by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
Now that spring training is well underway, it’s time to present A’s Farm’s 2018 Top 10 Prospects List.
Four players on this year’s list are former 1st-round draft picks, and it’s worth noting that only three players from last year’s list have made a return to this year’s list. Infielder Franklin Barreto and pitchers A.J. Puk and Grant Holmes are our only returning top prospects from 2017.
The remaining seven players from last year’s list all ended up spending significant time on the A’s major league roster last season. Jharel Cotton started 24 games for Oakland, while Daniel Gossett made 18 starts, and Frankie Montas made 23 relief appearances for the A’s in 2017. And first baseman Matt Olson, third baseman Matt Chapman, catcher Bruce Maxwell and utility man Chad Pinder all made regular appearances in the A’s lineup last season.
New to this year’s list are five position players (infielder Jorge Mateo, catcher Sean Murphy and outfielders Dustin Fowler, Austin Beck and Lazaro Armenteros) and two pitchers (Jesus Luzardo and James Kaprielian). Four of the new additions to this year’s list were acquired in trades last summer, with Mateo, Fowler and Kaprielian all coming over from the Yankees in the Sonny Gray trade and Luzardo arriving from the Nationals in the Ryan Madson/Sean Doolittle deal.
This year’s list includes four pitchers and six position players, and it’s highly likely that the top four players on the list will end up seeing at least some time with the A’s before the 2018 season is through. So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at A’s Farm’s 2018 Top 10 Prospects List…
A’S FARM’S 2018 TOP 10 PROSPECTS LIST
#1 – A.J. Puk (LHP)
#2 – Franklin Barreto (SS-2B)
#3 – Jorge Mateo (SS)
#4 – Dustin Fowler (OF)
#5 – Jesus Luzardo (LHP)
#6 – Sean Murphy (C)
#7 – Austin Beck (OF)
#8 – Lazaro Armenteros (OF)
#9 – Grant Holmes (RHP)
#10 – James Kaprielian (RHP)
#1 A.J. PUK
Left-Handed Pitcher
Age on Opening Day: 22
Drafted 2016 – 1st Round
Oakland’s top pick in 2016, the 6’7″ southpaw was selected by the A’s with the sixth overall pick in that year’s amateur draft. It’s always been clear that Puk possesses top-of the-rotation potential, but there had been some concern about the lanky lefty’s mechanics, since it’s often a tough task for tall hurlers to learn to repeat their motion, which is key to developing consistent command. But his first full season in pro ball went a long way towards allaying any potential concerns. In 2017, Puk led all A’s minor leaguers with 184 strikeouts while compiling a reasonable walk rate of 3.5 BB/9 and limiting opposing batters to just 3 home runs over 125 innings of work for High-A Stockton and Double-A Midland. His fastball touches the high-90s and pairs nicely with an effective slider to help him baffle batters. Puk has been one of the A’s most impressive pitchers in the early going this spring, and it’s likely that he’ll wind up as the ace of the A’s staff at some point in the future. It’s possible that Puk could be capable of holding his own in the major leagues right now, but there’s no need to rush him. He’s yet to throw a pitch above the Double-A level and appears set to start the season with Triple-A Nashville, where he’ll have the chance to fine tune his command and work on developing the consistency that he’ll need to be able to dominate at the major league level. Puk’s likely to make his major league debut with the A’s at some point before the season’s through. And the health and performance of the major league staff, as well as his won performance at Triple-A, will likely determine exactly when that point arrives.
Likely To Start 2018 With: Nashville Sounds (AAA)
#2 Right-Handed-Hitting Shortstop/Second Baseman
Age on Opening Day: 22
Signed as International Free Agent
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. And with A’s second baseman Jed Lowrie in the final year of his contract, it seems quite likely that Lowrie could find himself dealt to a contending team this summer, which would open the door for Barreto to lay claim to the A’s second base job in the second half of the coming season, and for the foreseeable future.
Likely To Start 2018 With: Nashville Sounds (AAA)
#3 JORGE MATEO
Right-Handed-Hitting Shortstop
Age on Opening Day: 22
Signed as International Free Agent
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. While it seems likely that Barreto will get the opportunity to become the A’s starting second baseman sometime this summer, it also seems probable that Mateo will get the chance to make his major league debut before the season’s through. And he could be ready to join Barreto in the A’s middle infield as the team’s starting shortstop sometime in 2019.
Likely To Start 2018 With: Nashville Sounds (AAA) / Midland RockHounds (AA)
#4 Left-Handed-Hitting Outfielder
Age on Opening Day: 23
Drafted 2013 – 18th Round
Another player the A’s targeted in the Sonny Gray trade with the Yankees, Fowler saw his season come to an abrupt end after suffering a severe knee injury in his first major league game last year. Despite the injury, the A’s looked at the talented young prospect and saw the potential long-term center fielder that the system seemed to lack. Fowler has always possessed good speed, swiping 30 bases at Class-A in 2015 while snatching 25 bases for Double-A Trenton in 2016, but he’s also seen his power numbers increase each year. The Georgia native tallied 57 extra-base hits in 132 games for Trenton in 2016 and managed to notch 40 extra-base hits in just 70 Triple-A games last season. Fowler’s never been one to take too many walks though, and he could put his speed to much more use if he could just manage to get on base more often. The 23-year-old has the potential to be an above-average defender in center, and he’ll be given every chance to prove his knee is sound enough for him to lay claim to the A’s center field job this spring. Even though Fowler typically hasn’t had much trouble handling left-handed pitching, it’s quite possible that the left-handed hitter could find himself in a center field platoon for the A’s to start the season.
Likely To Start 2018 With: Oakland A’s (MLB)
#5 Left-Handed Pitcher
Age on Opening Day: 20
Drafted 2016 – 3rd Round
Not only is Luzardo the youngest pitcher to make this year’s list, but he’s also one of two hurlers on our list to have already undergone Tommy John surgery. Luzardo had the procedure in his senior year of high school in 2016, but Washington still thought highly enough of him to take him a few months later with their third pick in the 2016 draft. Luzardo didn’t make his pro debut until last June, and by July, the A’s had snagged him as part of the return in the Ryan Madson/Sean Doolittle deal with the Nationals. The southpaw threw 43 1/3 innings for three different short-season teams last year and looked sharp, striking out 48 batters while walking just 5 and putting up an efficient 1.66 ERA. Luzardo displays a solid arsenal for a 20-year-old. He throws a sinking fastball that touches the high-90s and also features an effective curveball and changeup, but his impressive command is what really kicks everything up a notch. As a recent Tommy John survivor with fewer than 50 pro innings under his belt, the A’s will go slowly with Luzardo and he’ll surely be on an innings limit this season. But he appears to be more than ready to take on the challenge of facing more advanced hitters with a full-season squad this year, whether it be with Beloit or possibly even with Stockton.
Likely To Start 2018 With: Beloit Snappers (A) / Stockton Ports (A+)
#6 SEAN MURPHY
Right-Handed-Hitting Catcher
Age on Opening Day: 23
Drafted 2016 – 3rd Round
The A’s were happy to be able to grab Murphy in the 3rd round of the 2016 draft. The backstop was known for having one of the strongest arms in the college game, and his performance behind the plate has not disappointed. In addition to his elite defensive work, Murphy also has some pop as well as the ability to take a walk. The question is how much he’ll hit. Last season, the Ohio native swung the bat well for High-A Stockton, where he slugged 9 home runs while putting up a solid .297/.343/.527 slash line in just 45 games for the Ports. But after a mid-season promotion to Double-A Midland, he struggled a bit at the plate, hitting 4 home runs and slashing just .209/.288/.309 over 53 games for the RockHounds. As a defense-first catcher, it’s likely that Murphy’s skills behind the plate will be enough to take him to the majors. How much he hits will determine how high-profile a backstop he’ll ultimately be. But he’s likely to start the 2018 season back behind the plate for Midland with a chance to finish the year with Triple-A Nashville, just one step away from the majors.
Likely To Start 2018 With: Midland RockHounds (AA)
#7 AUSTIN BECK
Right-Handed-Hitting Outfielder
Age on Opening Day: 19
Drafted 2017 – 1st Round
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. It’ll be interesting to see if the A’s decide to take things slow and have him start the year with short-season Vermont or if they decide to push him into full-season ball at Beloit in 2018.
Likely To Start 2018 With: Vermont Lake Monsters (A) / Beloit Snappers (A)
#8 Right-Handed-Hitting Outfielder
Age on Opening Day: 18
Signed as International Free Agent
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. And he’ll get the chance to continue refining his game either with short-season Vermont or with full-season Beloit in 2018.
Likely To Start 2018 With: Vermont Lake Monsters (A) / Beloit Snappers (A)
#9 GRANT HOLMES
Right-Handed Pitcher
Age on Opening Day: 22
Drafted 2014 – 1st Round
Acquired from the Dodgers in the Josh Reddick/Rich Hill deal in 2016, Holmes was a highly-regarded high school pitcher whom the Dodgers made their 1st-round pick back in 2014. He got off to a good start in the Dodgers system, compiling a 3.32 ERA and averaging 10.4 K/9 over his first two seasons in the minors. As one of the youngest pitchers in the Double-A Texas League last season, Holmes averaged 9.1 K/9, and his 150 strikeouts last year were second only to A.J. Puk among A’s minor leaguers. The South Carolina native got off to a bit of a bumpy start in 2017 though, putting up an ERA of 5.45 in the first half before settling in and posting a 3.72 ERA in the second half. Holmes is a big, strong kid with lots of upside who thrives off a sinking fastball that touches the mid-90s and pairs nicely with an effective curveball to keep hitters off balance. His command isn’t always as sharp or consistent as it could be though, and gaining greater mastery of his pitches will be Holmes’ biggest challenge as he takes on Triple-A hitters at Nashville this season.
Likely To Start 2018 With: Nashville Sounds (AAA)
#10 JAMES KAPRIELIAN
Right-Handed Pitcher
Age on Opening Day: 24
Drafted 2015 – 1st Round
Acquired from the Yankees last summer in the Sonny Gray deal, Kaprielian was a highly-coveted college pitcher whom the Yankees made their 1st-round pick in 2015. He’s one of two hurlers on this year’s list to have undergone Tommy John surgery, and he also happens to be the oldest prospect on our list this year. But thanks to injury, the 24-year-old has only thrown 56 1/3 innings since joining pro ball, including a stint in the Arizona Fall League in 2016. Kaprielian underwent Tommy John surgery last spring and is still making his way back. Before being sidelined though, the southern California native boasted an impressive array of pitches, which included a fastball that could touch the high-90s as well as a solid curveball, slider and changeup. And with his repertoire, if he can return to form, Kaprielian has the potential to be a fast riser. But at this point, he and the A’s are just focused on getting him back to full health. Once he is ready to pitch though, it’s anybody’s guess where Kaprielian will make his debut in the A’s system, but it seems reasonable to guess that he might make his first appearance in the Arizona League this June under the watchful eyes of the A’s minor league staff.
Likely To Start 2018 With: Arizona League A’s (Rookie)
Last Year’s Top 10 Prospects List
Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm. You can also get our exclusive A’s minor league newsletter e-mailed to you free by signing up here.
4 Replies to “A’s Farm’s 2018 Top 10 Prospects List”
Comments are closed.