Oakland Athletics Top 30 Prospects

The right-hander has been up to 99 mph, and mostly putched at 92-95 in 2023, often touching 96-97. Since he’s still developing physically — he’s added about 15 pounds since signing — it’s reasonable to believe he can firm up the fastball and live in the mid-90s.

The slider is the most advanced his secondaries and flashed plus last season. He finished 2023 strong walking just six batters in his final 19/1 innings (7.7%).

Soderstrom made his big-league debut last season and may start 2024 in the majors, and the questions about his defensive future, while significant, are overshadowed by his offensive projection as a cleanup-type bat with plus power.

Wilson, 22 in March, was the club’s first-round pick last July and has a shot to get to the majors quickly. He doesn’t carry big upside thanks to a lack of prijectable power, but he should hit for average and stay at shortstop, not to mention his chance to see the majors as early as 2024.

The script on Muncy flipped a bit in 2023 when the 2021 first-round pick hit .302/.387/.446 in 51 games in Double-A, perhaps showing signs the hit tool has developed beyond initial expectations.

Boyle made just three starts in Triple-A before making three with the A’s last September, showing No. 3 stuff, but back-end control. He’s up to 99 mph with two solid-average breakers.

Susac, 22, has hit consistently since signing, but is in the midst of solidifying his catching mechanics and proving he can handle the position long term.

His bat-to-ball offers a relatively intriguing floor as a backup but his bat speed and power upside suggest more, even if he’s nothing more than a fringe defender. Swing development is key to unlock the raw power into game production.

Perkins will touch 97 mph and flash two average secondaries in a curveball and cutter, but has yet to throw consistent strikes and is high risk to end up in the bullpen. In such a role, he could see the bigs in 2024.

Hoglund was a first-round pick in 2021 and returned from UCL surgery late in 2022 with mixed results. It was more of the same last season, but he did get in 61 innings. He was never a real hard thrower, profiling more as a command-and-feel arm with multiple offspeed weapons, and now it’s about how well he can locate in order to show he’s a big-league arm.

Naylor, brother of Bo and Josh — each in the Cleveland organization — has flashed above-average hit and power potential to go with footwork, hands, and arm strength to stick long-term at third base. How well he can judge the zone will determine how quickly he progresses from the lower minors. It was a signifixant weakness in his first taset of pro ball last summer.

Lasko, like Naylor, was a 2023 draftee, but the Rutgers product barely got his feet wet after signing. He runs well and has the arm to play center or right. His ability to consistently find the barrel will be greatly improved as he learns to deal with breaking balls. There’s probably not enough power to suggest an everyday profile in a corner, but there are some A.J. Pollock vibes if you’re looking for an upside comp.

The 20-year-old Bolte has a chance at five average or better tools, including plus run and throw, and there’s above-average raw power to go get as he progresses through the minors. He’s also adept at using the backside with doubles pop. Bolte’s speed gives him a chance to play center, but there’s route work to do as he enters his second full season in pro ball.

Cusick, 24, was a power arm at Wake Forest sitting 95-98 mph and touching triple digits. Since being traded to Oakland in the Matt Olson trade, Cusick’s fastball has lost several ticks and his control remains well below average. Barring injury, we know there’s more velocity there, and the slider has been better as recent as 2021, but he appears to be a reliever-only prospect, which is where he may have landed anyway, but now he’s one lacking high-leverage projection.

Thomas‘ swing generates good bat speed and backspin, offering plus power to go with four other potentially-average or better tools. He can throw, run, and he profiles as a plus glove in a corner. He’ll have to make more contact, however, but if he can do that without reducing the effort in his swing he has a real chance to make in impact at the plate.

Watters, 23 in March, was a fourth-round pick by Oakland in 2022 and on the strength of a plus fastball and curveball combo may see the majors in 2024. If he does, however, it’s likely as a reliever, thanks to a lack of weapons versus left-handed batters and 30-grade control and command.