A’s Top-Performing Pitching Prospects

by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
July 24, 2023
 
Many of the hurlers who were considered to be Oakland’s top pitching prospects at the start of the season – players like Ken Waldichuk, Kyle Muller, Mason Miller and Freddy Tarnok – have all spent time in the big leagues with the A’s this year. But beyond that recognizable list of names, who are the hurlers whose performances have distinguished them this year and earned them recognition as potentially the A’s next batch of promising pitching prospects? Let’s take a look at some of the arms who’ve done a great job of putting themselves on the map this season.

 

Joey Estes

Acquired from Atlanta in the Matt Olson deal, the 21-year-old righty has been solid during his two seasons in the A’s system. After serving as one of High-A Lansing’s top starters last season as a 20-year-old, Estes has been the most reliable member of the Double-A RockHounds’ starting staff this year. The southern California native has thrown more innings (94 1/3) than any hurler in the A’s system this season and boasts the best WHIP (1.10) and third-best ERA (3.43) among all A’s minor leaguers with at least 40 innings pitched. Estes is a strike thrower with solid command who has issued just 26 walks and notched 89 strikeouts this season. While his stuff isn’t overly impressive, he can get his fastball up into the mid-90s and can also unleash an effective slider. Estes seems to have a good feel for pitching at a relatively young age, and if he can develop his off-speed offerings, he could prove to be a promising pickup for the A’s.

 

Jack Perkins

Last year’s 5^th-round pick for the A’s has quickly shown himself to be one of the hidden gems of last year’s draft. After putting up a 2.52 ERA in 53 2/3 innings for High-A Lansing to start the season, the 23-year-old righty was promoted to Double-A Midland in June. He’s currently tied for the best ERA (3.18) while boasting the third-best WHIP (1.18) among all A’s minor leaguers with at least 40 innings pitched. Perkins has issued 29 walks and notched 69 strikeouts while allowing just 3 home runs in 73 2/3 innings of work this season. The Indiana native flashes a fastball in the mid-90s to go along with a hard breaking ball and a cutter and, if his command can hold, he could continue to be a fast riser. Perkins landed on the injured list at Midland a couple of weeks ago, but hopefully he can make it back on the mound soon so we can find out just how good he’s capable of being.

 

Jose Dicochea

2019’s 8^th-round draft pick for the A’s missed plenty of time due to Tommy John surgery and had thrown fewer than 50 innings during his entire time in the A’s system prior to this season. But the 22-year-old righty has come back with a bang this year. Dicochea put up a 3.20 ERA in 39 1/3 innings for Stockton before being promoted to High-A Lansing in June, where he’s compiled a 3.13 ERA over 23 frames for the Lugnuts. The Arizona native is currently tied for the best ERA (3.18) while boasting the second-best WHIP (1.16) among all A’s minor leaguers with at least 40 innings pitched, and he’s allowed just 4 home runs over 62 1/3 innings while averaging an impressive 9.5 K/9 this season. After returning from Tommy John surgery, Dicochea has already logged more innings this season than he previously had in his entire pro career, and he’s looked impressive. And as long as the young righty can continue to stay healthy, he could prove to be one of the A’s most promising young pitching prospects.

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