A’s Restock Minor League Pitching Depth

By Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
March 23, 2022

Despite the loss of popular players like Matt Olson, Matt Chapman and Chris Bassitt in recent days, the A’s have managed to accomplish one important goal in the process. The organization has restocked its minor league pitching depth, which had been sorely lacking in recent times, with a limited number of promising replacement parts available down on the farm prior to the recent trades.

In the past two weeks though, the A’s have added seven talented minor league pitchers to the system as a result of the Olson, Chapman and Bassitt trades. During that time, Oakland also added a couple more arms to its pitching contingent in its major league spring training camp, claiming left-handed reliever Sam Selman off waivers from the Angels and adding right-handed reliever Austin Pruitt on a minor league contract with a spring training invite.

Prior to that, the A’s signed five other right-handers to minor league deals with spring training invites – Ryan Castellani, Justin Grimm, Jacob Lemoine, Dany Jimenez and Chester Pimentel. And before the lockout, the team acquired one of Tampa Bay’s former top pitching prospects, righty Brent Honeywell, from the Rays for cash.

So, despite the obvious loss of a lot of major league talent, the A’s have recently restocked the organization with a lot of fresh pitching talent that should leave the team well-armed for the future.

Adam Oller (RHP)

Acquired from the Mets in the Chris Bassitt trade, the 27-year-old righty was the Pirates’ 20^th-round draft pick in 2016 before eventually landing with the Mets. Oller was named the Mets Organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2021 after posting a 9-4 record and a 3.45 ERA in 23 starts for Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. He struck out 138 batters in 120 innings and held the opposition to a .212 batting average. Oller stands a decent chance of cracking the A’s rotation to start the season, especially if the team decides to deal Sean Manaea and/or Frankie Montas before opening day.

Zach Logue (LHP)

Acquired from Toronto in the Matt Chapman deal, the 25-year-old lefty was the Blue Jays’ 9^th-round draft pick in 2017. Logue spent the 2021 season with Triple-A Buffalo and Double-A New Hampshire, racking up 144 strikeouts in 125 innings, compiling a 3.67 ERA and a 12-4 record across 25 games, including 24 starts. Logue could compete for a spot in the A’s rotation, especially if trades or health issues open up more opportunities, or he could start the season at Triple-A Las Vegas waiting for the chance to make his major league debut.

Kirby Snead (LHP)

Another left-handed pitcher acquired from Toronto in the Matt Chapman trade, the 27-year-old southpaw was the Blue Jays’ 10^th-round draft pick in 2016. In 2021, the hard-throwing reliever struck out 57 in 40 innings while putting up a 1.58 ERA for Triple-A Buffalo. The Florida native made his big league debut in 2021, notching 7 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings while compiling a 2.35 ERA over 7 relief appearances for Toronto. Snead is currently on the 40-man roster and should have a good shot at claiming a spot as one of the lefties in the A’s bullpen this season.

J.T. Ginn (RHP)

Acquired from the Mets in the Chris Bassitt deal, the 22-year-old righty was the Mets’ 2^nd-round pick, and the 52^nd overall selection, in the 2020 draft. He combined to go 5-5 with a 3.03 ERA while striking out 81 and walking just 22 in 92 innings over 18 starts for High-A Brooklyn and Low-A St. Lucie in his professional debut in 2021. The Mississippi native was rated as the Mets’ fifth-best prospect by MLB.com and is now ranked as the A’s sixth-best prospect. Ginn is currently listed on the High-A Lansing roster and is likely to open the season in the Lugnuts rotation.

Ryan Cusick (RHP)

Acquired from Atlanta in the Matt Olson trade, the 22-year-old righty was the Braves’ 1^st-round pick, and the 24^th overall selection, in last year’s draft. The New England native notched 34 strikeouts in just 16 1/3 innings while posting a 2.76 ERA in his professional debut for Low-A Augusta last year. He was listed as the Braves ninth-best prospect by Baseball America and is currently listed as the A’s 8^th-best prospect by MLB.com. Cusick is currently on the High-A Lansing roster and could open the season in the Lugnuts rotation.

Joey Estes (RHP)

Another right-handed pitcher acquired from Atlanta in the Matt Olson deal, the 20-year-old righty was the Braves’ 16^th-round draft pick in 2019. The southern California native made 20 starts for Low-A Augusta in 2021. His 2.91 ERA, .184 opponents batting average, and 127 strikeouts all led the Low-A East League, and his 99 innings pitched ranked second in the league. Estes is another pitcher who will likely get the chance to open the season showing what he can do in the High-A Lansing Lugnuts starting rotation.

Gunnar Hoglund (RHP)

The youngest player acquired from Toronto in the Matt Chapman trade, the 22-year-old righty was the Blue Jays’ 1^st-round pick, and the 19^th overall selection, in last year’s draft. The Florida native went 10-5 with a 3.68 ERA while compiling 186 strikeouts and just 35 walks in 154 innings over three collegiate seasons at the University of Mississippi. Hoglund underwent Tommy John surgery in May of last year. He’s currently listed on the Stockton roster, and it’s hoped that he can make it back on the mound by sometime late in the 2022 season.

Brent Honeywell (RHP)

Though not one of the A’s most recent trade acquisitions, Honeywell was acquired from Tampa Bay for cash prior to the lockout in November. The 26-year-old righty was a competitive balance round pick, and the 72^nd overall selection, in the 2014 draft. The Georgia native was a high-ranking prospect until Tommy John surgery, as well as multiple other arm surgeries, derailed his progress. And after performing well at Triple-A Durham in 2017, he did not appear in a game again until last season. In 2021, he put up a 3.97 ERA in 81 2/3 innings at Durham and ended up getting the chance to make his big league debut for the Rays. Honeywell is out of options and should get a good chance to claim a spot in the A’s rotation to start the season.

Other pitchers added in the offseason who are currently in the A’s big league camp:

LHP Sam Selman (40-man roster), RHP Austin Pruitt, RHP Ryan Castellani, RHP Justin Grimm, RHP Jacob Lemoine, RHP Dany Jimenez, RHP Chester Pimentel.