Oakland Athletics Prospects: Kurtz and the other draftees made their way to Stockton and more

Before diving into last week’s action, it’s worth noting that recent updates to prospect lists have been released. MLB Pipeline refreshed both their top 100 and team top 30 lists, while ESPN updated its top 100 list. Pipeline’s list didn’t reveal any major surprises, except for the omission of Cheng Zhong-Ao Zhuang. While I can understand Pipeline’s hesitation given Zhuang’s injury struggles and lesser-known status at the start of the year, his performance and reputation within the Oakland Athletics system suggest he should be ranked among the top 30 prospects.

Kiley McDaniel’s list was more intriguing, featuring the expected top three prospects along with Max Muncy and Colby Thomas at 100 and 101. I might rate Jacob Wilson (33) and Nick Kurtz (76) slightly higher, but rankings within the top 100 are often close and nuanced. Luis Morales, ranked 77, seems appropriately placed given his high potential despite a lack of standout performances this year.

I’m pleased with Muncy’s ranking. I agree with Kiley that Muncy is likely a back-end top 100 or borderline player. Although he might struggle to secure the shortstop role over Jacob Wilson with the A’s, his defensive improvements and potential as an MLB-caliber shortstop are promising. His glove and power potential are rare, and while he needs to refine his approach, his performance against Triple-A pitching at just 21 is impressive. Ignoring his brief slump after returning from injury, his strikeout rate of 21% and walk rate of 8.5%, combined with strong power numbers, are notable.

I’m slightly skeptical about Thomas’s high ranking due to his lack of defensive value, which places more pressure on his hitting skills. Nevertheless, his progress this year indicates he could become an MLB-caliber outfielder. He currently ranks 6th in the PCL for isolated power (.291) among players with 150+ plate appearances.

Las Vegas Aviators

Record: 59-56, 22-18 in the second half, 2nd in PCL West (3 GB)

Season stats:

• Cooper Bowman: 11 games, 54 plate appearances, 0 HR, 9.3% BB, 25.9% K, .292/.358/.333, 81 wRC+
• Joe Boyle: 38 ⅓ IP, 5.63 ERA, 20.4% BB, 37.1% K, 3 HR, 4.48 FIP
• Logan Davidson: 60 games, 231 plate appearances, 6 HR, 7.4% BB, 33.8% K, .279/.346/.452, 95 wRC+
• JT Ginn: 66 ⅓ IP, 5.97 ERA, 9.6% BB, 21.5% K, 9 HR, 5.26 FIP
• Gunnar Hoglund: 11 IP, 4.91 ERA, 6.8% BB, 20.5% K, 1 HR, 4.24 FIP
• Max Muncy: 43 games, 173 plate appearances, 8 HR, 7.5% BB, 23.7% K, .291/.382/.520, 123 wRC+
• Colby Thomas: 42 games, 187 plate appearances, 10 HR, 7.5% BB, 26.2% K, .285/.358/.576, 124 wRC+

Top Performers:

Both Muncy and Thomas have been performing well recently. Thomas continues to display significant power, and although his strikeout rates remain high, he is gradually improving his chase and swing-and-miss rates. His progress suggests that, with time, he could become an effective MLB outfielder. Muncy has been hitting hard and adjusting well to fastballs, with an impressive average exit velocity of 98.1 mph on fastballs since early August. His ability to improve against breaking balls is also noteworthy, despite his tendency to chase them. Muncy’s health and advancement are encouraging as he adapts to higher levels of competition.

Joe Boyle’s recent performance with a high strikeout rate and significant walks indicates he deserves another big league opportunity, even if he has much to learn. Gunnar Hoglund’s recent struggles are likely an anomaly, and his previous solid starts suggest he has potential if he improves his command. JT Ginn had a better outing recently, but he still seems better suited for a bullpen role rather than a consistent starter. His command in his most recent start shows promise, but he needs to maintain it to change my assessment.

The Canucks’ offseason moves have been notable, and it will be interesting to see how these players perform as the season progresses and how they fit into the team’s future plans.

Midland Rockhounds

Record: 64-46, 24-17 in the second half, 1st in TL South (+1 game)

Season stats:

• Mason Barnett: 9 ⅓ IP, 1.93 ERA, 7.5% BB, 27.5% K, 1 HR, 3.74 FIP
• Henry Bolte: 30 games, 132 PA, 4 HR, 9.8% BB, 39.4% K, .212/.295/.373, 90 wRC+
• Brayan Buelvas: 18 games, 73 PA, 1 HR, 8.2% BB, 28.8% K, .231/.301/.338, 83 wRC+
• Denzel Clarke: 89 games, 359 PA, 11 HR, 7.2% BB, 31.8% K, .270/.334/.472, 125 wRC+
• Ryan Cusick: 42 ⅔ IP, 5.27 ERA, 13.2% BB, 23.2% K, 4 HR, 4.76 FIP
• James Gonzalez: 79 ⅓ IP, 3.52 ERA, 8.5% BB, 20.4% K, 3 HR, 3.36 FIP
• Brennan Milone: 100 games, 428 PA, 10 HR, 10.3% BB, 21.3% K, .280/.360/.432, 124 wRC+
• Jack Perkins: 44 IP, 4.30 ERA, 12.8% BB, 32.8% K, 2 HR, 3.22 FIP
• Daniel Susac: 68 games, 286 PA, 7 HR, 4.2% BB, 26.2% K, .278/.318/.432, 109 wRC+
• Cheng Zhong-Ao Zhuang: 9 IP, 0.00 ERA, 8.8% BB, 17.6% K, 3.09 FIP

Top Performers:

The Rockhounds boast the top two outfield prospects in the Athletics’ system, though their trajectories are diverging. Henry Bolte has been struggling with strikeouts recently, recording 30 in his last 66 plate appearances over 16 games. Despite this slump, which is deeper than earlier in the season, he remains a promising young player. His power is still evident, and once he adjusts to Double-A pitching, he could show improvement similar to Denzel Clarke.

Denzel Clarke has bounced back from a tough start to the season, significantly reducing his strikeouts and improving his approach. He’s currently on a strong walk streak with ten walks and only nine strikeouts over his past 10 games, though he hasn’t hit a home run since early July. Clarke’s ability to handle Double-A pitching suggests he could be challenged with a promotion to Triple-A to close the season, as he has addressed his previous weaknesses well.

Mason Barnett has performed impressively since joining the Rockhounds, showing strong pitching in his recent starts and not allowing more than one earned run in his last five outings. His progress suggests he should be moved up to Triple-A. Barnett has a high ceiling but needs to refine his command to secure a consistent spot in the rotation.

Jack Perkins has also shown promise, though with some command issues. He’s been more effective recently by focusing on his fastball but needs to improve his pitch placement to succeed at higher levels. Perkins has the potential to compete for a rotation spot next season, and finishing the year in Triple-A could be beneficial for his development.

Lansing Lugnuts

Record: 51-58, 19-25 in the second half, 5th in MWL East (7.5 GB)

Season stats:

• Cole Conn: 39 games, 149 PA, 3 HR, 10.7% BB, 20.1% K, .209/.295/.318, 79 wRC+
• Jared Dickey: 12 games, 53 PA, 0 HR, 9.4% BB, 13.2% K, .304/.396/.348, 123 wRC+
• Ryan Lasko: 22 games, 99 PA, 1 HR, 13.1% BB, 24.2% K, .238/.354/.333, 106 wRC+
• Luis Morales: 65 ⅓ IP, 3.58 ERA, 9.9% BB, 25.5% K, 5 HR, 3.67 FIP
• Kade Morris: 14 IP, 4.50 ERA, 6.9% BB, 12.1% K, 0 HR, 3.72 FIP
• Nate Nankil: 12 games, 52 PA, 0 HR, 7.7% BB, 26.9% K, .333/.423/.400, 123 wRC+
• Will Simpson: 99 games, 432 PA, 14 HR, 15.3% BB, 24.8% K, .275/.384/.481, 146 wRC+

Top Performers:

Ryan Lasko has shown improvement since his promotion to High-A, demonstrating better contact and strike zone awareness. Although his season has been challenging, he’s starting to show the power potential that was previously lacking. If he carries this progress into the offseason, he could rebound strongly.

Offensively, the Lugnuts have limited standout talents, with Lasko being a notable exception. Will Simpson continues to perform well, maintaining a strong OPS but should be expected given his age and experience at this level. Jared Dickey’s plate discipline is commendable, but his lack of hard contact raises concerns about his future as a corner outfielder.

Luis Morales experienced a rare poor outing recently, after a stretch of strong performances. Despite this, his overall stuff and health are promising. His tendency to struggle in adverse situations remains a concern, but it’s not a major red flag given his previous success.

Kade Morris has had a mixed performance, getting decent results but not missing many bats. His tendency to allow hard contact and his command issues need addressing, but his raw stuff suggests potential if he can refine his approach.

Stockton Ports

Record: 39-48, 13-31 in the second half, 4th in CAL North (13 GB)

Season Stats:

• Steven Echavarria: 51 ⅔ IP, 6.27 ERA, 13.0% BB, 20.6% K, 4 HR, 5.22 FIP
• Clark Elliott: 43 games, 186 PA, 5 HR, 13.4% BB, 20.4% K, .278/.418/.472, 141 wRC+
• Rodney Green: 3 games, 14 PA, 0 HR, 21.4% BB, 35.7% K, .182/.357/.182, 70 wRC+
• Joshua Kuroda-Grauer: 2 games, 10 PA, 0 HR, 20.0% K, 10.0% BB, .375/.500/.375, 154 wRC+
• Nick Kurtz: 3 games, 14 PA, 1 HR, 21.4% BB, 28.6% K, .364/.500/.727, 215 wRC+
• Myles Naylor: 97 games, 421 PA, 10 HR, 16.4% BB, 33.0% K, .198/.330/.332, 84 wRC+
• Tommy White: 3 games, 15 PA, 0 HR, 6.7% BB, 13.3% K, .231/.333/.231, 67 wRC+

Top Performers:

The Ports have become much more exciting recently with the arrival of several high-profile draftees. While it’s early to draw major conclusions from their performances in Single-A, their presence has added a new level of interest. Nick Kurtz made an immediate impact by hitting a home run in his debut, showcasing his power. Both Kurtz and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer have had solid starts, though Tommy White and Rodney Green have yet to make a significant impact in their first series. This group, along with Clark Elliott, will be closely watched. Elliott, who has taken a few weeks to heat up, is now performing exceptionally well and may soon be ready for a move up to High-A. Despite a notable increase in strikeouts, Elliott has already more than doubled his home run total from last season, demonstrating improved power.

Myles Naylor’s season has been inconsistent, with recent performance trending downward as his strikeouts have increased. When Naylor’s mechanics are in sync, he hits the ball with considerable force, but he needs to refine his swing to address ongoing weaknesses. I remain optimistic about his potential, but his end-of-season performance could be stronger.

On the pitching front, Steven Echavarria had a rough outing recently, giving up ten runs and failing to escape the second inning. Despite this, his recent performances have been strong, so this appears to be an isolated incident rather than a trend, provided it doesn’t become a recurring issue.

DSL A’s

Record: 21-29, 7th in DSL West (16 GB)

Season Stats:

• Erick Matos: 34 ⅓ IP, 3.15 ERA, 18.3% BB, 18.3% K, 0 HR, 4.90 FIP
• Edgar Montero: 50 games, 210 PA, 3 HR, 20.5% BB, 22.9% K, .232/.388/.372, 115 wRC+
• Jose Ramos: 46 games, 180 PA, 0 HR, 19.4% BB, 31.7% K, .142/.318/.199, 63 wRC+

The DSL A’s have recently struggled, with neither their batting nor pitching showing strong performances. Erick Matos, who hasn’t pitched since August 5th, has left a noticeable gap in the rotation. Jose Ramos, one of the key offseason signings, has struggled throughout the season, particularly with high strikeout rates. Ramos has missed a few games and has had a poor hitting stretch since early July, going 8-for-83 at the plate.

Edgar Montero remains a bright spot, although he is currently on a three-game hitless streak. He continues to hit well, draw walks, and has improved his base-stealing efficiency, having converted all five of his stolen base attempts in August after a slower start.