by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
Vermont started play a couple of weeks ago, but many of this year’s top draft picks for the A’s, like Logan Davidson and Tyler Baum, just got into action for the Lake Monsters this past week. Some top picks from last year’s draft, like Hogan Harris and Lawrence Butler, are making their debuts with Vermont this season as well. So, let’s take a quick look at how some of the organization’s newest prospects have been doing in the very early going at Vermont this year…
1st Round (2019) – SS Logan Davidson
The A’s top pick slashed .291/.412/.574 with 15 home runs, 18 doubles and 17 stolen bases in 61 games for Clemson this season, and his power numbers increased over each of his three college seasons. The 21-year-old has gotten off to a slow start at Vermont though, going 0 for 10 with 5 strikeouts in his first 3 games for the Lake Monsters.
2nd Round (2019) – RHP Tyler Baum
The University of North Carolina junior was the 77th-ranked prospect by Baseball America and the 100th-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline. Baum notched 92 strikeouts in 86.2 innings while posting an ERA of 3.95 for North Carolina in 2019. The 6-foot-2 Florida native has a plus fastball, a good curveball and a serviceable changeup. And the 21-year-old struck out a pair while pitching 2 perfect innings in his pro debut for Vermont on Wednesday.
4th Round (2019) – C Kyle McCann
The big left-handed hitting backstop demonstrated both his power and his plate discipline by leading his Georgia Tech team with 26 home runs and 60 walks this season. And he’s gotten off to a good start since joining the A’s system. McCann slashed .400/.520/1.000 with 5 walks and 6 extra-base hits in just 5 games in the Arizona League. And the 21-year-old is currently boasting an on-base percentage of .429 with 4 walks, a home run and a double over his first 5 games with Vermont.
6th Round (2019) – RHP Seth Shuman
Shuman led his Georgia Southern squad this season with six wins and 114 strikeouts while issuing just 27 walks in 91.2 innings. Despite his big strikeout numbers, the 21-year-old is primarily known as a groundball pitcher who has always shown good command throughout his college career. And Shuman pitched 2 perfect innings in his pro debut for the Lake Monsters on Saturday.
9th Round (2019) – RHP Colin Peluse
In college, the 21-year-old showed good command, a fastball that sits around 92-94 mph, an above-average changeup and a developing breaking ball. But after turning in solid freshman and sophomore seasons, his numbers took a dip in his junior year, when he posted a 5.74 ERA in 15 starts for Wake Forest. Peluse allowed 1 run on 3 hits in 2 innings of work in his pro debut for Vermont on Friday.
3rd Round (2018) – LHP Hogan Harris
Harris had a history of nagging injuries in college, and it continued after he was drafted by the A’s in June of 2018. Injuries kept the big lefty sidelined until this month, but he’s looked solid in his 3 appearances for Vermont. The 22-year-old has allowed 4 earned runs on 6 hits while walking just 3 and striking out 14 in 12 innings of work for the Lake Monsters.
6th Round (2018) – 1B-OF Lawrence Butler
Butler has gotten off to a good start for the Lake Monsters. The 18-year-old has drawn 10 walks in his first 12 games while boasting an on-base percentage of .408 for Vermont. After playing exclusively in the outfield in the Arizona League last season, Butler has played exclusively at first base for the Lake Monsters this year.
10th Round (2018) – RHP Clark Cota
The A’s 10th-round pick in 2018 struggled with control issues in college and then walked 17 over 17.2 innings for Vermont last season. So far this year, the 22-year-old has issued 5 walks and struck out 13 in 7.2 frames for the Lake Monsters.
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