by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
Now that spring training has gotten underway, it’s time to present A’s Farm’s 2020 Top 10 Prospects List.
It’s worth noting that six players from last year’s list have made a return to this year’s list, including the top three prospects – Jesus Luzardo, A.J. Puk and Sean Murphy – who’ve remained in the exact same positions. All three players have officially maintained their prospect status despite having had the opportunity to make their major league debuts with the A’s last year.
Three talented young shortstops – Nick Allen, Robert Puason and Logan Davidson – are among this year’s new additions to the list. And the only pitching prospect added to this year’s list is Daulton Jefferies, who made a successful return from Tommy John surgery in 2019. Dropping off last year’s list are outfielder Jameson Hannah, who was dealt to Cincinnati last summer, as well as outfielder Lazaro Armenteros and pitchers Parker Dunshee and Grant Holmes.
This year’s list includes six position players and four pitchers, and interestingly enough, all four of those pitchers have already undergone Tommy John surgery. Seven of this year’s top prospects began their careers with the A’s, while three were acquired in deals with other organizations. And half the players on this year’s list were 1st-round or 1st-round supplemental draft picks.
While the top three prospects on the list are expected to play significant roles for the A’s this season, it’ll be interesting to see which other prospects might end up getting the opportunity to break on through to the big leagues in 2020. So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at A’s Farm’s 2020 Top 10 Prospects List…
A’S FARM’S 2020 TOP 10 PROSPECTS LIST
#1 – Jesus Luzardo (LHP)
#2 – A.J. Puk (LHP)
#3 – Sean Murphy (C)
#4 – Jorge Mateo (SS)
#5 – Nick Allen (SS)
#6 – Robert Puason (SS)
#7 – Austin Beck (OF)
#8 – Daulton Jefferies (RHP)
#9 – James Kaprielian (RHP)
#10 – Logan Davidson (SS)
Honorable Mentions: Sheldon Neuse (IF), Luis Barrera (OF), Jonah Heim (C), Grant Holmes (RHP)
Left-Handed Pitcher
Age on Opening Day: 22
Drafted 2016 – 3rd Round
Not only is Luzardo the top pitcher on our prospects list for the second straight year, but he’s also the youngest hurler to make our list for the third straight year. It’s hard to believe that Luzardo is still just 22, but the fact that he already appears as poised and as impressive as he does at such a young age only makes his potential ceiling seem even higher. Like every other pitcher on this year’s list, Luzardo has undergone Tommy John surgery and, unfortunately, he’s also endured other injuries which have caused him to miss significant amounts of time, including both a shoulder injury and a lat strain last season. But despite that, he still managed to make his major league debut in 2019. Luzardo only threw 31 innings at Triple-A Las Vegas last year, but he impressed enough to get the call to Oakland in September, where he continued to look solid in a half-dozen regular-season appearances. What makes Luzardo so impressive? Well, his fastball can touch the high-90s; for such a young pitcher, he has an advanced changeup that can really fool hitters; and he has a solid curveball that he can effectively mix in as well. And virtually everyone who watches him pitch comments on the tremendous poise, confidence and maturity that he consistently shows on the mound. The southpaw has also shown impressive command throughout his career and, in 55 combined major and minor league innings last season, he issued just 11 walks while notching a total of 73 strikeouts. Luzardo is expected to earn a spot in Oakland’s starting rotation in 2020. But given the limited number of innings he was able to throw last year, it’s likely the team may try to restrict the number of innings he throws this season. Regardless, with the unlimited talent he possesses, Luzardo should prove to be a potent force in the A’s rotation as the team pushes for a division title in 2020.
#2 A.J. PUK
Left-Handed Pitcher
Age on Opening Day: 24
Drafted 2016 – 1st Round
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2018, Puk returned to action last June, quickly making his way from High-A Stockton to Double-A Midland to Triple-A Las Vegas before finally getting the chance to make his major league debut with the A’s in August. At an imposing 6-foot-7, Puk pairs an upper-90s fastball with an impressive slider to consistently baffle batters. And before being sidelined by surgery, the southpaw was a strikeout machine. In 2017, he led all A’s minor leaguers with 184 strikeouts while averaging 13.2 K/9 over 125 innings of work. And, fortunately, Puk’s strikeout abilities and velocity didn’t seem to have diminished one bit post-surgery, as he averaged 13.5 K/9 in 25 1/3 minor league innings last year. Like many hard throwers though, Puk still could stand to make some improvements when it comes to his command. Despite not pitching more than two innings in any of his outings last year, Puk is still likely to get the chance to start the season in the A’s rotation. He only threw a combined 36 2/3 major and minor league innings last year so, like Luzardo, his innings will likely be limited in some manner this season. But the lanky lefty clearly has the ability to be a dominant force in the A’s rotation for years to come.
#3 SEAN MURPHY
Right-Handed-Hitting Catcher
Age on Opening Day: 25
Drafted 2016 – 3rd Round
Like Puk and Luzardo, Murphy was another one of the A’s top prospects who, despite missing some significant time due to injury, got the chance to make his major league debut last year. After being sidelined for more than a month and a half during the 2018 season due to hamate bone surgery, Murphy missed almost half of the 2019 season due to a knee injury. But when he was on the field, he impressed enough for Oakland to give the receiver a call when rosters expanded in September. And the A’s had enough confidence in the young backstop to use him as the team’s primary catcher down the stretch as they made their postseason push. Murphy has always been known for his strong arm and his defensive prowess behind the plate, but he also put on an impressive display of his power potential last year, tagging ten home runs in 120 at-bats for Triple-A Las Vegas before belting four home runs in 53 at-bats in the big leagues. After demonstrating his abilities both behind the plate and at the plate, Murphy is set to serve as the A’s starting catcher this season, where he certainly possesses the potential to blossom into an All-Star receiver and a perennial Gold Glove candidate.
#4 JORGE MATEO
Right-Handed-Hitting Shortstop
Age on Opening Day: 24
Signed as International Free Agent
After struggling mightily in his first season at Triple-A in 2018, Mateo really seemed to turn things around at Las Vegas last year. The talented 24-year-old led all A’s minor leaguers with 14 triples while also compiling a total of 62 extra-base hits and leading Las Vegas with 24 stolen bases in 119 games last season. He got off to a great start last year, slashing .308/.342/.533 in the first half before some nagging injuries slowed him down in the second half, but he still finished the season with an OPS of .834 – a vast improvement over the .633 mark he put up in 2018. Though Mateo struggles with strikeouts and has yet to show any sort of consistent discipline at the plate, his tools still tantalize. The Dominican infielder possesses top-notch speed and, when he gets on base, he can really make things happen. Mateo also has a strong arm and shows good range at shortstop. He started 14 games at second base last season and is expected to compete for the A’s open second base spot this spring. Unfortunately, there are multiple other candidates in the mix, including Franklin Barreto, Tony Kemp, Vimael Machin and Sheldon Neuse. Mateo is out of options though, so it’s make-or-break time for him. The A’s would run the risk of another team claiming him if they tried to send him back to the minors. And with that in mind, if it doesn’t look like he’s going to make the opening day squad, then he may end up being dealt to another team that’s curious to see what Mateo can do in the majors.
#5 NICK ALLEN
Right-Handed-Hitting Shortstop
Age on Opening Day: 21
Drafted 2017 – 3rd Round
Always known for his slick work in the field, Allen struggled at the plate in his first full season of action at Beloit in 2018, posting a paltry OPS of just .603. He was able to make some improvements in the second half of that season, but the diminutive infielder really came out swinging in 2019. Allen added a little muscle in the offseason and started hitting the ball with a lot more authority last spring in Arizona. And he immediately met with plenty of success at the plate as soon as the season got started. Allen was leading the California League with 22 doubles and leading his Stockton team, which included young sluggers like Austin Beck and Lazaro Armenteros, with 30 extra-base hits when he landed on the injured list on June 28 with a serious ankle injury. Even though he missed the remainder of the season after suffering the injury, at the age of 20, Allen managed to put up a solid OPS of .797 in 288 at-bats in the California League last year, which went a long way towards alleviating some of the concerns about how much he’d ever hit. There’s no question that 2017’s 3rd-round draft pick can do the job in the field. Allen possesses a strong arm and good range and has shown the ability to make all the plays. With his impressive defensive skills, there’s no question that the San Diego native could play shortstop at the major league level right now, and he has the tools to be a potential Gold Glover in the future. This season, Allen will likely get the chance to show what he can do at Double-A Midland, which typically presents a real challenge for even the most-talented hitters. But if Allen can continue to show the progress and success in the Texas League that he demonstrated last year, then the young infielder could find himself on a fast track to the majors.
#6 ROBERT PUASON
Switch-Hitting Shortstop
Age on Opening Day: 17
Signed as International Free Agent
Ranked as the second-best international prospect in last year’s class by MLB Pipeline, the A’s signed Puason for a reported $5.1 million bonus, which tied for the top figure in last year’s international class and is a couple million more than the team gave Lazaro Armenteros a few years back. Clearly the youngest player on this year’s list, the toolsy young Dominican infielder was just 16 when he signed and will be 17 when he makes his pro debut this year, presumably in the rookie-level Arizona League. And at this early stage of the game, all that can really be evaluated are his raw tools. Puason possesses excellent speed and a strong arm to go along with good hands and solid instincts in the field. The 6-foot-3 switch-hitter also shows some real power potential but, as with many young prospects, his ability to control the bat and develop the necessary discipline and approach at the plate will likely go a long way towards determining just how potent an offensive force he’ll ultimately prove to be. But given his youth, his size, his speed, his ability to hit from both sides of the plate, as well as his other raw tools, there’s a lot to hope for here, and it’ll be a lot of fun to watch the talented teenager get on the field and get things rolling this summer.
#7 AUSTIN BECK
Right-Handed-Hitting Outfielder
Age on Opening Day: 21
Drafted 2017 – 1st Round
The A’s made the 18-year-old Beck their top draft pick in 2017 after the young outfielder impressed them with his speed, his power potential, his bat speed, his strong arm and his solid defensive abilities. In 2018, the North Carolina native saw his first full-season action with Beloit, where Beck’s bat started out a little cold in April and May. He worked on improving his stance and his swing and ended up batting .341 in August and September. And when the season finally came to a close, Beck wound up boasting Beloit’s best batting average at .296 while also leading the league with 146 hits. It was a bit surprising though to see a prospect whose power potential was his calling card hit just two home runs that season. Beck spent last year with Stockton in the more hitter-friendly climes of the California League, where he missed almost a month with a quad injury. He still managed to up his home run total to eight over 338 at-bats with the Ports. But his strikeout total climbed to 126 and his batting average dipped to .251. There’s no question that Beck can be a bit of a free swinger at times but, overall, his production last season was near league-average and, at just 20, he was still young for the league. So, while the numbers may not yet pop off the page, at his age, there’s still time to refine his approach at the plate and figure himself out as a hitter. Beck has primarily played center field, and he’s shown a strong arm and good speed, though that’s only translated to a handful of stolen bases thus far. Beck seems intent on proving what he’s truly capable of in 2020. But the interesting question will be whether the A’s decide to have Beck start his age-21 season back at Stockton refining his approach there or choose to push him into the more-challenging environs of Midland in the Texas League.
#8 Right-Handed Pitcher
Age on Opening Day: 24
Drafted 2016 – 1st Round Supplemental
Like many of the A’s top pitching prospects, Jefferies was working his way back from injury in 2019. The California native managed to throw a total of just nine innings over the previous two seasons before finally getting back in the groove again last year. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2017, Jefferies suffered a setback when he tried to return to action in 2018 and had to be shut down again. But this year, he was able to take his turn on the mound every fifth day, typically throwing three innings per appearance, first for High-A Stockton and then for Double-A Midland. It was good to see Jefferies remain healthy all season, but it was even better to see that his control seemed to be sharper than ever. Jefferies issued just 9 walks while striking out 93 over 79 innings of work. And his ability to command his pitches after such a lengthy layoff was certainly a welcome development and helped Jefferies reclaim a spot among the A’s top pitching prospects. Though his fastball tends to sit in the low-to-mid-90s, he commands it exceptionally well and throws a deceptive changeup that keeps hitters guessing. Jefferies clearly has the poise and pitchability to find a path to the majors if he can remain healthy. The plan was for the righty to start the season in the Triple-A rotation at Las Vegas along with James Kaprielian, Grant Holmes and others, but it looks like a spring arm injury may set him back for some period of time. So, we’ll just have to wait and see how long it will be before we’ll be able to see the talented Mr. Jefferies working his magic on the mound again.
#9 Right-Handed Pitcher
Age on Opening Day: 26
Drafted 2015 – 1st Round
Another one of the A’s arms who was working his way back from injury last year, Kaprielian is the oldest player on our list for the third straight year. And he endured an even-longer layoff than Jefferies, having been sidelined for a total of two and a half years. The southern California native returned to the mound in May after not having thrown a pitch in an actual game since 2016. But last year, Kaprielian was healthy enough to be able to throw more innings than he previously had in his entire pro career. The righty tossed a total of 68 innings over 19 appearances, starting out in Stockton before moving on to Midland and finally finishing up by making his final appearance for Triple-A Las Vegas. Once he got going in May, not only did Kaprielian remain healthy, but he pitched very well, posting a 3.18 ERA, while also showing excellent control after missing so much time. Kaprielian issued just 16 walks while notching 75 strikeouts last season. And while his velocity ticked up a bit over the course of the year, it’s not quite back to where it was pre-surgery. The Yankees’ former 1st-round pick does boast an impressive array of pitches to work with, including a fastball that he commands very well along with a solid curveball, slider and changeup, all of which can be considered above average offerings. And Kaprielian recently told me that he feels completely confident throwing all of his pitches at any time. He’s currently set to start the season in the Triple-A rotation at Las Vegas. And if he can remain healthy and continue pitching well, Kaprielian could find himself getting an opportunity to make his major league debut before the 2020 season is through.
#10 LOGAN DAVIDSON
Switch-Hitting Shortstop
Age on Opening Day: 22
Drafted 2019 – 1st Round
The A’s made the switch-hitting college shortstop their top pick with the 29th overall selection in last year’s draft after Baseball America listed him as the 19th-ranked prospect and MLB Pipeline had him as the 22nd-ranked prospect. The 6-foot-3 infielder is considered to have above-average speed and defensive abilities as well as a strong arm to go along with some pop, and the A’s view Davidson as a potential middle-of-the-order hitter. Though he hit for power at Clemson, he never hit higher than .292 in college. Davidson also struggled during a couple of summers in the Cape Cod League which, unlike the college game, uses wood bats. Consequently, there have been some questions about his overall ability to hit with wood bats and to hit for average. And he may need to tighten up a rather long swing that can lead to a fair number of strikeouts. Davidson got off to a rough start in his pro debut at Vermont last year, hitting just .173 with 30 strikeouts in 98 at-bats in June and July. But he settled in and adjusted in August and ended up hitting .301 for the month. On the season, the North Carolina native slashed .239/.345/.332 in 54 games in the NY-Penn League. But the bottom line on Davidson at this early stage of his pro career is that he’s a switch-hitting shortstop with a strong arm, solid defensive abilities, some speed and some power potential. And how much he can develop that potential may determine just how far he will ultimately go. The question at this point is whether the A’s will decide to have him start out the season with Beloit in the Midwest League or push him to High-A Stockton in the California League. If the way the A’s have handled their top college hitting picks in the past is any indication, then Davidson will likely end up starting the year in Stockton.
Last Year’s Top 10 Prospects List
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