Oakland A's make more spring roster cuts, but Matt Chapman remains in major league camp

MESA, Ariz. -- The Oakland Athletics reassigned seven players to minor league camp after Sunday's contest against the Chicago White Sox. Shortstop Franklin Barreto, first baseman-outfielder Matt Olson, and middle infielder Chad Pinder were the top prospects reassigned. Third baseman Matt Chapman remains in the A's major league camp, the only non-roster invitee who is not a pitcher or catcher primarily to do so.

Chapman has been impressive this spring on both sides of the ball. He's hit three home runs in 28 plate appearances and is batting .269/.286/.654. On defense, Chapman has made a number of spectacular plays and has had many opportunities to showcase his highly-rated arm and range at third base. Here's just one example:

Chapman will likely start the year in Double-A Midland after hitting 23 home runs with High-A Stockton. He turns 23 in April.

Franklin Barreto

This spring, the 20-year-old Barreto has demonstrated the power we've been hearing so much about, hitting three home runs. His overall line of .217/.217/.826 with eight strikeouts and no walks in 22 plate appearances seems to indicate that there are plate discipline issues he still needs to work on. With High-A Stockton in 2015, Barreto struck out 67 times and walked 15 times in an injury-abbreviated 364 plate appearances.

On defense, he has vacillated between brilliant play and errant throws from the shortstop position, but Manager Bob Melvin said earlier this week that he believed Barreto would be able to stick at shortstop. He will probably start the year with Double-A Midland.

Matt Olson

Olson, who turns 22 on March 29, was 3-for-23 this spring with two doubles, drawing six walks and striking out nine times (.130/.290/.217). Bob Melvin said that Olson looks okay in the outfield, but he really sees Olson more as a very good defensive first baseman. He will start the year in Triple-A Nashville.

Chad Pinder

The 2015 Texas League Player of the Year was 4-for-17 with a home run and a double, drawing two walks and striking out five. Pinder was played at shortstop and second base this spring, and he'll likely play at both positions alongside second baseman Joey Wendle at Triple-A Nashville. Bob Melvin had said Pinder was interested in expanding his repertoire to the outfield, though it's still early days on that. Pinder also was born on March 29, and he will turn 24.

Others reassigned and remaining

The A's also sent catcher Bryan Anderson and pitchers Ryan Brasier, Angel Castro, and Eduard Santos to minor league camp. The remaining non-roster pitchers are starters Sean Manaea and Eric Surkamp, and reliever Patrick Schuster. Schuster has had a notable spring, appearing in five games to strike out four batters, walk two, and hit one while not allowing a run in 3 2/3 innings.

The remaining non-roster catchers are Carson Blair, Bruce Maxwell, and Matt McBride. Maxwell recently returned from playing for Team Germany in the World Baseball Classic qualifier, where he went 4-for-8 with a double and a home run. That three-run home run put Germany ahead in their first game against Nicaragua, but they ultimately lost in 10 innings, and were knocked out of the tournament following a loss to Czech Republic.