by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
March 7, 2021
Now that spring training has gotten underway, it’s time to present A’s Farm’s 2021 Top 10 Prospects List. After a lost season for most minor leaguers in 2020, there’s not a whole lot of new information to be able to evaluate prospects on this year. But reports out of last year’s alternate camp and the Instructional League do provide some new information and a bit of guidance when evaluating the A’s top prospects this year.
Six players from last year’s list have made a return appearance this year. But with Jesus Luzardo and Sean Murphy graduating to the major leagues in 2020, Jorge Mateo being traded to San Diego last year, and Austin Beck dropping from the top ten, there were a number of spots opening up on this year’s list. And four talented young players have now laid their claims to top prospect status – catcher Tyler Soderstrom, pitcher Grant Holmes and outfielders Luis Barrera and Greg Deichmann.
This year’s list includes six position players and four pitchers and, interestingly enough, three of those four pitchers have undergone Tommy John surgery. Eight of this year’s top prospects began their careers with the A’s, while two – pitchers James Kaprielian and Grant Holmes – were acquired in deals with other organizations. And six of the players on this year’s list were 1st-round or 1st-round supplemental draft picks.
Three players – A.J. Puk, Daulton Jefferies and James Kaprielian – have officially maintained their prospect status despite already having had the opportunity to make their major league debuts with the A’s. While Puk is expected to play a significant role for Oakland 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 2021. So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at A’s Farm’s 2021 Top 10 Prospects List…
A’S FARM’S 2021 TOP 10 PROSPECTS LIST
#1 – A.J. Puk (LHP)
#2 – Tyler Soderstrom (C)
#3 – Nick Allen (SS)
#4 – Logan Davidson (SS)
#5 – Robert Puason (SS)
#6 – Daulton Jefferies (RHP)
#7 – James Kaprielian (RHP)
#8 – Luis Barrera (OF)
#9 – Greg Deichmann (OF)
#10 – Grant Holmes (RHP)
Honorable Mentions: Jeff Criswell (RHP), Tyler Baum (RHP), Jordan Diaz (3B), Austin Beck (OF), Brayan Buelvas (OF), Junior Perez (OF), Pedro Pineda (OF)
#1 A.J. PUK
Left-Handed Pitcher
Age on Opening Day: 25
Drafted 2016 – 1st Round
Believe it or not, this is now Puk’s fifth straight year on our list. In 2019, after returning from Tommy John surgery, the 6-foot-7 southpaw made his major league debut for the A’s, ultimately appearing in 10 games out of the bullpen that season. And the hope was that Puk would follow that up by becoming a full-time contributor for Oakland in 2020. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury kept him on the sidelines last season, and he finally ended up having shoulder surgery. By all accounts, now that things have been cleaned up in his shoulder, he’s been feeling better than ever this spring. When healthy, the lanky lefty flashes a fastball that’s been known to touch triple digits that he pairs with a nasty slider. He led all A’s minor leaguers with 184 strikeouts in 2017 and averaged 12.9 K/9 over his minor league career. He could still benefit from improved command, but Puk clearly has the potential to be a dominant force on the mound. The plan is to stretch him out to start this spring. But with five other viable starters in the A’s camp, if everyone remains healthy, then Puk could very well end up starting the season by offering the team an imposing lefty weapon out of the bullpen.
#2 Left-Handed-Hitting Catcher
Age on Opening Day: 19
Drafted 2020 – 1st Round
At 19, Soderstrom is only the second-youngest prospect to make our list this year. The A’s made the high school catcher their top selection with the 26th overall pick in last year’s draft. And the left-handed-hitting backstop has already drawn praise for his advanced approach at the plate. A’s evaluators at the team’s alternate camp last summer were impressed with the teen’s maturity, plate discipline and ability to make solid contact. While he’s shown a strong arm, his bat is clearly ahead of his defense. But A’s coaches felt that he was able to make significant progress behind the plate at the alternate camp and at instructs. The team would like to give Soderstrom every chance to stick as a catcher, but he appears to be athletic enough to be able to make the move to a corner infield position if need be. This spring, the young backstop received an invitation to Oakland’s big league training camp, where he clearly made an impression on A’s manager, and former catcher, Bob Melvin, who said about him, “We picked him where we picked him for a reason…He’s beyond his years in how he handles things, and he’s going to have a nice big league career.” The only question is whether the A’s will have the Turlock native begin his pro career this season at Low-A Stockton, of if the organization will decide to take it slow and let him get in a little seasoning in the Arizona League first.
#3 NICK ALLEN
Right-Handed-Hitting Shortstop
Age on Opening Day: 22
Drafted 2017 – 3rd Round
The 22-year-old has been widely acclaimed as one of the best-fielding shortstops in the minor leagues for some time now. He just seems to have the ability to make all the plays. And Allen has already impressed in early play this spring, leading A’s manager Bob Melvin to say about him, “He’s just really smooth.” There’s no question that, defensively, Allen could play shortstop in the big leagues right now. The question has always been about his bat. But the under-sized infielder has clearly made an effort to add some muscle to his diminutive frame, and he did show the ability to hit the ball with more authority during his last regular season action with Stockton in 2019. That year, Allen was leading the California League with 22 doubles and leading the Ports with 30 extra-base hits when he landed on the injured list in late June with a serious ankle injury. He ended up missing the remainder of the season but, nonetheless, he wound up with a solid OPS of .797 in 288 at-bats for Stockton in 2019. This season, the San Diego native 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 some progress at the plate this year, then the young infielder could find himself on a fast track to the majors. And if he can just manage to drive enough balls into the gaps to maintain anything even close to a league-average offensive profile in the majors, then his stellar defense could make him valuable piece of the A’s infield picture, as well as a potential Gold Glover, for many years to come.
#4 Switch-Hitting Shortstop
Age on Opening Day: 23
Drafted 2019 – 1st Round
Along with Puk and Soderstrom, Davidson is the other former 1st-round pick of the A’s to make our list this year. The team liked his speed, defensive abilities, strong arm and power potential enough to make him the 29th overall selection in the 2019 draft. Though he hit for power at Clemson, Davidson never hit higher than .292 in college, and he struggled during a couple of summers in the Cape Cod League which, unlike the college game, uses wood bats. After the draft in 2019, the switch-hitter got off to a rough start in his pro debut with Vermont, 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 in his only pro action thus far. A’s coaches claim that Davidson showed good progress during his time at the A’s alternate camp and at instructs. After spending time working with him, they seem to have an upbeat perspective on his prospects, and he’s also looked good in some early action this spring. There are still plenty of questions remaining about just how much he’ll hit. But we should get a much better sense of his development during his first full season of pro ball this year, presumably at High-A Lansing.
#5 Switch-Hitting Shortstop
Age on Opening Day: 18
Signed as International Free Agent
The youngest player on this year’s list, the Dominican teenager was considered the second-best international prospect in 2019 when the A’s signed him for a reported $5.1 million bonus. The toolsy young switch-hitter is still very raw, but his speed, strong arm and defensive abilities at the shortstop position impressed the A’s enough for them to make him the team’s most-expensive international signing. At a wiry 6-foot-3, there’s still plenty of filling out left for him to do, but the talented teen clearly has the skills in the field to stick at shortstop. Despite signing almost two years ago, Puason has yet to make his pro debut. And the big question is just how well he’ll hit and, particularly, just how much power he’ll eventually be able to develop. Word out of the alternate camp and instructs is that he showed up with a good attitude and was willing to learn, but he’s still quite unpolished and inexperienced. His ceiling is unquestionably high, but as with many talented teenage prospects who’ve yet to play a game in the pros, there’s a long road ahead with many potential bumps along the way. Just ask Lazarito! But hopefully, we’ll finally get a chance to see just what the young Mr. Puason is capable of this year in the Arizona League.
#6 Right-Handed Pitcher
Age on Opening Day: 25
Drafted 2016 – 1st Round Supplemental
After taking Puk, the A’s made Jefferies their second pick in the 2016 draft. Unfortunately, the righthander managed to make just seven minor league appearances before he ended up having to undergo Tommy John surgery. After missing almost two entire seasons, Jefferies returned to the mound in 2019 and impressed at Midland and Stockton, posting an ERA of 3.42 over 79 innings of work while striking out 93 and walking just 9. The righty ended up making his major league debut last year in one unpleasant September start for the A’s. But you can probably just chalk that one up to nerves! When he’s on, Jefferies has pinpoint control and succeeds by locating his fastball, which can touch 95 mph on a good day, and delivering a deceptive changeup. And he’s been showing an improved slider early in the spring, which could prove to be another effective weapon in his arsenal. Expect to see Jefferies start the year in the Triple-A rotation at Las Vegas along with James Kaprielian and Grant Holmes. And he’s likely to be one of the first names called if and when the A’s need a replacement arm in the rotation this year.
#7 Right-Handed Pitcher
Age on Opening Day: 27
Drafted 2015 – 1st Round
This is Kaprielian’s fourth straight year on our list and, along with Puk and Jefferies, he is the other prospect on this year’s list who’s already managed to make his major league debut. Acquired in the Sonny Gray deal, the right-hander was a 1st-round draft pick of the Yankees way back in 2015, which accounts for the fact that he’s the oldest player on this year’s list at 27. The southern California native was sidelined for a full two-and-a-half years due to Tommy John surgery. But he returned to action in 2019 and pitched well, making it from Stockton to Midland to Las Vegas while turning in a 3.18 ERA and notching 75 strikeouts over 68 innings of work. He then got the opportunity to make his major league debut last year and ended up making a pair of relief appearances for the A’s. The righty has four pitches he feels confident working with, and the good news is that his fastball is now averaging 95 mph. He throws an effective slider as well and has shown good control, averaging 2.1 BB/9 and 10.3 K/9 over his minor league career. Kaprielian is slated to start the season pitching out of the Triple-A rotation at Las Vegas, but he should end up getting a chance to see some time in the majors again this year.
#8 LUIS BARRERA
Left-Handed-Hitting Outfielder
Age on Opening Day: 25
Signed as International Free Agent
Barrera has been in the system for a long time, ever since he was signed by the A’s as an international free agent all the way back in 2012, but it may be that his time has finally come. In 2019, Barrera impressed A’s coaches in spring training and then got off to a hot start at Double-A Midland that year, hitting .321 with 11 triples in just 54 games, before a shoulder injury in late June cut his season short. A’s manager Bob Melvin then spoke very highly of his spring play in 2020 before the season was postponed. The left-handed hitter eventually got the chance to make his mark at the A’s alternate site last summer, where A’s coaches claimed he was the best hitter in camp. Barrera can capably play all three outfield positions, has a strong arm and plenty of speed on the bases. He knows how to put the bat on the ball and makes plenty of contact, but he hasn’t shown much power, which could prove to be his biggest drawback when it comes to succeeding in the majors. The Dominican speedster certainly seems capable of profiling as a handy fourth outfielder and, if he can just manage to drive enough balls into the gaps so that he can put his speed to work on the basepaths, then he could prove to be much more than just that. Barrera is set to get his first look at Triple-A this year, where he’ll be just one step away should the A’s need a replacement outfielder anywhere along the line this season.
#9 Left-Handed-Hitting Outfielder
Age on Opening Day: 25
Drafted 2017 – 2nd Round
The A’s made Deichmann their 2nd-round selection in 2017, just before taking shortstop Nick Allen. The Louisiana native got off to a good start in his pro debut at Vermont that year, putting up an OPS of .915 in 46 games in the NY-Penn League. But he was plagued by injuries over the next couple of seasons and was never really able to get on track with Stockton or Midland. He was finally feeling healthy again by late 2019, just in time for the Arizona Fall League, where he ended up showing off his power potential by leading the league with 9 home runs in just 23 games. Deichmann’s power is definitely his calling card, but he also has a solid arm and, while primarily a right fielder, he’s put in some time at all three outfield positions over his minor league career. Somewhat surprisingly, he also managed to steal 19 bases at Midland in 2019. While the power is clear, the question has always been how much he’ll be able to hit and get on base. The lefty slugger currently carries a .232 batting average over his minor league career, and he struck out 103 times in 301 at-bats at Midland in 2019. He does know how to take a walk though, which helps! If Deichmann can just manage to put the bat on the ball enough, then his power potential could eventually make him well-suited to serve as the left-handed half of a corner outfield platoon. He should get the chance to get his first look at Triple-A pitching this year in Las Vegas, where his power could play well.
#10 GRANT HOLMES
Right-Handed Pitcher
Age on Opening Day: 25
Drafted 2014 – 1st Round
The Dodgers made Holmes their 1st-round draft pick all the way back in 2014. And the A’s then managed to grab him, along with Frankie Montas and Jharel Cotton, back in 2016 in the Rich Hill/Josh Reddick deal. While command could be an issue for him, Holmes has always had good stuff, and he ended up leading the Texas League with 150 strikeouts in 2017 in his first full season in the A’s system. Unfortunately, shoulder issues pretty much made 2018 a lost season for Holmes. But he returned in 2019, posting a 3.31 ERA for Double-A Midland while showing improved control and reducing his walk rate to 3 BB/9. And the righty finished off the year by making a solid Triple-A debut for Las Vegas. The South Carolina native thrives off a sinking fastball and has recently been using a new grip on his curveball to help make that a more effective pitch for him. Holmes has the stuff, but he needs to be able to command his pitches and hit his spots in order to be able to succeed. He’s looked good in the early going this spring. And if he can continue to gain mastery of his arsenal at Las Vegas this season, then he won’t be far away from competing for a spot on the major league squad.
Last Year’s Top 10 Prospects List
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