Massive Stuff As The Oakland Athletics Have A Young Core Worth Being Excited About
The Oakland A’s have been far from the disaster everyone thought they’d be in 2024. Against all odds, their young core is full of players worth being excited about.
Analyzing the standings, the current state of the Oakland A’s leaves much to be desired. With a record of 59-78, a drastically negative run differential, and having been the butt of jokes in the league for years, the situation looks grim.
Additionally, this will be the last season they bear the “Oakland” name, as a significant transition looms for the franchise. While many believe baseball should remain in Oakland, ownership has other plans, leading to a change that will take effect next year.
The A’s are set to relocate to Sacramento temporarily, dropping “Oakland” and simply becoming “The A’s” until their new stadium in Las Vegas opens.
The players on this roster had ample reasons to feel disheartened and unmotivated at the start of the season. Ownership has done little to inspire them, making the A’s one of the most challenging teams to watch in baseball. However, the players have remained committed.
Surprisingly, the team hasn’t performed as poorly as many anticipated. The White Sox, for instance, are currently at 31-107, mirroring the expected struggles of the A’s.
Several players have stepped up, and suddenly the future seems less dire. The fact that this team is not in last place in their division and doesn’t have one of the worst records in the league is an accomplishment in itself. A closer look at their performances reveals optimism for what’s ahead.
Let’s show some appreciation for this resilient group of underdogs that is exceeding expectations and could potentially play spoiler as the season progresses.
Oakland A’s To Know: Position Players
JJ Bleday
Bleday came to the A’s as a former top prospect from the Marlins, having reached No. 2 in MLB Pipeline’s Marlins rankings back in 2021. However, his stock dropped after a lackluster 65-game stint in the majors during 2022.
He was acquired in a one-for-one trade with lefty A.J. Puk, but didn’t make a significant impact in his 82 games last season. This year, though, has been a different story.
In 134 games so far, the 26-year-old boasts a .790 OPS and a 127 OPS+, with 20 home runs and 54 RBIs. He has emerged as the team’s best hitter after Rooker, especially excelling in August. Over 25 games that month, he hit seven home runs, drove in 17 runs, and achieved a 166 wRC+, all while posting an impressive .397 wOBA.
As a former first-round pick under team control until the end of the 2028 season, Bleday has become one of the top hitters on the roster. His surprising transformation from a fourth outfielder to a borderline All-Star has been crucial for the A’s this season.
Lawrence Butler
A homegrown talent drafted in the sixth round in 2018, Butler made his major league debut last season and showed some potential during his 42-game appearance, although it didn’t hint at a possible breakout in 2024.
Fast forward to now, and he’s making an impact. In 103 games, the left-handed outfielder has hit 20 home runs and driven in 53 RBIs, matching Bleday’s performance despite playing 31 fewer games. Butler boasts an .842 OPS and a 137 wRC+, and he was recently named one of Just Baseball’s Players of the Month for July.
Butler
At just 24 years old, Butler remains under team control until the 2029 season. He plays the game the right way, even if the team’s energy hasn’t been the highest this year. Watching him in action, you can see his relaxed demeanor and enjoyment on the field, making him a valuable presence in the clubhouse. Plus, his recent hot hitting is definitely a bonus!
Zack Gelof
Baseball is a challenging sport, which makes Gelof’s impressive rookie season all the more notable. He posted an .840 OPS during his first 69 major league games, positioning himself as a potential cornerstone for the Oakland team.
However, this year has seen a dramatic decline. The 24-year-old has struggled significantly with sinkers and sliders, contributing to his drop in performance. Last season, he hit .390 against sinkers and .261 against sliders, but this year those numbers have plummeted to .242 and .190.
Gelof has a powerful swing that leads to a high number of strikeouts—he currently leads the AL with 156—but he excels defensively at second base and showed promise last year. Being young and having ample team control further supports his case. Let’s not count him out just yet.
Shea Langeliers
In today’s game, finding a catcher with power is increasingly rare. Currently, only five catchers have hit 20 or more home runs, and Langeliers is among them.
Catchers are generally valued more for their defensive skills than their offensive output. While Langeliers may not be on track for any Gold Glove awards, he certainly packs a punch at the plate and excels at nabbing base stealers.
Focusing on his offense, the 26-year-old has recorded 23 home runs and 64 RBIs over 115 games, boasting a 104 wRC+ and a .218 ISO, which ties him for second among qualifying catchers, trailing only Ryan Jeffers of the Twins.
Defensively, he ranks third in the AL for caught stealing, having thrown out 25 runners, and is second in assists. However, he also ranks high in wild pitches, indicating that he could improve defensively.
Overall, Langeliers is demonstrating his value as a power-hitting catcher with a strong throwing arm. Like most players mentioned here, he’s under team control through the 2028 season and is showcasing what he can do with consistent playing time. He has the potential to be a reliable, long-term catcher for the A’s as they aim to return to contention.
Jacob Wilson
Wilson, the A’s first-round pick from last year’s draft, is set to be a key part of the team’s core for many years. He quickly ascended through the minor leagues and earned a big league promotion just one year after starting his professional career, and his statistics speak volumes.
In 79 minor league games, Wilson didn’t showcase much power, but he maintained an astounding .401 batting average (yes, that’s correct) alongside a 1.052 OPS on his rise to Triple-A. He possesses one of the best hitting abilities in the game and is expected to be the A’s primary lead-off hitter for nearly a decade.
Oakland A’s Pitchers to Watch
Joey Estes
Acquired alongside Langeliers in the Sean Murphy trade back in March 2022, Estes is only 22 but has become a full-time member of the A’s starting rotation this season.
Despite a couple of rough starts last year, Estes has seen an increase in his workload this year. In 20 appearances, including 19 starts, he has a record of 6-6, with a 4.29 ERA and a 93 ERA+. His statistics may not be eye-popping, but he’s provided valuable depth for the team and has shown improvement recently.
In two of his last three starts, Estes has pitched six or more innings, highlighted by a 7.2-inning outing where he allowed just one run against the Rays, striking out five and walking one. In his most recent start against the Rangers, he recorded seven strikeouts in six innings.
He has the potential to be a long-term fixture in the rotation—still young, controllable, and developing, the A’s appear to have a dependable pitcher for their rotation going forward.
Mason Miller
You’ve likely heard of Miller, right? The A’s decided to keep him, their top trade asset, at this year’s deadline. He’s been outstanding out of the bullpen this year and made the All-Star Game for the first time.
Miller’s electric pitching arsenal is hard to describe. The right-hander primarily throws a four-seam fastball that averages an impressive 100.8 mph, having thrown it over 100 mph a staggering 416 times this season. The next closest pitcher, Justin Martinez of the Diamondbacks, is nearly 100 behind.
He also has the league’s highest Whiff percentage (minimum 50 plate appearances) at 40.7%, just ahead of Josh Hader. Miller has been exceptionally dominant, with a remarkable 14.6 K/9 ratio, keeping both his hit and walk rates in check following a lackluster performance in 33.1 innings last year. A transition to the starting rotation might be in the cards, but if the A’s keep him in the bullpen, he will remain one of the best in the game and won’t be a free agent until 2030.
JP Sears
Similar to Estes, Sears was also acquired in a significant trade (Frankie Montas to the Yankees in August 2022) and has become a steady presence in the A’s rotation. While he may not be viewed as an “ace,” he consistently eats innings and reliably takes the mound every fifth day.
This year, Sears has a record of 11-9 with a 4.21 ERA across 27 starts and 151.2 innings. He’s pitched six or more innings 14 times this season and is currently on a hot streak; in five of his last six outings, he has gone seven or more innings, including a shutout performance against the Giants where he struck out nine.
Durability and reliability are his standout attributes, and he’s provided exactly what the A’s need from him. At 28 years old, he is under team control until 2029.