3.86 ERA over 5 starts in April. But he’s appeared to be totally lost in May, putting up an 11.45 ERA over his last 5 starts for the Snappers.

 

10^th Round

Clark Cota

Right-Handed Pitcher / Age: 22

Vermont Lake Monsters

Has Not Yet Played This Season

Cota was a closer in college who struggled with control issues at times. And last season, he issued 17 walks in 17.2 innings for Vermont, where he’s set to return to action next month.

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