MLB Opening Day 2016: Meet your Oakland A's 25-man roster

The Oakland A's 2016 season begins just a few short hours from now. Of the 25 players on the Opening Day roster, 10 of them are new to the organization since last year, which means that if you're just tuning in for the first time since October then you might have some catching up to do.

Therefore, here's a rundown of the entire 25-man roster, with a couple notes on each guy to give you a feel for who they are. Along the way you will see some links in the "Notes" sections, and you can click those to learn more about the player! (I'm actually listing more then 25 guys here, since a few are on the Disabled List.)

Starting Pitchers

Sonny Gray, RHP
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: 3rd in AL Cy Young voting
Notes: Oakland's diminutive ace can't grow a mustache, but he can throw a shutout.

Rich Hill, LHP
2015 team: Red Sox
Key 2015 stat: Struck out 34% of batters faced (36 Ks in 29 innings, or 11.2 K/9)
Notes: 36-year-old bounce-back candidate has a lot to prove after rough spring, but holds incredibly high upside.

Chris Bassitt, RHP
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: Only 23.6% of batted balls were "hard hit," 7th-best rate of all MLB pitchers (min. 80 innings)
Notes: The Hound needs to retire lefties to stick as a starter, but he showed progress in that department last year.

Kendall Graveman, RHP
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: 3.0 BB/9 (too high) and 50% ground balls (too low)
Notes: Pitch-to-contact guy who needs lot of grounders to succeed, had dominant 9-start stretch last summer.

Felix Doubront was slated to be the No. 5 starter, but he will open the year on the DL. Either Jesse Hahn or Eric Surkamp will likely take over, but the team doesn't have to make a decision until the spot comes up on Friday.

Relief Pitchers

Sean Doolittle, LHP
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: Only appeared in 12 games due to injury
Notes: A's closer and fan favorite hopes to return to his All-Star form from 2014.

Ryan Madson, RHP
2015 team: Royals
Key 2015 stat: Pitched in MLB for first time since 2011
Notes: Former Phillies closer made surprising comeback at age 34 and won a ring with Kansas City.

John Axford, RHP
2015 team: Rockies
Key 2015 career stat: Has converted 200 of 230 save/hold situations (87% success rate)
Notes: He throws hard, he loves movies, and he grows sweet mustaches.

Liam Hendriks, RHP
2015 team: Blue Jays
Key 2015 stat: 17th among all MLB relievers with 1.7 fWAR
Notes: Australian hurler tanked as a starter, but has emerged as a hard-throwing reliever.

Marc Rzepczynski, LHP (zep-CHIN-skee)
2015 team: Indians and Padres
Key 2015 career stat: Limits lefties to a .573 OPS
Notes: Situational lefty and lube enthusiast has all-time great nickname of "Scrabble," but reportedly prefers to go by Zep.

Fernando Rodriguez, RHP
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: 10 K/9 (or, struck out 26.9% of batters faced)
Notes: Of the 10 relievers who threw the most innings for the 2015 A's, Rodriguez is the only one still in the organization.

Ryan Dull, RHP
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: Posted 0.74 ERA in 61 innings between Double-A and Triple-A
Notes: Small stature, youthful appearance, 32nd-round draft pick ... but uses sharp slider to sit you down.

Catchers

Stephen Vogt, C
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: Career-high 18 homers (in career-high 136 games)
Notes: Earned All-Star berth at age 30 in first season as a full-time starter. You most likely believe in him.

Josh Phegley, C
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: 18-of-46 runners caught stealing -- 39%, 9th in MLB (min. 10 CS)
Notes: Arguably the best backup catcher in baseball, good enough to start regularly.

Infielders

Yonder Alonso, 1B
2015 team: Padres
Key 2015 stat: 111 OPS+ after accounting for Petco Park
Notes: Solid hitter who gets on base a lot, slick defender at first. Really excited to be here.

Jed Lowrie, 2B
2015 team: Astros
Key 2015 stat: Only played 69 games (torn thumb ligament)
Notes: Second stint in Oakland, where he enjoyed his only healthy years in 2013-14. Can also play SS and 3B.

Marcus Semien, SS
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: 35 errors led all MLB players regardless of position
Notes: Breakout candidate at the plate, and has improved his defense substantially thanks to Ron Washington.

Danny Valencia, 3B
2015 team: Blue Jays and A's
Key 2015 stat: .881 OPS vs. RHP (career mark is .664)
Notes: Had career year in 2015, and the question is how close he can come to replicating it. Or is he just a platoon guy who can only hit lefties?

Mark Canha, 1B/OF
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: Posted .834 OPS as everyday starter for final six weeks of season
Notes: Another breakout candidate with serious power (and a famous palate), but where will he get his at-bats?

Billy Butler, DH
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: Grounded into 26 double plays, 2nd-most in MLB
Notes: Looking to bounce back after horrendous season in which he posted a .639 OPS from May-Aug.

Outfielders

Billy Burns, CF
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: 26 stolen bases (could increase substantially)
Notes: Arguably the fastest player in baseball, and last year he showed he can hit a bit too. Even homered off Felix!

Josh Reddick, RF
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: Played 149 games (most since 2012)
Notes: One of longest-tenured A's, his plate discipline took a massive step forward and he still led the team in homers.

Khris Davis, LF
2015 team: Brewers
Key 2015 stat: Hit 27 homers in only 440 plate appearances
Notes: "Khrush" is the best bet to lead Oakland in homers this year, and he could be here awhile.

Coco Crisp, CF/LF
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: Only played 44 games due to injuries
Notes: Does the long-time fan favorite have anything left in the tank? He's gonna give it his best shot.

Chris Coghlan, IF/OF
2015 team: Cubs
Key 2015 stat: Career-high 16 homers (in career-high 148 games)
Notes: The 2009 NL ROTY has reinvented himself at the plate and is now a super-utilityman with a potent platoon bat.

Andrew Lambo, OF
2015 team: Pirates
Key 2015 career stat: 27-year-old has hit 100 homers in minor league career
Notes: Last-minute addition until a fifth starter is needed and will likely return to Triple-A soon; has an outside chance to be "the next Brandon Moss" as a scrap-heap slugger.

Disabled List

Felix Doubront, LHP
2015 team: Blue Jays and A's
Key 2015 stat: 5.81 ERA in 11 games for Oakland (70 ERA+)
Notes: Journeyman swingman earned a spot but is out with forearm tightness. If/when he returns, he provides depth for the rotation.

Eric Sogard, 2B
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: Limited to .598 OPS (66 OPS+)
Notes: Veteran utility infielder is squeezed out for now, but perhaps there will be space when he returns from his strained neck.

Sam Fuld, OF
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: Limited to .569 OPS (57 OPS+)
Notes: Veteran utility outfielder is squeezed out for now, but perhaps there will be space when he returns from his sprained shoulder.

Henderson Alvarez, RHP
2015 team: Marlins
Key 2015 stat: Only made four starts (serious shoulder injury)
Notes: The 2014 All-Star is hopeful to return in May, shortly after his 26th birthday.

R.J. Alvarez, RHP
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 stat: Walked 13 batters in 20 innings
Notes: Powerful stuff but struggled with control in 2015, underwent minor elbow procedure during spring.

Jarrod Parker, RHP
2015 team: A's
Key 2015 career stat: Hasn't pitched in MLB since 2013
Notes: On the 60-day DL, but still seems determined to pitch again.