sm669221Sean Murphy (C)

(9/18) Though his season was cut short by about a month and a half due to hamate bone surgery, Murphy has still managed to turn in one of the best performances by an A’s minor league position player this season. 2016’s 3rd-round draft pick for the A’s has always been known for his strong throwing arm and his solid work behind the plate, but he started out the season swinging a blazing hot bat that never really cooled off much. The 23-year-old went on the disabled list on July 9 after the hamate bone injury emerged. He did a brief rehab stint with the AZL A’s at the end of August and later appeared in his first three games for Triple-A Nashville. Murphy has posted an impressive .285/.361/.489 slash line while compiling 27 doubles in 73 games this season, and he should spend next year as the starting catcher at Triple-A, just waiting for the opportunity to claim the everyday catching job for Oakland.

 

sb621450bSkye Bolt (OF)

(9/18) Bolt managed to rather quietly put together one of the best seasons among position players in the A’s minor league system this year. After getting off to a dreadful start with Double-A Midland, he was shipped back to Stockton before the end of April, where he immediately began hitting up a storm for the Ports. The 24-year-old eventually earned his way back to Midland and got off to a good enough start his second time around with the RockHounds. But Bolt headed into the homestretch on a tear, posting an impressive 1.125 OPS in August. His 19 home runs were the second most in the A’s system behind Nashville’s Anthony Garcia. And he combines speed with power, having swiped 19 bases this season. His 122 strikeouts are a little concerning, but he’s continued to improve his power numbers. And Bolt’s 52 extra-base hits and .474 slugging percentage hold out hope that he could power his way to greater success at the next level next year.

 

df641583Dustin Fowler (OF)

(8/18) Believe it or not, center fielder Dustin Fowler, who hit just .231 in his first 59 games with the A’s this season before being sent back down to the Sounds last week, is currently boasting the best batting average among all A’s minor leaguers with at least 125 at-bats this season. It just goes to show you that if you’re not willing to take a walk, it’ll eventually catch up with you. And once major league pitchers realize that you’re not willing to take a walk, they’re not going to give you anything good to hit and will just let you flail away at second-rate offerings, as long as you’re willing. The 23-year-old drew just 7 free passes in 182 at-bats for the A’s and has walked just 9 times in 139 Triple-A at-bats so far this season. Fowler is undoubtedly a talented and toolsy player, but his lack of plate discipline has been troubling, and one has to hope that it won’t prove to be a fatal flaw.

 

fb620439Franklin Barreto (2B-SS)

(3/18) Barreto has widely been considered the A’s top hitting prospect since being acquired from Toronto in the Josh Donaldson deal after the 2014 season. Last year, while playing for Triple-A Nashville at the tender age of 21, he tied Joey Wendle for the team lead in hits while notching 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases and putting up a solid .290/.339/.456 slash line for the Sounds. He just turned 22 in February, and he’s already cracked a pair of home runs and tallied a total of 5 extra-base hits in his first 22 at-bats this spring. Barreto definitely possesses some pop as well as some speed, and the slightly undersized middle infielder has recently begun drawing (perhaps overstated) comparisons to fellow Venezuelan Jose Altuve. Barreto got a brief taste of the big leagues in 25 games with the A’s last year, but he spent most of the year at Nashville. The free-swinging infielder struck out 141 times for the Sounds, and the A’s would really like to see him tighten up his approach at the plate and cut down on the whiffs. While he’s primarily played shortstop throughout his career, last year, Barreto did get a chance to spend some time at second base, where he really seems to be a much more natural fit.

 

jm622761cJorge Mateo (SS)

(3/18) Acquired from the Yankees last summer in the Sonny Gray deal, Mateo quickly made a positive impression after joining Double-A Midland in August and helping lead the RockHounds to another Texas League title while serving as a catalyst atop the team’s lineup. In addition to his blazing speed, the toolsy 22-year-old also possesses a strong arm as well as a little bit of pop. Last season, he ended up compiling 52 stolen bases, 18 triples and 60 extra-base hits while playing a total of 129 games for three different teams. He also struck out 144 times last year and, like many young players, could stand to tighten up his approach at the plate, but his raw tools make him an exciting young player who’s able to shake up a game at any time. While he’s seen some time at second base and in center field, Mateo’s strong arm makes him a capable major league at shortstop, where he seems most likely to stick. Since he’s only got 60 games at Double-A under his belt, the A’s could decide to have him start 2018 back at Midland, but it seems more likely that they’ll push him to Triple-A Nashville, where he could share time with Franklin Barreto at second base and shortstop.

 

abBeck, Austin 01bAustin Beck (OF)

(3/18) The A’s top draft pick last year, Beck had a reputation as an extremely toolsy high school outfielder when the A’s selected him with the sixth overall pick in last year’s draft. The North Carolina native possesses raw power and speed as well as a strong arm and solid defensive abilities. He impressed A’s brass in a pre-draft workout at the Coliseum, and scouts raved about his bat speed. Beck struggled a bit in his first taste of pro ball though. Pitchers were able take advantage of a few holes in his swing and the youngster experienced some contact issues in his rookie campaign, hitting .182 with just 3 extra-base hits, 4 walks and 27 strikeouts over his first 20 games for the rookie-level Arizona League A’s last summer. But Beck started to get his feet under him in the second half, batting .240 with 10 extra-base hits, 13 walks and 24 strikeouts in his final 21 games of the season. Beck played exclusively in center field in the Arizona League and his speed could allow him to stick there, but his strong arm could also make him a potential option in right. Despite some rookie struggles, Beck still has all the tools to succeed and, at 19, he’ll have plenty of time to refine his skills and approach.

 

laArmenteros, Lazaro 01bLazaro Armenteros (OF)

(3/18) Signed for a reported $3 million bonus, the toolsy Cuban teenager is very much like an international version of last year’s top pick for the A’s, Austin Beck. Like Beck, Armenteros displays a potent combo of speed and power, and scouts rave about his bat speed as well. He made his U.S. debut this summer in the rookie-level Arizona League and, again like Beck, he started out a little slow but then heated up as the summer wore on. Armenteros posted a rather pedestrian .253/.327/.407 slash line in the first half before cranking it up a notch and slashing an impressive .338/.442/.569 in the second half. Overall, Armenteros appeared in 41 games in the Arizona League, and his 9 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs and 10 stolen bases each led the team or tied for the team lead. Even though he boasts a mature, physically impressive physique, Armenteros is still just 18 and he’s still learning about the finer points of the game.