Athletics Nation - Athletics 2015 Community Prospect ListAn SB Nation blog for Oakland Athletics fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47025/an-fave.png2016-01-04T21:37:17-08:00http://www.athleticsnation.com/rss/stream/71829382016-01-04T21:37:17-08:002016-01-04T21:37:17-08:00CPL Preview: All the A's prospects in one depth chart
<figure>
<img alt="Renato Nunez is moving closer to making the bigs." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Sd8uC3S4jAjra3_Uc-3ipumKl10=/0x332:2272x1847/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48497301/usa-today-8915428.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Renato Nunez is moving closer to making the bigs. | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It is officially 2016, and that means it's time to get started on this year's edition of our A's Community Prospect List. With the low quality of last season's MLB team, we focused extra hard on the farm system all summer and fall, so many of the top names might not be new to you. But to get us in the prospect-rating spirit, here is a full rundown of the entire organization.</p>
<p>Well, not the <i>entire</i> organization. But this depth chart will cover anyone who has even the most remote chance of sniffing our new top-25 list, and likely anyone you could have even imagined nominating. There are over 50 players covered here, and the point is to remind you of every relevant prospect before we start the process of voting on the top guys. If you've already heard of every player I list here, then do yourself a favor and go outside for the rest of the day.</p>
<p><b>A few disclaimers (skip if you don't care):</b></p>
<p>1. The charts are ordered solely based on proximity to MLB. A player with a full season of Double-A will be listed higher than a player who is only just reaching High-A, even if the High-A player is considered the better overall prospect.</p>
<p>2. I had to take liberties on where to place some guys in terms of position (starter vs. reliever, etc.). You're free to quibble with any of the placements, but the main point of the post is to get all the names listed.</p>
<p>3. There are way more pitchers mentioned here than position players, but I don't think that means anything. On last year's list, 13 of the top 25 prospects were hitters, so some of the extra pitching quantity is likely concentrated toward the bottom of the quality list (especially the low-level relief pitchers).</p>
<p>4. As for the 2015 draft class, I'm cutting it off after the first six picks. I doubt anyone lower than that has a chance at making the CPL, so let's wait and see which of them set themselves apart in their first full pro season.</p>
<p>The full depth chart (see bottom of post for a more complete version):</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Oakland A's prospect depth chart 01-2016" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YCJRU45uVoyEzMZSYIWRKOcJ7o0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/5875627/cpl_depth_chart_01-2016.0.jpg">
</figure>
</p>
<p>And a quick rundown by position. Each position has a table including:</p>
<p>1. The player's <b>name<br></b>2. The highest <b>level</b> at which he played at least 5 games in 2015 (A+ for High-A Stockton; A for Single-A Beloit; A- for short-season Single-A Vermont; RK for Rookie League)<br>3. His rank on our <b>2015 list</b> (TR for new trade acquisitions, DR for draftees, and NR for non-ranked players)<br>4. Which direction his <b>stock</b> has gone since this time last year (up or down; if in CAPS, then change was significant; for draftees, I've instead listed the round in which they were selected):</p>
<h3>Starting pitchers</h3>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015</b></td>
<td><b>Stock</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sean Nolin</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>DOWN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sean Manaea</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>TR</td>
<td>UP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dillon Overton</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dylan Covey</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Casey Meisner</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>TR</td>
<td>UP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Daniel Mengden</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>TR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Raul Alcantara</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>down</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joel Seddon</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matt Stalcup</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Daniel Gossett</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brett Graves</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>down</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Zack Erwin</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>TR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joey Wagman</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>down</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dustin Driver</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>down</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chris Kohler</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kevin Duchene</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>DR</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Angel Duno</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jesus Zambrano</td>
<td>RK</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>UP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Branden Kelliher</td>
<td>RK</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>down</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dakota Chalmers</td>
<td>RK</td>
<td>DR</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Current MLB depth: </b></p>
<p>1. Sonny Gray<br>2. Rich Hill<br>3-thru-6. Chris Bassitt, Kendall Graveman, Jesse Hahn, Sean Nolin<br>7. Henderson Alvarez (could rise when healthy)<br>8. Felix Doubront<br>9. Aaron Brooks</p>
<p><b>Closest to MLB:</b> Sean Nolin, Sean Manaea, Dillon Overton</p>
<p><b>Top prospects (per MLB.com):</b> Sean Manaea (#3), Dakota Chalmers (#9), Dillon Overton (#10), Casey Meisner (#11)</p>
<p>Most of the talent was in the lower levels last year, and High-A Stockton in particular finished with an excellent rotation after the trade deadline acquisitions. But Nolin and Manaea could end up helping the MLB squad this year, even with so many names to sort through already in Oakland. Manaea should end up quite high on our prospect list once we start voting, while fellow newcomers Chalmers, Meisner, and Mengden should also make it easily. Zambrano is a sleeper to watch out for in 2016 after a dominant performance in the Venezuelan Winter League, though he's unlikely to make the CPL just yet. (Update: Another int'l sleeper, Oscar Tovar, was mentioned in the comments.)</p>
<h3>Relief pitchers</h3>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015</b></td>
<td><b>Stock</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ryan Dull</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>UP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>R.J. Alvarez</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>DOWN</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Daniel Coulombe</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>TR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>J.B. Wendelken</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>TR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Aaron Kurcz</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>TR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kris Hall</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Trey Cochran-Gill</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>TR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tucker Healy</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bobby Wahl</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>down</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Corey Walter</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sam Bragg</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ben Bracewell</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Carlos Navas</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Victor Veliz</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bubba Derby</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>DR</td>
<td>6</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Current MLB depth:</b></p>
<p>Closer: Sean Doolittle<br>Set-up: Ryan Madson, John Axford<br>Middle: Liam Hendriks, Fernando Rodriguez, Marc Rzepczynski, Ryan Dull<br>... plus any surplus starting pitchers, and Jarrod Parker</p>
<p><b>Closest to MLB:</b> Ryan Dull, R.J. Alvarez, Daniel Coulombe, J.B. Wendelken</p>
<p><b>Top prospects (per MLB.com):</b> R.J. Alvarez (#23), Bobby Wahl (#25), Aaron Kurcz (#29), Daniel Coulombe (#30)</p>
<p>A few of the names on this chart are a bit of a reach, but I wanted to include everyone who had a good year last year. Relievers are tough to predict, so who knows if a breakout performance from a no-name could be a sign of something greater? The key guys here are Dull, Alvarez, and Wendelken, who are on the 40-man roster; Coulombe, who appears to be the next lefty in line after Doolittle and Scrabble (and Doubront or Nolin, if they're in the pen); and Derby, one of the most exciting draft picks from last year.</p>
<h3>Catchers</h3>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015</b></td>
<td><b>Stock</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Carson Blair</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bruce Maxwell</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>down</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jacob Nottingham</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>TR</td>
<td>UP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Argenis Raga</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lana Akau</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Current MLB depth:</b> Stephen Vogt, Josh Phegley</p>
<p><b>Closest to MLB:</b> Carson Blair</p>
<p><b>Top prospect (per MLB.com):</b> Jacob Nottingham (#8)</p>
<p>Despite the quantity, the only serious prospect behind the plate right now is Nottingham. Blair got a cup of coffee at the end of September, but at the moment he's a distant backup behind Vogt & Phegley. We'll see if any of the other guys can step up this year, including new draftee Nick Collins (eighth-round pick)</p>
<h3>First basemen</h3>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015</b></td>
<td><b>Stock</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rangel Ravelo</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matt Olson</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sandber Pimentel</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Current MLB depth:</b> Yonder Alonso, Mark Canha, Max Muncy, Billy Butler</p>
<p><b>Closest to MLB:</b> Rangel Ravelo</p>
<p><b>Top Prospect (per MLB.com):</b> Matt Olson (#2)</p>
<p>How many games will the oft-injured Alonso play? Will Canha see more time at 1B, LF, or DH? Olson played nearly as many games in the outfield last year as he did at first base, so where will he play going forward? Muncy was the emergency backup last year when Ike Davis went down, and he was on the MLB roster long enough that he doesn't qualify as a prospect anymore even though he'll likely begin in Triple-A -- is he still next in line, or will Ravelo's Venezuelan League-leading 1.042 OPS help to earn him the first look? Will Renato Nunez end up at first base rather than third base? There are a lot of questions surrounding this position.</p>
<h3>Middle infielders</h3>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015</b></td>
<td><b>Stock</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tyler Ladendorf</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>down</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Joey Wendle</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>down</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chad Pinder</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>14</td>
<td>UP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Franklin Barreto</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>UP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Yairo Munoz</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>UP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jesus Lopez</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mikey White</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>DR</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Richie Martin</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>DR</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Current MLB depth:</b> Jed Lowrie, Marcus Semien, Eric Sogard, Tyler Ladendorf</p>
<p><b>Closest to MLB:</b> Tyler Ladendorf, Joey Wendle</p>
<p><b>Top Prospects (per MLB.com):</b> Franklin Barreto (#1), Richie Martin (#4), Chad Pinder (#7)</p>
<p>The A's are suddenly stacked in the middle infield throughout their system. Wendle and Pinder will team up in Triple-A (unless Wendle makes the MLB club), Barreto figures to be in Double-A (though will he move to CF?), Munoz thrived in High-A last year, and the team's top two draft picks made successful pro debuts. If you're into super-low-level lotto tickets, MLB.com ranks Lopez as the No. 18 prospect in the system. Even the filler is intriguing, with 2014 sixth- and seventh-round picks Trace Loehr (A-) and Branden Cogswell (A+). I'd bet at least a half-dozen middle infielders will be making our CPL, with Barreto the likely No. 1 overall.</p>
<h3>Third basemen</h3>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015</b></td>
<td><b>Stock</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Renato Nunez</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ryon Healy</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>UP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matt Chapman</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>UP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Current MLB depth:</b> Danny Valencia, Max Muncy</p>
<p><b>Closest to MLB:</b> Renato Nunez</p>
<p><b>Top Prospects (per MLB.com):</b> Matt Chapman (#5), Renato Nunez (#6)</p>
<p>With Brett Lawrie out of the picture, this is a thin position in the system. There are a lot of eggs being put in Valencia's basket, as Muncy is a stretch as a backup 3B. Nunez still hasn't debuted at Triple-A, and his strength is his bat rather than his glove at the hot corner -- will he end up at first base if/when he makes the bigs? With all that being said, Chapman is one of the most exciting prospects in the system.</p>
<h3>Outfielders</h3>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015</b></td>
<td><b>Stock</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jaycob Brugman</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>UP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brett Vertigan</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>NR</td>
<td>up</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Skye Bolt</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>DR</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Current MLB depth:</b></p>
<p>RF: Josh Reddick<br>CF: Billy Burns, Sam Fuld<br>LF: Mark Canha, Coco Crisp, Jake Smolinski, Andrew Lambo</p>
<p><b>Closest to MLB:</b> Jaycob Brugman</p>
<p><b>Top Prospect (per MLB.com):</b> Skye Bolt (#19)</p>
<p>The A's have virtually nothing in the cupboard when it comes to the outfield, which is a big reason why a lot of folks on AN heavily support signing Reddick to an extension. Of course, as previously mentioned, Matt Olson could end up moving to a corner outfield spot, and long-term a duo of he and Burns (or even a trio including an extended Reddick) could render a lack of depth meaningless. In the meantime, Brugman is one of my personal favorites in the system, while Bolt was arguably a first-round talent in the fourth round. A few other fringe names: B.J. Boyd, J.P. Sportman, and Tyler Marincov of High-A Stockton; Jose Brizuela, who reached Stockton at the end of the year (2014 draft, 16th round); and Texas League playoff hero Josh Whitaker. Seth Brown, selected in the 19th round last year, is currently my late-round sleeper from the 2015 draft.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>In the next post, we'll review the nomination process and take our first five nominees.</p>
<p><b>UPDATE (Jan. 5, 11 a.m.):</b> Using the feedback in the comments, I've updated the depth chart to add a few extra fringe names. I also took the chance to add a few extra draft picks to fill out the bottom of the position player ranks (I added the draftees who posted wRC+ marks of 100 or better in Low-A Vermont last year). Furthermore, I added the MLB team to the top, and separated the prospects out by level for a more accurate visual representation. The only member of the 40-man roster not listed is Billy Butler, since this is by defensive position.</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="A's prospect depth 01-2016 v3" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XSaKkzXF8BDLqqZ0ELa4E594RdQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/5878133/cpl_depth_chart_01-2016_v3.0.jpg">
</figure>
</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2016/1/4/10705626/oakland-athletics-community-prospect-list-preview-depth-chartAlex Hall2015-12-28T17:10:12-08:002015-12-28T17:10:12-08:00A's prospect watch: Wendelken, Erwin, Cochran-Gill
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/T_L5ow1sqyLy1GcNoKg3I_5aAx8=/0x0:4128x2752/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48444103/usa-today-8752324.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With the new year approaching, it's almost time to start voting on our 2016 Oakland A's Community Prospect List. However, before we embark on that quest, there are a few new names to learn from the mid-December trades. None are likely to rank highly in our top-25 list, but it's still worth knowing who they are. It's even possible we could see at least one of them in Oakland sometime during the coming season.</p>
<h4>From White Sox for Brett Lawrie</h4>
<p><b>RHP J.B. Wendelken</b> (Triple-A)<br><b>LHP Zack Erwin</b> (Single-A)</p>
<h4>From Mariners for Evan Scribner</h4>
<p><b>RHP Trey Cochran-Gill</b> (Double-A)</p>
<p>***</p>
<p id="paragraph6"><i>Note: Ages refer to the ages at which they played in 2015.</i></p>
<p>***</p>
<h3>J.B. Wendelken | RHP | Age 22</h3>
<p><b>Level in 2015:</b> Promoted to Triple-A in July</p>
<p><b>2015 Double-A:</b> 27 games, 2.72 ERA, 43 innings, 56 Ks, 11 BB, 4 HR, 2.68 FIP<br><b>2015 Triple-A:</b> 12 games, 4.50 ERA, 16 innings, 13 Ks, 5 BB, 2 HR, 4.09 FIP</p>
<p>Jeffrey Benjamin Wendelken was drafted by the Red Sox in 2012, and the next year <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/jake-peavy-trade/" target="_blank">he was a footnote</a> in the trade to acquire Jake Peavy from the White Sox. He got a chance to start in High-A for Chicago, but he settled back into the bullpen last year as a 22-year-old and had a mini-breakout season. He has a shot to <a href="https://twitter.com/JaneMLB/status/674785005772623872" target="_blank">reach Oakland in 2016</a>.</p>
<p>The best profile of Wendelken comes from <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/prospect-watch-changeup-artists/" target="_blank">Nathaniel Stoltz at Fangraphs</a> in 2014. Stoltz noted the right-hander's low-90s* fastball and solid control, and raved about his "monstrous changeup that features zone-crossing fade." On the downside, Stoltz wasn't impressed by Wendelken's breaking ball, and also noted a lack of stamina that could relegate him to the bullpen (which did indeed end up happening the next year). The key takeaway involved the changeup, though:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The bigtime action on the [changeup] is paired with excellent velocity separation -- early in my viewing, Wendelken's fastball was in the low 90s while the change was in the upper 70s. He features it heavily to both lefties and righties and isn't afraid to double or triple up on it if a batter's unable to pick the pitch up. As you can see, it induces a ton of awkward swings.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And in video form:</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qT83x66SoAY" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Stoltz finished his analysis by using Brad Boxberger and Tyler Clippard as potential comps for Wendelken's style, calling him "a reliever who can air it out around 92 mph and throw a nasty changeup 35% of the time."</p>
<p>When Stoltz wrote all of that in May 2014, Wendelken was still starting in High-A. In 2015, he moved up to Double-A and went back to the bullpen, but this time he began racking up strikeouts -- more than 11 per nine innings, and more than five per walk. His numbers fell off a bit in Triple-A, but in this case I would focus on the big picture: a 22-year-old moved up to a new level, dominated it, and then moved up again midseason. The ascent itself is more important to me than the fact that he stumbled a bit on his way up, and I'm more interested in what he does in Triple-A next year than what he did in his first taste last fall. He also got lit up in four outings in the Arizona Fall League, but again, at least he was there at all.</p>
<p>Wendelken isn't a high-profile prospect and he doesn't have a high ceiling, but he seems to have upped his stock from being organizational filler to being a candidate for an MLB job in 2016. Don't expect to see him making the team out of spring training, but keep an eye on him in Nashville. The fact that he's already on the 40-man roster means that there aren't <i>that</i> many arms ahead of him on the depth chart.</p>
<p><i>* At the time of the Lawrie trade, <a href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1621510-a-s-deal-brett-lawrie-for-two-prospects" target="_blank">Melissa Lockard of Oakland Clubhouse</a> pegged Wendelken's fastball at 91-95 mph. </i></p>
<h3>Zack Erwin | LHP | Age 21</h3>
<p><b>Level in 2015:</b> Promoted to Single-A in August</p>
<p><b>2015 Single-A:</b> 7 games, 1.89 ERA, 19 innings, 15 Ks, 4 BB, 0 HR, 2.69 FIP</p>
<p>Despite being tall at 6'5, Erwin relies on things like deception, command, and variety rather than velocity. His pro career is only just beginning, as he was drafted last June in the fourth round, so we don't yet have much to go by in terms of numbers. What we do know is that he reached full-season Single-A ball in the year he was drafted; most guys stay in either rookie ball or short-season Low-A, and among A's draftees this year only Mikey White and Tim Proudfoot reached Single-A Beloit. That could be a sign of a guy primed to move up the system quickly, and indeed <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/trade-central-lawrie-traded-time-white-sox/" target="_blank">Matt Eddy of Baseball America</a> refers to him as a "fast-moving, high-floor southpaw who could provide major league value as soon as 2017."</p>
<p><a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=oak" target="_blank">Here's what MLB.com</a> has to say about him:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Erwin has the makings of three average-or-better pitches, each of which plays up due to his advanced command. His 6-foot-5 frame and long arms help him create an angle to the plate and also lend to his deception, allowing him to sneak up on opposing hitters with his 88-90 mph fastball. The left-hander's ability to command his heater throughout the zone helps set up his curveball and split-changeup, with both offerings showing above-average potential.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The current question is whether to develop Erwin as a starter or a reliever. On one hand, he was in the rotation for his final college season and made a handful of starts after Chicago drafted him. <a href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1621510-a-s-deal-brett-lawrie-for-two-prospects" target="_blank">Melissa Lockard notes</a> his groundball tendencies and muses that he "has a good feel for mixing his pitches and the frame and strike-throwing approach to be an innings-eater as he develops." On the other hand, switching to relief would certainly allow him to move up the system faster, and his ceiling as a starter is probably low anyway given the smoke-and-mirrors skill set described in the scouting report above. Which way will the A's go with him?</p>
<p>There's not much else to say about Erwin at this point, and you can see what you want to see in him -- a future No. 4/5 starter, or a lefty reliever who could be in the bigs the season after next. We'll know more when we see what role the A's put him in to start the year, and at what level of the system they place him. I'll take a conservative guess now that he'll begin the season in the starting rotation at Single-A Beloit, but with a chance to move quickly up to High-A Stockton. May as well give him a shot to start and see if he can handle it, and the A's seem to like giving such opportunities to pitchers who profile as efficient, <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/zack-erwin/" target="_blank">grounder-heavy</a> innings-eaters.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hzCELCeBPc8" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<h3>Trey Cochran-Gill | Age 22</h3>
<p><b>Level in 2015:</b> Mainly Double-A</p>
<p><b>2015 High-A:</b> 10 games, 1.37 ERA, 19⅔ innings, 18 Ks, 3 BB, 0 HR, 2.56 FIP<br><b>2015 Double-A:</b> 34 games, 5.43 ERA, 53 innings, 30 Ks, 32 BB, 0 HR, 4.10 FIP</p>
<p>There is a lot that I find interesting about Cochran-Gill. He was drafted in 2014, so his pro track record is still short, but it has wavered between some odd extremes:</p>
<p>- In his pro debut, he threw 36 innings between rookie ball and Low-A and allowed only one earned run, for a 0.25 ERA that looks like a typo no matter how many times you double-check it. <br>- He followed that up by starting off well in High-A in 2015, and by May he'd racked up career totals of 62 strikeouts and 10 walks. <br>- That success earned him a promotion to Double-A, where he reversed his K/BB brilliance by issuing more walks (32) than strikeouts (30) in a generally awful performance.<br>- Meanwhile, he still hasn't allowed a home run in 70 professional games and more than 100 innings.</p>
<p>So, what are we supposed to make of all that? Here's a rundown from an <a href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/26271672/v48162983/top-prospects-trey-cochrangill-rhp-athletics" target="_blank">MLB.com video scouting report</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The undersized [5'10] right-hander uses two above-average pitches to be extremely effective. He throws his fastball up to 94 mph with tremendous sink, leading to robust 2.71 groundout-to-airout ratios. He combines that with a very good slider that misses bats. [He] has shown an ability to be a strike thrower ... when he's right, he commands his sinker well, getting outs early in counts as he pitches to contact.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There are other reports out there (<a href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1621128-a-s-trade-evan-scribner-for-trey-cochran-gill" target="_blank">Lockard</a>, and <a href="http://prospectinsider.com/prospect-rankings-the-next-15/" target="_blank">Jason A. Churchill of Prospect Insider</a>), but they come to the same conclusions: small frame, two-pitch arsenal, induces grounders, likely middle reliever but a fast-track candidate. In fact, he's already moved quickly by reaching Double-A in his first full season. If he can sort out whatever went wrong with his command last summer, then he'll add his name to the ever-growing list of quality bullpen depth that is brewing in Oakland's upper minors.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MxDr0YHsjao" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>***</p>
<p>The categories:</p>
<p>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/28/8964889/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-kendall-graveman-billy-burns">The Graduates</a> (... and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/11/2/9650358/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-billy-burns-rookie-of-the-year/in/7182938">the sequel</a>)<br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/30/9055049/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-pat-venditte-barry-zito" target="_blank">The MLB Pitching Depth</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/1/9083103/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-dillon-overton-raul-alcantara/in/7182938">The Young Hurlers</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/2/9085545/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-daniel-gossett-chris-kohler">The Even Younger Hurlers</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/6/9093465/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-chad-pinder-franklin-barreto-joey-wendle">The Middle Infielders</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/8/9119391/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-matt-olson-renato-nunez">The Corner Sluggers: 1B</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/13/9121839/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-matt-chapman-max-muncy">The Corner Sluggers: 3B</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/20/9160335/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-tyler-ladendorf-sandber-pimentel" target="_blank">The Best of the Rest</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/26/9203677/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-colin-walsh-ryan-dull-brendan-mccurry" target="_blank">Stepping up in 2015</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/31/9226113/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-jesus-lopez-jose-torres" target="_blank">New International Standouts</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/9/2/9231211/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-carson-blair-aaron-kurcz" target="_blank">Final Names of Note</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/9/8/9273673/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-mikey-white-richie-martin">The 2015 Draft</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/10/29/9491949/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-sean-manaea-jacob-nottingham">The New Acquisitions</a><br>- <b>Three New Pitchers</b></p>
<p>***</p>
<h3>The List</h3>
<p>Each player is listed at the level at which he finished the 2015 season (except where noted), and his stats only include his performance at that current level. The levels refer to the Nashville Sounds (AAA), the Midland RockHounds (AA), the High-A Stockton Ports (A+), the Single-A Beloit Snappers (A), the short-season Low-A Vermont Lake Monsters (A-), and the Arizona Rookie League (RK). For the hitters, I am going to focus less on raw numbers and more on league-adjusted stats (wRC+) and rates (K% and BB%).</p>
<p>The list has been expanded to include the five new July trade acquisitions (stats listed are since their acquisitions), as well as five of the top June draft picks (first six picks minus third-round pick Dakota Chalmers, who is still in Rookie ball). There are also five more 2015 standouts, labelled SU (Stepping Up).</p>
<p id="paragraph47"><i><b>* The following recent transactions are not reflected:</b> <b>Tyler Ladendorf</b> was promoted from Triple-A Nashville to MLB; <b>Jose Torres</b> was promoted to from Single-A Beloit to High-A Stockton. ... Sean Nolin (MLB), R.J. Alvarez (MLB), Max Muncy (MLB), Pat Venditte (MLB), Ryan Dull (MLB), Rangel Ravelo (AAA), Dillon Overton (AA), Brendan McCurry (AA), Yairo Munoz (A+), and Mikey White (A) received midseason promotions and I've only included their stats at their new, higher levels. ... Aaron Kurcz spent time in the Braves' system, but I've only included his stats from Triple-A Nashville.</i></p>
<p>Players in <i><u>underlined italics</u></i> have graduated to MLB and no longer qualify as prospects. Players in <strike>strikethrough</strike> are no longer in the organization.</p>
<table border="0">
<caption><b>Oakland A's 2015 Community Prospect List</b></caption>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>#</b></td>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Pos</b></td>
<td><b>Age</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015 Stats</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Matt Olson</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>585 PAs, 132 wRC+, 17 HR, 17.9% BB, 23.8% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Franklin Barreto</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>364 PAs, 122 wRC+, 13 HR, 4.1% BB, 18.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Matt Chapman</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>352 PAs, 139 wRC+, 23 HR, 11.1% BB, 22.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Renato Nunez</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>416 PAs, 124 wRC+, 18 HR, 6.7% BB, 15.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Dillon Overton</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>13 starts, 3.06 ERA, 64⅔ ip, 47 Ks, 15 BB, 4 HR, 3.34 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><i><u>6</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>Kendall Graveman</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>RHP</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>24</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>MLB</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>21 starts, 100 ERA+, 115⅔ ip, 2.03 K/BB, 4.60 FIP, 0.4 fWAR</u></i></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Yairo Munoz</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>165 PAs, 132 wRC+, 4 HR, 6.7% BB, 12.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Sean Nolin</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>6 games, 77 ERA+, 29 ip, 1.25 K/BB, 5.13 FIP, 0.0 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Raul Alcantara</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>15 starts, 3.88 ERA, 48⅔ ip, 29 Ks, 8 BB, 3 HR, 4.00 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Joey Wendle</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>618 PAs, 101 wRC+, 10 HR, 3.6% BB, 18.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>R.J. Alvarez</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>21 games, 41 ERA+, 20 ip, 1.77 K/BB, 7.33 FIP, -0.5 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Rangel Ravelo</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>112 PAs, 86 wRC+, 1 HR, 6.3% BB, 19.6% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><i><u>13</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>Mark Canha</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>1B/OF</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>26</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>MLB</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>485 PAs, 106 wRC+, 16 HR, 6.8% BB, 19.8% Ks, 1.4 fWAR</u></i></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Chad Pinder</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>522 PAs, 135 wRC+, 15 HR, 5.4% BB, 19.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><i><u>15</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>Chris Bassitt</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>RHP</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>26</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>MLB</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>18 games, 113 ERA+, 86 ip, 2.13 K/BB, 3.76 FIP, 1.4 fWAR</u></i></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Dustin Driver</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>14 games, 4.99 ERA, 52⅓ ip, 32 Ks, 35 BB, 4 HR, 5.41 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><i><u>17</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>Billy Burns</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>OF</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>25</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>MLB</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>555 PAs, 102 wRC+, 26 SB, 4.7% BB, 14.6% Ks, 2.3 fWAR</u></i></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><i><u>18</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>Max Muncy</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>1B/3B</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>24</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>MLB</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>112 PAs, 80 wRC+, 3 HR, 8.0% BB, 27.7% Ks, -0.5 fWAR</u></i></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Tyler Ladendorf</td>
<td>IF/OF</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>*AAA</td>
<td>90 PAs, 76 wRC+, 1 HR, 5.6 BB%, 25.6 K%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Daniel Gossett</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>27 starts, 4.73 ERA, 144⅔ ip, 112 Ks, 52 BB, 16 HR, 4.49 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Bobby Wahl</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>24 games, 4.18 ERA, 32⅓ ip, 36 Ks, 14 BB, 2 HR, 3.17 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Chris Kohler</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>11 games, 4.66 ERA, 38⅔ ip, 37 Ks, 10 BB, 2 HR, 3.52 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strike>23</strike></td>
<td><strike>Pat Venditte</strike></td>
<td><strike>SHP</strike></td>
<td><strike>30</strike></td>
<td><strike>MLB</strike></td>
<td><strike>26 games, 93 ERA+, 28⅔ ip, 1.92 K/BB, 4.15 FIP, 0.1 fWAR</strike></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Jaycob Brugman</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>566 PAs, 105 wRC+, 6 HR, 11.0% BB, 15.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Brett Graves</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>28 starts, 5.36 ERA, 142⅔ ip, 91 Ks, 44 BB, 15 HR, 4.49 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Bruce Maxwell</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>381 PAs, 79 wRC+, 2 HR, 10.2% BB, 14.2% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Ryon Healy</td>
<td>3B/1B</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>543 PAs, 113 wRC+, 10 HR, 5.5% BB, 15.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Branden Kelliher</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>RK</td>
<td>Arizona Rookie League</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Dylan Covey</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>26 starts, 3.59 ERA, 140⅓ ip, 100 Ks, 43 BB, 13 HR, 4.60 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Sandber Pimentel</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>471 PAs, 112 wRC+, 13 HR, 10.6% BB, 22.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strike>SU</strike></td>
<td><strike>Colin Walsh</strike></td>
<td><strike>2B</strike></td>
<td><strike>25</strike></td>
<td><strike>AA</strike></td>
<td><strike>619 PAs, 163 wRC+, 13 HR, 20.0% BB, 21.2% Ks</strike></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Ryan Dull</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>13 games, 97 ERA+, 17 ip, 2.67 K/BB, 5.37 FIP, -0.3 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strike>SU</strike></td>
<td><strike>Brendan McCurry</strike></td>
<td><strike>RHP</strike></td>
<td><strike>23</strike></td>
<td><strike>AA</strike></td>
<td><strike>14 games, 1.62 ERA, 16⅔ ip, 26 Ks, 6 BB, 1 HR, 2.04 FIP</strike></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strike>SU</strike></td>
<td><strike>Jose Torres</strike></td>
<td><strike>LHP</strike></td>
<td><strike>21</strike></td>
<td><strike>*A</strike></td>
<td><strike>44 games, 2.69 ERA, 73⅔ ip, 80 Ks, 23 BB, 4 HR, 3.03 FIP</strike></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Aaron Kurcz</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>18 games, 4.15 ERA, 26 ip, 31 Ks, 15 BB, 2 HR, 3.95 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Sean Manaea</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>7 starts, 1.90 ERA, 42⅔ ip, 51 Ks, 15 BB, 3 HR, 2.95 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Daniel Mengden</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>8 starts, 4.25 ERA, 42⅓ ip, 41 Ks, 10 BB, 6 HR, 4.53 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Casey Meisner</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>7 starts, 2.78 ERA, 32⅓ ip, 24 Ks, 7 BB, 1 HR, 3.35 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><i><u>TR</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>Aaron Brooks</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>RHP</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>25</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>MLB</u></i></td>
<td><i><u>11 games, 60 ERA+, 51 ip, 2.50 K/BB, 5.11 FIP, -0.1 fWAR</u></i></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Jacob Nottingham</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>182 PAs, 107 wRC+, 3 HR, 6.6% BB, 20.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Richie Martin</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>226 PAs, 112 wRC+, 2 HR, 11.1% BB, 20.8% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Mikey White</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>145 PAs, 65 wRC+, 1 HR, 6.9% BB, 20.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Skye Bolt</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>206 PAs, 110 wRC+, 4 HR, 11.7% BB, 21.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Kevin Duchene</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>8 games, 4.84 ERA, 22⅓ ip, 18 Ks, 9 BB, 2 HR, 4.41 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Bubba Derby</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>12 games, 0.78 ERA, 34⅔ ip, 45 Ks, 10 BB, 2 HR, 2.54 FIP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/28/10671984/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-brett-lawrie-tradeAlex Hall2015-11-08T18:55:55-08:002015-11-08T18:55:55-08:00Video of Sean Manaea in Fall Stars Game
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<img alt="WE HAVE NEW PICTURES OF SEAN MANAEA!! AND HE'S WEARING AN A'S JERSEY NOW!!" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0X3yM8elJhHjLcgg3iRiHcaaUzM=/0x138:4260x2978/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47613461/usa-today-8910477.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>WE HAVE NEW PICTURES OF SEAN MANAEA!! AND HE'S WEARING AN A'S JERSEY NOW!! | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Arizona Fall League played its annual Fall Stars Game on Saturday, and Oakland A's prospect Sean Manaea started for the East All-Stars. The lefty was dominant over his two scoreless innings, striking out four of the seven batters he faced and allowing just a walk.</p>
<p>Manaea's best pitch is his fastball, and he showed that right out of the gate. In the first inning, he began with four fastballs to the leadoff man, gradually dialing the velocity up as high as 97, and then snapped off a slider high in the zone to induce a swing-and-miss for strike three.</p>
<p>The next two batters saw exclusively heaters -- eight of them in total, six of which were balls. The first of those batters grounded out, but by the time Jurickson Profar had finished walking on four pitches you could start to understand the observations that Manaea's command is still a work in progress. Needing to mix things up, the lefty included at least one slider against Gary Sanchez, and ultimately Sanchez lined out (Gameday doesn't know what type of pitch he lined out on, and I don't remember from the broadcast either). In all, Manaea threw 17 pitches in the 1st, and at least 14 of them were fastballs.</p>
<p>In the second frame, we saw a bit more of his arsenal. The leadoff man saw a changeup early on, and later he got a 95 mph fastball followed by an 81 mph slider in on his hands. At this point the broadcaster made a good observation -- it's not that Manaea's slider is that amazing on its own, but rather he was doing a fantastic job of setting it up with his intimidating fastball (and a bit of "effective wildness," aligning with the aforementioned inconsistent command). How intimidating? Here is danmerqury in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/11/7/9688840/oakland-athletics-fall-stars-game-sean-manaea-chad-pinder-renato-nunez#338489829">comments of our game thread</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Uh, so I just took a quick look at the PITCHf/x data. ...</p>
<p>21 fastballs, 94.8 mph, 10.7 inches of tail, 12.0 inches of rise, and 3150 rpms of backspin (!!!!!). That's 80 grade backspin. That's Sean Doolittle on his best day type of stuff. That's a fastball that matches the scouting reports that used the word "unhittable".</p>
<p>If these readings are calibrated properly (no guarantee of that, of course), Sean Manaea's fastball is Doolittle + tail.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And then, right on cue, Manaea did it again. The second batter of the 2nd inning got three fastballs at 94, 94, and 95, all up-and-in to the lefty hitter, and then a 79 mph slider that began up-and-in but dropped right on the inside corner to freeze him.</p>
<p>The final batter saw something a bit different, as three of his five pitches were classified as cutters. I don't know if that is correct or not, but I do agree that the final Strike 3 did not look like a slider. I wonder if it was actually his changeup, but got misclassified either because he throws so hard or because it simply didn't move like it was supposed to? We're getting beyond my expertise as an eyeball scout, so we'll just leave it at "a tertiary option behind the heater and slider." Either way, the first offspeed pitch stayed up but caught the righty batter looking, the next one was fouled off, and (after another fastball to mix the speeds) the final one broke down around his ankles and got the batter to go too far around on a checked swing.</p>
<p>Here is a video from MLB.com so that you can at least see the highlights. These are the final pitches of each of his four strikeouts, so you're getting three sliders (but not the heaters that set them up) and one of the cutter/change/whatevers.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=528577583&topic_id=7617858&width=400&height=224&property=mlb" width="400" height="224" frameborder="0">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<p>My takeaways from this start:</p>
<p>- Manaea's fastball is for real, which is good since it's supposed to be his top tool. Granted, he won't necessarily be throwing 97 mph when he's making full-length starts, but if he's in the 93-95 range then that's fine. In Dan's quote above, he mentions scouts using the word "unhittable," and that term is straight out of his MLB.com scouting report. I don't think it's an exaggeration.</p>
<p>- He does indeed have work to do on his control and command, but he also showed how he will sometimes be able to get away with some wildness. Effective wildness is not a long-term strategy to rely on, but it gives me a hint that even when things aren't going quite right he might still be able to find ways to retire hitters.</p>
<p>- We got to see a glimpse of his pickoff move. Profar broke too early from first base (on first move, I presume?), but Manaea took so long to get the ball to first (both a slow move <i>and</i> a weak throw) that by the time the first baseman got the ball and relayed it to second base Profar was safe easily. So, mixed results, I suppose; good job catching the runner, but bad job executing the rest of the play to turn it into an out. I don't know if this was just a one-time mistake in a big game when we all happened to be watching, or if this is an area he needs to work on.</p>
<p>- In the interest of full disclosure, I have to share something that I found while researching. All four batters Manaea struck out played in High-A this year, so it's not like he just dominated a bunch of Triple-A hitters and is now definitely ready to debut in Oakland. Granted, these particular High-A hitters were good enough to start in the AFL All-Star Game, and most are in their teams' top-20 lists, but it just seemed noteworthy. The most advanced hitter he faced was Profar, who has MLB experience, but he didn't hit the zone once in that at-bat.</p>
<h3>Pinder & Nunez</h3>
<p>Oh, Chad Pinder (SS) and Renato Nunez (3B) both started as well.</p>
<p>- Pinder played the whole game but didn't have a great day -- he struck out in his first at-bat, grounded out his next time up, and then bounced into a double play in his third trip. Meanwhile, he made an error in the field by flubbing a routine ground ball, though it didn't lead to any runs. However, he did manage to collect a hit in his final at-bat, knocking a sharp single the other way into right field. Pinder is big for a middle infielder, standing 6'2, and after seeing him in the batter's box I'm no longer surprised that he's started hitting for so much power. As for speed, he wasn't burning down the line on his groundouts but he also wasn't butlering either; I'd call his speed average.</p>
<p>- Nunez only got two at-bats and went 0-for-2, with a weak groundout and a strikeout. To his credit, though, he hustled down the line on the groundout -- I believe he beat out the infield hit because the first baseman's foot came off the bag, but the ump ruled that the foot stayed on long enough and Nunez was called out.</p>
<p><i>The Mesa Solar Sox play their next game on Monday at 5:35 p.m. PT.</i></p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/11/8/9693994/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-sean-manaea-fall-stars-game-videoAlex Hall2015-11-02T10:51:14-08:002015-11-02T10:51:14-08:00A's prospect watch: Burns is A's Rookie of the Year
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<img alt="A legit everyday leadoff hitter, just like nobody expected." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PFQ6muc9JtxlI5SsKgaL6YjCSqY=/0x0:3477x2318/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47557697/usa-today-8680890.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>A legit everyday leadoff hitter, just like nobody expected. | Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Before the season began, Athletics Nation voted on its annual Community Prospect List, ranking the 25 best players in the minors. Of those 25, five of them graduated to MLB as rookies in 2015. In addition, one of the prospects Oakland acquired at the July trade deadline stepped right up to the big leagues.</p>
<p>With the season over, it's time to take a look back at how these new guys performed and what we can expect from them next year. Here are the six members of the 2015 rookie class, organized by fWAR because that happens to align with my opinions of them as well:</p>
<p><b>Billy Burns</b>, CF<br><b>Mark Canha</b>, 1B/LF<br><b>Chris Bassitt</b>, RHP<br><b>Kendall Graveman</b>, RHP<br><b>Aaron Brooks</b>, RHP<br><b>Max Muncy</b>, 1B/3B</p>
<p>In order to graduate, a player must rack up 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched, or 45 days of service time on the 25-man roster (excluding September call-ups). The first four guys on the list reached those thresholds easily, but Brooks just barely cleared the 50 innings and Muncy actually made it via service time despite only getting 102 at-bats (112 plate appearances).</p>
<p>There were several other notable prospects who appeared in Oakland but didn't achieve rookie status: LHP <b>Sean Nolin</b>, RHP <b>R.J. Alvarez</b>, utilityman <b>Tyler Ladendorf</b>, RHP <b>Arnold Leon</b> and RHP <b>Ryan Dull</b> will all still be eligible for the 2016 list. <b>Pat Venditte</b> didn't pitch enough to graduate, but sadly he is now on the Blue Jays after being claimed off waivers so he is out of the picture for that reason.</p>
<p><i>For the full 2015 list, as well as a list of the different categories that I've separated the prospects into, scroll to the bottom of the post.</i></p>
<h3>Billy Burns | CF</h3>
<p><b>No. 17 prospect on preseason list</b></p>
<p><b>2015 playing time:</b> 125 games, 555 plate appearances<br><b>Batting:</b> .294/.334/.392, 100 OPS+, 5 HR, 26-for-34 SB, 26 BB, 81 Ks<br><b>Defense:</b> +4 DRS, -5.2 UZR (in 1,066 innings)<br><b>Value:</b> 2.3 fWAR, 2.8 bWAR</p>
<p>Burns is a reminder that we never <i>really</i> know how a young player will turn out. More often than not that means a can't-miss guy falls short of expectations, but in this case it was the opposite -- he didn't just reach his ceiling, he blasted through it. He initially seemed to profile as a fourth outfielder, but by early May he got his first real shot in the bigs when all other options had gotten hurt or failed (Coco Crisp, Craig Gentry, Cody Ross). Burns ran with it and never looked back, providing a surprisingly consistent presence both in CF and at the top of the lineup. His reliability was especially nice in a year when everything else on the roster seemed to be a daily game of mix-and-match. His batting average by month:</p>
<p>May: .327<br>June: .307<br>July: .258<br>Aug: .288<br>Sept: .284</p>
<p>In those first couple months, Burns did a lot of his damage by ambushing pitchers and swinging on the first pitch, but even when the novelty wore off and the league began to adjust, Burns adjusted right back and kept producing. All told, he swung at the first pitch 49.8% of the time, second among qualified MLB hitters behind only Marlon Byrd. He put that first pitch in play 118 times in his 555 PAs, resulting in a fantastic .479 average and 1.193 OPS. (Brett Lawrie put the first pitch in play 75 times, second-most on the team.) It turns out he can also do this:</p>
<p><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=413907283&topic_id=6479266&width=400&height=224&property=mlb" width="400" height="224" frameborder="0">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<p>Ah, but what happened when the at-bat lasted more than one pitch? Burns led all qualified MLB hitters in a stat I've never noticed before, from Baseball-Reference -- Foul Ball Strike Percentage, calculated by dividing pitches fouled off by total strikes seen. Burns' mark was 37.7%, edging out Pablo Sandoval and a few points ahead of Brandon Belt and Adam Jones. He swung a lot (5th-highest rate in MLB), and he didn't miss much when he did, and that's a recipe for lots of contact and pesky, extended at-bats. It's also a recipe to keep putting yourself in position to get pitches you can hit, because the pitcher has to keep coming after you -- after all, no one wants to give an elite speedster a free pass on base by walking him.</p>
<p>And of course, that speed remains the key to Burns' game. It helps him beat out infield hits (30 of them, 5th in MLB), it allows him to steal bases (26 of them, 9th in MLB), and it leads to some spectacular diving catches in the outfield. That said, though, there is improvement to be made in the latter two areas of that list -- he didn't run nearly as often as it seemed like he should, especially given that at least half of the eight times he was caught were either because he overslid the bag after making it easily or because the umpires incorrectly overturned a call on replay (in my humble opinion). He also wasn't necessarily a <i>good</i> fielder despite his frequent highlight reel grabs, often using his speed to make up for a bad route to a ball, but at his best he made absolutely dazzling plays.</p>
<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="2I9b6az"><a href="//imgur.com/2I9b6az">View post on imgur.com</a></blockquote>
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<p>Burns made his share of rookie mistakes, but between his sparkplug bat, his lightning speed, his steady-enough hand in center, and his consistent everyday presence, he was easily the top rookie on the team this year. It's tough to say if this is as good as it gets for him or if he can continue to improve -- after all, he was never really supposed to be <i>this</i> good in the first place. But he seems to have mastered switch-hitting over the last few years, so can he continue to cut down on his popups, become more aggressive on the basepaths, and/or improve his instincts on defense? We'll find out next year, but at least there's enough substance here that I'm confident he won't be a Jemile Weeks-type one-year wonder. And, with Coco looking like he might be done as a regular, the timing is perfect for Burns to take the torch in CF.</p>
<h3>Mark Canha | 1B/LF</h3>
<p><b>No. 13 prospect on preseason list</b></p>
<p><b>2015 playing time:</b> 124 games, 485 plate appearances<br><b>Batting:</b> .254/.315/.426, 102 OPS+, 16 HR, 7-for-9 SB, 33 BB, 96 Ks<br><b>Defense, 1B:</b> -3 DRS, -2.9 UZR (in 538 innings)<br><b>Defense, LF:</b> -1 DRS, +1.3 UZR (in 414 innings)<br><b>Value:</b> 1.4 fWAR, 1.1 bWAR</p>
<p>Nobody knew what to expect out of Canha this year. He was a complete unknown, as a 26-year-old without eye-popping minor league numbers. But the A's went to lengths to acquire him after the Rule 5 draft, and their comments about him at the time made it clear that he was a part of their plans.</p>
<p>He showed some power early in the year, but between inconsistent playing time and a stomach illness that visibly affected him for a bit, his numbers were somewhere between pedestrian and subpar. And then, just as it started to look like he might not pan out after all, Ike Davis went down for the year and Oakland finally gave Canha a shot to play every day at first base. Beginning on Aug. 12, he started 46 of the remaining 48 games, and he put up the following line:</p>
<p><b>Canha, since 8/12:</b> .285/.347/.487 (.834 OPS), 8 HR, 15 BB, 40 Ks, in 213 PAs</p>
<p>If he can do that for a full season, he's a star. If he can do a notch down from that (say, .750-.800 OPS) then he's a solid everyday player. At the very least he's going to hit for some power, which is in short supply in Oakland right now.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=466069083&topic_id=6479266&width=400&height=224&property=mlb" width="400" height="224" frameborder="0">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<p>There's more to Canha's game than power, though. He's got more speed than you would expect from his strong frame, and that allows him to beat out some infield hits and even swipe a few bases. His defense at first base looked adequate to my eye, and while he initially looked a bit cumbersome in LF he did improve as the year went on. Add in his decent plate discipline, and you're looking at a guy who doesn't have a particular weakness in his game while bringing a noteworthy strength (power) and a bit of defensive versatility. That's the kind of player the A's could use more of. At this point, I have Canha penciled into the everyday lineup in 2016, and the only question left is which position he'll play (based on how the roster shapes up around him).</p>
<h3>Chris Bassitt | RHP</h3>
<p><b>No. 15 prospect on preseason list</b></p>
<p><b>2015 playing time:</b> 13 starts, 5 relief outings, 86 innings (113 ERA+)<br><b>In starts:</b> 3.58 ERA, 75⅓ ip, 56 Ks, 21 BB, 4 HR, 3.41 FIP<br><b>In relief:</b> 3.38 ERA, 10⅔ ip, 8 Ks, 9 BB, 1 HR, 6.23 FIP<br><b>Value:</b> 1.4 fWAR, 1.2 bWAR</p>
<p>Before the season, it was unclear whether Bassitt was best-suited as a starter or a reliever. The more specific question was whether he could learn to consistently retire left-handed batters, a necessity for someone who wants to face an entire lineup rather than match up up one inning at a time out of the pen. He bided his time in the early going, making starts for Triple-A and spending a brief stint in the A's bullpen, and then he finally cracked Oakland's rotation on June 30. One good start earned him another, and then another, and before long he'd done the following through nine starts:</p>
<p><b>Bassitt, first 9 starts:</b> 2.31 ERA, 58⅓ ip, 45 Ks, 10 BB, 4 HR</p>
<p>He was even giving Sonny Gray a run for his money at the top of the rotation. But then, in his 10th start, he looked a bit off and got knocked out in the 5th ... and then, naturally, he went on the shelf for a month with a shoulder injury. Welcome to the 2015 A's! Fortunately, the injury wasn't serious and Bassitt returned for a few more games at the end of the season, though his last three starts were pretty shaky (11 runs and 7 walks in 12⅔ innings combined).</p>
<p>On an encouraging note, he held his own against lefties overall:</p>
<p><b>Bassitt vs. RHB:</b> .279/.342/.390, 18.8% Ks, 5.4% BB (3.50 K/BB)<br><b>Bassitt vs. LHB:</b> .217/.313/.337, 17.0% Ks, 10.4% BB (1.64 K/BB)</p>
<p>The K/BB ratios are a better indicator there than the batting averages, so these stats aren't meant to suggest that he is now <i>better</i> against lefties. But he also didn't fall apart against them, either.</p>
<p>So, what to make of all of that? There was enough success to get excited, but not enough to guarantee anything next year. He's got serious velocity, sitting around 93-95 and able to touch 97, but there are still questions about his command. His secondary pitches (slider, low-70s curveball, change) worked well, but was that real improvement or a small-sample fluke? Was his shoulder injury a one-time thing, or a result of his high-effort delivery that will recur with big workloads? You've got to assume he's a frontrunner to make the 2016 rotation, but from there we'll have to wait and see.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bassitt the bunny. Why not hound? <a href="http://t.co/10V69su8zb">pic.twitter.com/10V69su8zb</a></p>
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) <a href="https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/648285599086985216">September 27, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
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<h3>Kendall Graveman | RHP</h3>
<p><b>No. 6 prospect on preseason list</b></p>
<p><b>2015 playing time:</b> 21 starts, 115⅔ innings (100 ERA+)<br><b>In starts:</b> 4.05 ERA, 115⅔ ip, 77 Ks, 38 BB, 15 HR, 4.60 FIP<br><b>Value:</b> 0.4 fWAR, 1.4 bWAR</p>
<p>Unlike the others on this list, Graveman got his chance right out of the gate. He made four starts in April ... but he simply didn't look like he belonged in MLB, failing to hit his spots or throw strikes or get his sinker down. He finished five innings only once in those four tries.</p>
<p>He went down to Triple-A for a month, and when he returned he looked like the guy we had expected to see. At his best, he ripped off six straight outings of at least 7 innings and 0-2 runs, showing how he can quickly chew through lineups when he's on his game. He came back to Earth and mixed in a few more stinkers before his season ended in late August with a strained oblique, but by that point he had shown what he can do and whetted our appetites for 2016.</p>
<p><b>Graveman, first 4 starts:</b> 8.27 ERA, 16⅓ ip, 7 Ks, 9 BB, 3 HR, 43.8% GB<br><b>Graveman, last 17 starts:</b> 3.35 ERA, 99⅓ ip, 70 Ks, 29 BB, 12 HR, 51.3% GB</p>
<p>The odd stat about Graveman is that, despite being a pitch-to-contact guy who relies primarily on his 90-92 mph sinker, his groundball rate wasn't <i>that</i> great -- 50.0% of his batted balls, good for 33rd in MLB among 133 starters with at least 100 innings. That's alright, but consider that 25 of the 32 guys ahead of him on that list also had superior strikeout rates, and you can see where he begins to fall behind the pack. If groundballs are going to be Graveman's biggest real weapon (if not his <i>only</i> weapon), then he needs to be among the league leaders in that capacity. As you can see in the stats above, he did improve in this regard after his stint back down in the minors, but if he wants to be more than a back-end starter then I'd like to see that figure jump to at least 55%, if not higher.</p>
<p>Overall, Graveman's season profiled like a No. 5 starter, stringing together some good games but also getting blown up plenty of times. If that's what he remains, then he looks like he can at least be an innings eater at the back of the rotation. But there's still upside here, and if he can more consistently keep the ball on the ground then he could still find himself panning out into a No. 3 or 4 starter.</p>
<h3>Aaron Brooks | RHP</h3>
<p><b>2015 playing time:</b> 9 starts, 2 relief outings, 51 innings (60 ERA+)<br><b>In starts:</b> 6.33 ERA, 48⅓ ip, 34 Ks, 13 BB, 8 HR, 4.93 FIP<br><b>In relief:</b> 13.53 ERA, 2⅔ ip, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 HR<br><b>Value:</b> -0.1 fWAR, -0.9 bWAR</p>
<p><i>* Only counts stats with A's; excludes 2 relief outings with Royals</i></p>
<p><b>Note: I just wrote about Brooks last week in the </b><a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/10/29/9491949/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-sean-manaea-jacob-nottingham"><b>New Acquisitions</b></a><b> category. Parts of this section are copied from that post.</b></p>
<p>Oakland received Brooks from the Royals as a secondary piece in the Ben Zobrist trade. He is especially good at one thing, and that is throwing strikes. They're not always good strikes, but throughout his professional career he has done a great job of avoiding walks. His fastball is usually around 90-92 but can hit 93, and he mixes in a change, a slider, and a curve.</p>
<p>It is not yet clear if Brooks belongs as a starter or a reliever, but with the season already lost the A's took the free opportunity to try him out in the rotation. It began well, as he looked fantastic in his first two starts -- Nico had the eyeball scouting reports, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/6/9110807/pre-eyeball-scout-aaron-brooks-makes-2nd-start-tonight">here</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/7/9119263/eyeball-scout-surprised-by-aaron-brooks-2nd-start">here</a>. But he got shelled in Toronto in his third game and had to take a brief trip to Triple-A due to a roster squeeze before resuming his role in Oakland. In his final six starts, he was quality three times and disastrous the other three -- in other words, he was a No. 5 starter.</p>
<p>So the question remains: Should Brooks be a starter or a reliever? I could go either way on him as we enter the offseason, and there's no point deciding now until we know what the team needs in March. If the A's rotation depth is tested before Opening Day, then it's worth keeping him stretched out because he can probably at least eat some innings in the No. 5 slot if need be. But if there are seven or eight healthy options ahead of him, I'd rather see if his mediocre stuff can play up in shorter relief stints, as many other fringe Quad-A starters have done around the league in recent years. Only time will tell if he can stick in Oakland, and what role he'll play if he does.</p>
<h3>Max Muncy | 1B/3B</h3>
<p><b>2015 playing time:</b> 45 games, 112 plate appearances<br><b>Batting:</b> .206/.268/.392, 79 OPS+, 3 HR, 9 BB, 31 Ks<br><b>Defense, 1B:</b> 0 DRS, -1.0 UZR (in 145 innings)<br><b>Defense, 3B:</b> 0 DRS, -2.4 UZR (in 90 innings)<br><b>Value:</b> -0.5 fWAR, -0.1 bWAR</p>
<p>I didn't really expect Muncy to graduate this year, or even debut at all, but the A's many injuries forced the issue. He spent a lot of time on the bench in Oakland, but he played enough that we at least got a feel for his game.</p>
<p>At the plate, Muncy's calling card is patience. He works long at-bats, and his 4.38 pitches per plate appearance were more or less tops on the team (Carson Blair edged him out in a handful of PAs). His batting eye is truly top-notch, and that brings with it good news and bad news. The good news is that he really seems to use that selectivity to find a pitch to hit rather than just for the sake of working counts and looking for free passes. The bad news is that when he got his pitch and swung at it, he usually didn't do much with it. His walk is worse than his bite, if you will. That said, there <i>is</i> some power here, and his .186 isolated slugging is frankly better than I remembered.</p>
<p>On defense, Muncy is more mobile than you would guess by looking at him and he's not afraid to get his uniform dirty. At times he would make a nice play I wasn't expecting, and at other times he would make an ugly error or rookie mistake. I do think there is average-or-better 1B defense in him given more practice, but I'm still not convinced that he'll ever be anything more than an emergency backup at 3B.</p>
<p>It's not impossible that Muncy could still develop into a serviceable bench player, filling in at a couple of positions and contributing some walks and a bit of pop at the plate. Honestly, I'm not terribly optimistic about him, and right now he's one of those red-flag type players to me -- that is, if he's on the active roster, it means that something else went wrong. I'd rather see Canha or Rangel Ravelo or even Stephen Vogt playing 1B, and I'd rather see Danny Valencia or Brett Lawrie at the hot corner. But hey, it's nice to know that there's at least a backup plan in Triple-A, and even better that it's a 25-year-old who might have a bit of upside remaining.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">And Max Muncy: <a href="http://t.co/gs5qDoIYBh">pic.twitter.com/gs5qDoIYBh</a></p>
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) <a href="https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/648287940624277504">September 28, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>Final Comments</h3>
<p>The A's are a team that needs to build primarily from within. The real impact prospects are still on the way (and getting closer!), but in 2015 Oakland did a good job of identifying some future contributors from lower down the ranks. This rookie class yielded two guys who I truly want in the starting lineup next year (Burns, Canha), as well as two pitchers who I think will be legitimate starters in the 2016 rotation (Bassitt, Graveman) and a couple of depth guys (Brooks, Muncy), and only one of these six players was even in our preseason top 10. That's what Warriors broadcaster Bob Fitzgerald would call "found money."</p>
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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a target="_blank" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" href="https://instagram.com/p/8J4yFwytbu/">The Oakland A's dress up day. #LAHereWeCome #DressUp</a></p>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Josh Reddick (@realjoshreddick) on <time datetime="2015-09-28T00:40:00+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Sep 27, 2015 at 5:40pm PDT</time></p>
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</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>The categories:</p>
<p>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/28/8964889/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-kendall-graveman-billy-burns">The Graduates</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/30/9055049/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-pat-venditte-barry-zito" target="_blank">The MLB Pitching Depth</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/1/9083103/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-dillon-overton-raul-alcantara/in/7182938">The Young Hurlers</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/2/9085545/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-daniel-gossett-chris-kohler">The Even Younger Hurlers</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/6/9093465/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-chad-pinder-franklin-barreto-joey-wendle">The Middle Infielders</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/8/9119391/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-matt-olson-renato-nunez">The Corner Sluggers: 1B</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/13/9121839/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-matt-chapman-max-muncy">The Corner Sluggers: 3B</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/20/9160335/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-tyler-ladendorf-sandber-pimentel" target="_blank">The Best of the Rest</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/26/9203677/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-colin-walsh-ryan-dull-brendan-mccurry" target="_blank">Stepping up in 2015</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/31/9226113/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-jesus-lopez-jose-torres" target="_blank">New International Standouts</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/9/2/9231211/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-carson-blair-aaron-kurcz" target="_blank">Final Names of Note</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/9/8/9273673/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-mikey-white-richie-martin">The 2015 Draft</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/10/29/9491949/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-sean-manaea-jacob-nottingham" target="_blank">The New Acquisitions</a></p>
<p>***</p>
<h3>The List</h3>
<p>Each player is listed at the level at which he finished the 2015 season (except where noted), and his stats only include his performance at that current level. The levels refer to the Nashville Sounds (AAA), the Midland RockHounds (AA), the High-A Stockton Ports (A+), the Single-A Beloit Snappers (A), the short-season Low-A Vermont Lake Monsters (A-), and the Arizona Rookie League (RK). For the hitters, I am going to focus less on raw numbers and more on league-adjusted stats (wRC+) and rates (K% and BB%).</p>
<p>The list has been expanded to include the five new July trade acquisitions (stats listed are since their acquisitions), as well as five of the top June draft picks (first six picks minus third-round pick Dakota Chalmers, who is still in Rookie ball). There are also five more 2015 standouts, labelled SU (Stepping Up).</p>
<p id="paragraph47"><i><b>* The following recent transactions are not reflected:</b> <b>Tyler Ladendorf</b> was promoted from Triple-A Nashville to MLB; <b>Jose Torres</b> was promoted to from Single-A Beloit to High-A Stockton. ... Sean Nolin (MLB), R.J. Alvarez (MLB), Max Muncy (MLB), Pat Venditte (MLB), Ryan Dull (MLB), Rangel Ravelo (AAA), Dillon Overton (AA), Brendan McCurry (AA), Yairo Munoz (A+), and Mikey White (A) received midseason promotions and I've only included their stats at their new, higher levels. ... Aaron Kurcz spent time in the Braves' system, but I've only included his stats from Triple-A Nashville.</i></p>
<table border="0">
<caption><b>Oakland A's 2015 Community Prospect List (stats thru Sept. 8)</b></caption>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>#</b></td>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Pos</b></td>
<td><b>Age</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015 Stats</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Matt Olson</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>585 PAs, 132 wRC+, 17 HR, 17.9% BB, 23.8% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Franklin Barreto</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>364 PAs, 122 wRC+, 13 HR, 4.1% BB, 18.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Matt Chapman</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>352 PAs, 139 wRC+, 23 HR, 11.1% BB, 22.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Renato Nunez</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>416 PAs, 124 wRC+, 18 HR, 6.7% BB, 15.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Dillon Overton</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>13 starts, 3.06 ERA, 64⅔ ip, 47 Ks, 15 BB, 4 HR, 3.34 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Kendall Graveman</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>21 starts, 100 ERA+, 115⅔ ip, 2.03 K/BB, 4.60 FIP, 0.4 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Yairo Munoz</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>165 PAs, 132 wRC+, 4 HR, 6.7% BB, 12.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Sean Nolin</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>6 games, 77 ERA+, 29 ip, 1.25 K/BB, 5.13 FIP, 0.0 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Raul Alcantara</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>15 starts, 3.88 ERA, 48⅔ ip, 29 Ks, 8 BB, 3 HR, 4.00 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Joey Wendle</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>618 PAs, 101 wRC+, 10 HR, 3.6% BB, 18.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>R.J. Alvarez</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>21 games, 41 ERA+, 20 ip, 1.77 K/BB, 7.33 FIP, -0.5 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Rangel Ravelo</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>112 PAs, 86 wRC+, 1 HR, 6.3% BB, 19.6% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Mark Canha</td>
<td>1B/OF</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>485 PAs, 106 wRC+, 16 HR, 6.8% BB, 19.8% Ks, 1.4 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Chad Pinder</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>522 PAs, 135 wRC+, 15 HR, 5.4% BB, 19.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Chris Bassitt</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>18 games, 113 ERA+, 86 ip, 2.13 K/BB, 3.76 FIP, 1.4 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Dustin Driver</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>14 games, 4.99 ERA, 52⅓ ip, 32 Ks, 35 BB, 4 HR, 5.41 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Billy Burns</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>555 PAs, 102 wRC+, 26 SB, 4.7% BB, 14.6% Ks, 2.3 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Max Muncy</td>
<td>1B/3B</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>112 PAs, 80 wRC+, 3 HR, 8.0% BB, 27.7% Ks, -0.5 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Tyler Ladendorf</td>
<td>IF/OF</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>*AAA</td>
<td>90 PAs, 76 wRC+, 1 HR, 5.6 BB%, 25.6 K%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Daniel Gossett</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>27 starts, 4.73 ERA, 144⅔ ip, 112 Ks, 52 BB, 16 HR, 4.49 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Bobby Wahl</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>24 games, 4.18 ERA, 32⅓ ip, 36 Ks, 14 BB, 2 HR, 3.17 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Chris Kohler</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>11 games, 4.66 ERA, 38⅔ ip, 37 Ks, 10 BB, 2 HR, 3.52 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Pat Venditte</td>
<td>SHP</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>26 games, 93 ERA+, 28⅔ ip, 1.92 K/BB, 4.15 FIP, 0.1 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Jaycob Brugman</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>566 PAs, 105 wRC+, 6 HR, 11.0% BB, 15.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Brett Graves</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>28 starts, 5.36 ERA, 142⅔ ip, 91 Ks, 44 BB, 15 HR, 4.49 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Bruce Maxwell</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>381 PAs, 79 wRC+, 2 HR, 10.2% BB, 14.2% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Ryon Healy</td>
<td>3B/1B</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>543 PAs, 113 wRC+, 10 HR, 5.5% BB, 15.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Branden Kelliher</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>RK</td>
<td>Arizona Rookie League</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Dylan Covey</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>26 starts, 3.59 ERA, 140⅓ ip, 100 Ks, 43 BB, 13 HR, 4.60 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Sandber Pimentel</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>471 PAs, 112 wRC+, 13 HR, 10.6% BB, 22.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Colin Walsh</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>619 PAs, 163 wRC+, 13 HR, 20.0% BB, 21.2% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Ryan Dull</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>13 games, 97 ERA+, 17 ip, 2.67 K/BB, 5.37 FIP, -0.3 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Brendan McCurry</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>14 games, 1.62 ERA, 16⅔ ip, 26 Ks, 6 BB, 1 HR, 2.04 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Jose Torres</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>*A</td>
<td>44 games, 2.69 ERA, 73⅔ ip, 80 Ks, 23 BB, 4 HR, 3.03 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Aaron Kurcz</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>18 games, 4.15 ERA, 26 ip, 31 Ks, 15 BB, 2 HR, 3.95 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Sean Manaea</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>7 starts, 1.90 ERA, 42⅔ ip, 51 Ks, 15 BB, 3 HR, 2.95 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Daniel Mengden</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>8 starts, 4.25 ERA, 42⅓ ip, 41 Ks, 10 BB, 6 HR, 4.53 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Casey Meisner</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>7 starts, 2.78 ERA, 32⅓ ip, 24 Ks, 7 BB, 1 HR, 3.35 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Aaron Brooks</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>11 games, 60 ERA+, 51 ip, 2.50 K/BB, 5.11 FIP, -0.1 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Jacob Nottingham</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>182 PAs, 107 wRC+, 3 HR, 6.6% BB, 20.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Richie Martin</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>226 PAs, 112 wRC+, 2 HR, 11.1% BB, 20.8% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Mikey White</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>145 PAs, 65 wRC+, 1 HR, 6.9% BB, 20.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Skye Bolt</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>206 PAs, 110 wRC+, 4 HR, 11.7% BB, 21.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Kevin Duchene</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>8 games, 4.84 ERA, 22⅓ ip, 18 Ks, 9 BB, 2 HR, 4.41 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Bubba Derby</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>12 games, 0.78 ERA, 34⅔ ip, 45 Ks, 10 BB, 2 HR, 2.54 FIP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/11/2/9650358/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-billy-burns-rookie-of-the-yearAlex Hall2015-10-29T22:46:21-07:002015-10-29T22:46:21-07:00A's prospect watch: Manaea & the great deadline haul
<figure>
<img alt="Still the only picture we have of Manaea." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kI1UNwqA10SK_69VQjdLUw2M-t0=/0x969:3300x3169/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47549847/usa-today-8410539.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Still the only picture we have of Manaea. | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Before the season began, Athletics Nation voted on its annual Community Prospect List, ranking the 25 best players in the minors. With the season over, it's time for us to take a look at how those top prospects performed. For the full 2015 list, as well as a list of the different categories that I've separated the prospects into, scroll to the bottom of the post.</p>
<p>Today, we will look at <b>The New Acquisitions</b>. Obviously, none of these guys made the preseason list, because none of them were in the organization last winter. All of them except Brooks should crack various levels of the 2016 list, though. I've split them up based on the trades they were acquired in.</p>
<h4><b>From Royals for Ben Zobrist</b></h4>
<p><b>LHP Sean Manaea</b> (Double-A)<br><b>RHP Aaron Brooks</b> (MLB)</p>
<h4><b>From Astros for Scott Kazmir</b></h4>
<p><b>C Jacob Nottingham</b> (High-A)<br><b>RHP Daniel Mengden</b> (High-A)</p>
<h4>From Mets for Tyler Clippard</h4>
<p><b>RHP Casey Meisner</b> (High-A)</p>
<p>***</p>
<p><i>Tip of the hat to MLB.com, with their scouting reports and scouting grades -- the "Best tools" are based on the grades given on MLB.com on the 20-to-80 scale, including (for position players) <b>Hit, Power, Speed, Arm, Fielding</b>, and (for pitchers) <b>Fastball, Curveball, Slider, Changeup, Control</b>.</i></p>
<p><i>***</i></p>
<p><i>Note: Ages refer to the ages they played at in 2015.</i></p>
<h3>Sean Manaea | LHP | Age 23</h3>
<p><b>Current level: Double-A</b> (Midland RockHounds)</p>
<p><b>2015 Midland stats:</b> 7 starts, 1.90 ERA, 42⅔ innings, 51 Ks, 15 BB, 3 HR, 2.95 FIP<br><b>2015 Postseason:</b> 2 starts, 1.20 ERA, 15 innings, 15 Ks, 2 BB, 1 HR, 10 hits<br><b>2015 AZ Fall League:</b> 3 starts, 6.75 ERA, 12 innings, 13 Ks, 3 BB, 0 HR, 13 hits</p>
<p><b>Best tools:</b> Fastball, Slider</p>
<p>We've covered Manaea a lot on this site since his acquisition, so <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/29/9071635/oakland-as-trades-sean-manaea-aaron-brooks-ben-zobrist" target="_blank">his story</a> may be familiar to you already. He was expected to be among the top few picks of the 2013 draft, but injuries deflated his value -- the short version is that he suffered a torn labrum in his hip, and for the long version you can check out <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/royals-manaea-agree-on-3-55-million/" target="_blank">this summary by Jim Callis at Baseball America</a>. The tear required surgery (which he later had) but is not expected to affect him in the future (and it hasn't). What it <i>did</i> affect was his draft position, as he fell from the top of the first round to No. 34. The Royals snatched him up and paid him like the No. 6 pick, which Callis notes was a record-setting bonus for a supplemental first-round selection.</p>
<p>The takeaways from that background are that Manaea has elite talent and that his biggest downside was a college injury that is no longer relevant. For more on the nature of that talent, here is <a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015/#list=oak" target="_blank">MLB.com with the scouting report</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Manaea can get swings and misses with his fastball like few other pitcher in the Minors. He throws his heater at 90-96 mph, and it seems quicker than that because his delivery features good extension and downhill plane and imparts life. He doesn't have a second plus pitch, but his improving slider is a solid offering and his changeup is effective and features some fade.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And that's the least optimistic thing I've read about his slider. <a href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/7/28/9060889/prospects-in-ben-zobrist-trade-reports-on-sean-manaea-aaron-brooks-royals-athletics" target="_blank">John Sickels says</a> both the slider and change show signs of being plus pitches, and <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/scouting-the-prospects-in-the-zobristpapelbon-trades/" target="_blank">Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs</a> likes both offerings as well. <a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/eyewitness_pit.php?reportid=299" target="_blank">Tucker Blair of Baseball Prospectus</a> describes Manaea as having "three average or better offerings and an easy delivery ... a loose arm and hides the ball well out of his hand." (Later in the MLB.com summary, he's credited with having "an unhittable fastball at times.") Here's one shot of a breaking ball in action:</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.milb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=447669083&width=400&height=224&property=milb" width="400" height="224" frameborder="0">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<p>Manaea is big and left-handed, and he has excellent stuff. However, all of those reports note that his control and command leave something to be desired. And because <a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=16432" target="_blank">those two terms</a> get thrown around a lot without explanation, I'll note that "control" generally refers to a pitcher's ability to broadly hit the strike zone, while "command" is his ability to go beyond that and hit the catcher's mitt in the specific spot where the pitch was supposed to go (and is sometimes expanded to include things like pitch sequencing and changing speeds and the ability to follow a larger game plan). I take all of that to mean that Manaea is still learning to harness his top-notch stuff, which sounds standard for a 23-year-old who has barely thrown 200 professional innings. Some guys eventually figure it out and some don't, but at least this guy can overpower his share of hitters with his fastball in the meantime.</p>
<p>As for his 2015 results, the bad news is that he only threw 74 innings so there isn't much to see. A couple of non-arm injuries (groin and abdominal) delayed his season debut, and his first five starts came in Rookie Ball and High-A. By the time he made it to the Royals' Double-A squad, it was already late July and he only made two starts before being traded to Oakland. He made seven starts for the RockHounds, plus two more in the playoffs, but as you can see his season was a bit of a rollercoaster as he moved from team to team (and as a RockHound, the Texas League opposition was admittedly weak). His dominant small-sample numbers speak for themselves, but there's still a lot to prove.</p>
<p>In other words, we'll have to wait and see what happens next year. Manaea has huge, unteachable strengths, as well as moderate, potentially fixable weaknesses. He has an injury history, but it's almost completely non-arm-related. He's having mixed results in the Arizona Fall League, but the AFL is generally considered a hitters' league and he's still racking up strikeouts. The most likely scenario has him opening 2016 in Triple-A Nashville, and beyond that it's up to your imagination -- if he stays healthy and continues to dominate then he could even reach Oakland sometime next season. If I had to bet on one guy to become Oakland's next ace (or pair with Sonny Gray as co-aces), I'd put my money on Manaea.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mesa notes: Manaea settling in with Oakland <a href="https://t.co/69hOHbuaxe">https://t.co/69hOHbuaxe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/baseball?src=hash">#baseball</a> <a href="https://t.co/9hw3JAlSOa">pic.twitter.com/9hw3JAlSOa</a></p>
— MiLB Allstars (@MiLB_Allstars) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiLB_Allstars/status/657971892737961984">October 24, 2015</a>
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<h3>Aaron Brooks | RHP | Age 25</h3>
<p><b>Current level: MLB</b> (Oakland Athletics)</p>
<p><b>2015 Oakland stats*:</b> 11 games, 6.71 ERA, 51 innings, 35 Ks, 14 BB, 9 HR, 5.11 FIP<br><b>2015 Triple-A stats**:</b> 20 games, 3.56 ERA, 118⅔ innings, 103 Ks, 21 BB, 10 HR, 3.52 FIP</p>
<p><i>* Does not count 2 MLB appearances with Royals; of 11 games, 9 were starts<br>** 18 games for Omaha Storm Chasers, 2 games for Nashville Sounds; FIP is estimated by averaging his mark from each team (weighted for number of innings)</i></p>
<p>Brooks is especially good at one thing, and that is throwing strikes. They're not always good strikes, but throughout his professional career he has done a great job of avoiding walks. Let's start with a report <a href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/7/28/9060889/prospects-in-ben-zobrist-trade-reports-on-sean-manaea-aaron-brooks-royals-athletics" target="_blank">from John Sickels</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>As you would expect from his profile he is not a hard-thrower, topping out at 93 MPH and averaging around 91. He relies heavily on his change-up and will mix in some sliders. Control is his best attribute and he does a good job eating innings in Triple-A, though his margin for error is thin. He is generally seen as a Quadruple-A pitcher but under the right conditions he could be useful as a fifth starter or bullpen option.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Jim Callis had similar things to say <a href="http://jimcallis.mlblogs.com/2014/03/24/more-on-the-royals-aaron-brooks/comment-page-1/" target="_blank">at MLB.com</a> in spring of 2014, calling Brooks a "finesse right-hander" and noting his four-pitch arsenal (including a curve). The question is whether he is best suited as a starter or a reliever. At the time of the trade, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/scouting-the-prospects-in-the-zobristpapelbon-trades/" target="_blank">Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs</a> seemed to lean toward the latter, suggesting Brooks could wind up as a "solid 7th inning guy with some slight adjustments" and mentioning that "[h]is flyball tendency will play better in Oakland's big park." <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/trade-central-zobrist-gives-royals-options/">J.J. Cooper of Baseball America</a> throws in an A.J. Griffin comp as a best-case, due to "an average fastball and a power breaking ball."</p>
<p>Nevertheless, with the season already lost, the A's took the free opportunity to try Brooks out in the rotation. It started out well, as he looked fantastic in his first two starts -- Nico had the eyeball scouting reports, <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/6/9110807/pre-eyeball-scout-aaron-brooks-makes-2nd-start-tonight" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/7/9119263/eyeball-scout-surprised-by-aaron-brooks-2nd-start" target="_blank">here</a>. But he got shelled in Toronto in his third game and had to take a brief trip to Triple-A due to a roster squeeze before resuming his role in Oakland. In his final six starts, he was quality three times and disastrous the other three. So, in other words he was a No. 5 starter. Here's what he looks like when he's good -- batters chasing his breaking balls for whiffs, and the mistakes dying on the warning track:</p>
<p><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=341549783&topic_id=6479266&width=400&height=224&property=mlb" width="400" height="224" frameborder="0">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<p>I could go either way on him as we enter the offseason. If the A's rotation depth is tested before Opening Day, then it's worth keeping Brooks stretched out because he can probably at least eat some innings. But if there are seven or eight healthy options ahead of him, I'd rather see if his mediocre stuff can play up in shorter relief stints, as many other fringe Quad-A starters have done around the league in recent years. Brooks has exceeded 50 MLB innings, so he's graduated from prospect status, but time will tell if he can stick in Oakland and what role he'll play if he does.</p>
<p>Finally, we must appreciate Brooks' all-sport name. There was the NFL quarterback Aaron Brooks, who spent most of the '00s being awful for the Saints (and briefly the Raiders). There is the NBA point guard Aaron Brooks, who came up with the Rockets and now plays for the Bulls. And now baseball has one. Get with the program, hockey.</p>
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<h3>Jacob Nottingham | C | Age 20</h3>
<p><b>Current level: High-A</b> (Stockton Ports)</p>
<p><b>2015 Single-A stats:</b> 253 PAs, .326/.387/.543, 169 wRC+, 10 HR, 18 BB, 51 Ks<br><b>2015 Lancaster stats:</b> 76 PAs, .324/.368/.606, 160 wRC+, 4 HR, 3 BB, 10 Ks<br><b>2015 Stockton stats:</b> 182 PAs, .299/.352/.409, 107 wRC+, 3 HR, 12 BB, 38 Ks</p>
<p><i>Note: Single-A stats are from Houston's affiliate, the Quad Cities River Bandits. Lancaster is Houston's High-A affiliate, where he was playing at the time of the trade. He finished the year in High-A Stockton.</i></p>
<p><b>Best tools:</b> Power, Arm</p>
<p>Nottingham is a hitter first, and a catcher second. His season began with a breakout in Single-A, where he was among the best hitters in the league. By the end of June the Astros had seen enough and promoted him to the High-A Lancaster JetHawks, where kept on hitting without missing a beat. By the end of July the A's had seen enough, and they acquired him in the Kazmir trade.</p>
<p>His production finally dropped off in Stockton, but it's worth noting that by the time he got there he was already well into his first full professional season and had played a career-high 76 games (he finished with 119 games, 89 of them behind the plate, and workload is particularly relevant for a catcher). He wasn't much help in the California League playoffs, going 1-for-14 with six strikeouts, but again, those were games 120-122 for a guy who had never played 50 before.</p>
<p>Nottingham is a project, but the materials are top quality. He's got the raw power and bat speed to be a legit slugger, the arm and the athleticism to have a shot at sticking as a catcher, and the makeup and work ethic to make you optimistic that he can do both. But all of his scouting reports at this point make it clear that he is a work in progress, especially on defense. Here is Wilson Karaman of Baseball Prospectus, in an <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/28/9061307/oakland-athletics-trade-scott-kazmir-prospects-jacob-nottingham-and-daniel-mengden" target="_blank">AN exclusive interview</a> with Spencer Silva:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>He's got everything he needs to become an average defensive catcher. The blocking and receiving are both still fairly raw, he struggles to get all the way across his body on balls down low, etc. For the most part it's mechanical stuff that he'll improve on as he goes. Similarly his raw arm strength is a plus tool, but he throws with a lot of length in his motion and he's not compact enough in how he loads it up. I'm not sure it ever plays to anything more than average. But given the bat profile, an average defensive projection makes him a potentially very valuable player.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There are more scouting reports, but they all echo the same sentiments -- optimistic, but not guaranteeing anything:</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/trade-central-astros-bring-kazmir-home/" target="_blank">Vince Lara-Cinisomo of Baseball America</a><br>- <a href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/7/23/9026285/evaluating-oaklands-newest-prospects-from-the-scott-kazmir-trade" target="_blank">Quinn Barry of Minor League Ball</a><br>- <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/breaking-down-the-prospects-in-the-scott-kazmir-trade/" target="_blank">Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/18/9171883/stockton-interviews-with-as-prospects-jacob-nottingham-yairo-munoz" target="_blank">AN exclusive: Spencer Silva interviews Nottingham</a> (h/t Spencer for the video embedded below)</p>
<p>But <a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015/#list=oak" target="_blank">here's MLB.com</a> with the real bottom line: "Nottingham's power is his ticket to the big leagues."</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1kD7QohDxXs" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Note: Before the trade, John Sickels had moved Nottingham up to No. 71 in the entire minors on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/7/12/8940113/top-75-mlb-prospects-mid-season-update">his midseason update</a>, which does not count 2015 draftees.</p>
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<h3>Daniel Mengden | RHP | Age 22</h3>
<p><b>Current level: High-A</b> (Stockton Ports)</p>
<p><b>2015 Single-A stats:</b> 8 games, 1.16 ERA, 38⅔ innings, 36 Ks, 8 BB, 1 HR, 2.65 FIP<br><b>2015 Lancaster stats:</b> 10 games, 5.26 ERA, 49⅔ innings, 48 Ks, 18 BB, 4 HR, 4.10 FIP<br><b>2015 Stockton stats:</b> 8 starts, 4.25 ERA, 42⅓ innings, 41 Ks, 10 BB, 6 HR, 4.53 FIP</p>
<p><i>Note: Single-A stats are from Houston's affiliate, the Quad Cities River Bandits. Lancaster is Houston's High-A affiliate, where he was playing at the time of the trade. He finished the year in High-A Stockton.</i></p>
<p><b>Best tools:</b> Fastball, Slider, Control</p>
<p>Mengden followed the same 2015 path as Nottingham, excelling in Single-A, making the jump to High-A, and then moving to Stockton after his acquisition by the A's. He also made a start in the Cal League playoffs, earning the Ports' only win in the three-game series by going six innings, striking out seven, walking none, and allowing just two runs (on a pair of solo homers). Looking through various scouting reports, there seems to be a consensus on a few facts:</p>
<p>- He lacks a defining feature, like imposing size or big velocity or one particularly amazing "out" pitch<br>- He most likely profiles as a reliever, but has a chance to be a back-end starter<br>- He could be a candidate to move quickly up the system<br>- He has a "bulldog" mentality (that exact word used by multiple sources)<br>- His delivery is "funky" but no one seems to think it will be a problem (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TbOKLRsCaI" target="_blank">here's a look on YouTube</a>; note the many moving parts and the violent leg raise)</p>
<p>Here is <a target="_blank" href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015/#list=oak">MLB.com with the basics</a>, regarding his arsenal and style:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Mengden has a solid four-pitch mix. He throws his fastball in the low 90s, while mixing in a sharp, biting slider, as well as a curveball and changeup. He generally works around the strike zone with his whole arsenal. There's some effort to his delivery, but it adds deception and he's athletic enough to make it work.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>MLB.com notes his slider and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/7/23/9026285/evaluating-oaklands-newest-prospects-from-the-scott-kazmir-trade">Quinn Barry of Minor League Ball</a> does as well, but <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/trade-central-astros-bring-kazmir-home/">Vince Lara-Cinisomo of Baseball America</a> points out the changeup instead.</p>
<p>I can't shake the hunch that Mengden will stick as a starter. That "bulldog" label (particularly prevalent in <a href="http://www.baseballessential.com/news/2015/04/24/daniel-mengden-texas-legend-making-astros/" target="_blank">this profile on Baseball Essential</a>) goes a long way with me, perhaps because it was so often used to describe one of my all-time favorites, Tim Hudson. What his arsenal lacks in quality, perhaps it could somewhat make up for in quantity, and the fact that he didn't move to pitching full-time until a couple years ago makes me wonder if there's still time for at least one secondary offering to improve. And if he does move to the pen, then his velocity could likely play up into the mid-90s. Either way, I can't wait to see what he does in 2016, presumably in Double-A to start the year.</p>
<p>And that mustache. Oh my.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I can't put my Fingers on why newly acquired Daniel Mengden will fit in with the A's <a href="http://t.co/4Ta2CxYkvh">pic.twitter.com/4Ta2CxYkvh</a></p>
— Bill Chuck (@BillyBall) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillyBall/status/624291021837484032">July 23, 2015</a>
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<p>Other than the ones already linked, here are the other reports I looked at for Mengden:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/28/9061307/oakland-athletics-trade-scott-kazmir-prospects-jacob-nottingham-and-daniel-mengden" target="_blank">- Wilson Karaman and Spencer Silva on AN</a><br>- <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/breaking-down-the-prospects-in-the-scott-kazmir-trade/" target="_blank">Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs</a><br>- <a href="http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150511&content_id=123828134&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb" target="_blank">Ashley Marshall of MiLB.com</a> (game recap from May)<br>- <a href="http://www.crawfishboxes.com/204-mlb-draft/2014/6/6/5786948/2014-4th-round-pick-daniel-mengden-rhp-texas-a-m" target="_blank">Crawfish Boxes draft report from 2014</a><br>- <a href="http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=127382883&sid=milb" target="_blank">Highlight video from May</a> (includes interview w/ Mengden at the end)</p>
<h3>Casey Meisner | RHP | Age 20</h3>
<p><b>Current level: High-A </b>(Stockton Ports)</p>
<p><b>2015 Single-A stats:</b> 12 starts, 2.13 ERA, 76 innings, 66 Ks, 19 BB, 6 HR, 3.64 FIP<br><b>2015 St. Lucie stats:</b> 6 games, 2.83 ERA, 35 innings, 23 Ks, 14 BB, 4 HR, 4.71 FIP<br><b>2015 Stockton stats:</b> 7 games, 2.78 ERA, 32⅓ innings, 24 Ks, 7 BB, 1 HR, 3.35 FIP</p>
<p><i>Note: Single-A stats are from the Mets' affiliate, the Savannah Sand Gnats. St. Lucie is the Mets' High-A affiliate, where he was playing at the time of the trade. He finished the year in High-A Stockton.</i></p>
<p><b>Best tools:</b> Fastball, Curve, Control</p>
<p>Like fellow 20-year-old Nottingham, Meisner is a bit of a project and so his scouting reports are mostly based on how he <i>could</i> develop and what he <i>could</i> become. What he <i>is</i> right now is extremely tall (6'7) with decent velocity and a couple of encouraging secondary pitches, with a full year of pro experience now under his belt. Let's start <a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015/#list=oak" target="_blank">with MLB.com</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>He's already taken a step forward, velocity-wise, throwing 90-94 mph last summer as a teenager in the New York-Penn League and using his large frame to create a good downhill angle. He complements the improving fastball with a big curve, and he has shown an excellent feel to spinning the ball. While his changeup is behind, he's shown some feel for the offspeed pitch as well. His overall pitchability and consistency in finding the strike zone are better than you'd think for a young pitcher of his size.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The scouting reports I found don't vary much. They all agree on the velocity range, in the low-90s and topping out at 94 (one source claimed 95). They all agree that the curve is his next-best offering, with everyone giving it mild praise but not loving nor hating it, and that his change is promising but still inconsistent. Overall he seems to profile as a No. 4 starter, give or take one slot in either direction, but the greater point is that he is not yet a finished product and so we don't really know yet what he'll become. <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/trade-central-mets-get-clippard-help-back-pen/" target="_blank">Baseball America noted</a> his competitiveness and threw in a Brandon McCarthy comp.</p>
<p>All we can say for now is that his first full season was a success. He stayed healthy, he made 25 starts, and he pitched well for three different teams and two different levels. The Ports were justifiably careful with the youngster late in the summer; he never went more than five innings in a game for them, and he was kept out of the Cal League playoffs. But after settling into Stockton with a few shaky outings, he finished the season by ripping off four straight games of 5 innings, 0-1 runs, 4-5 strikeouts, and no walks at all (total: 20 ip, 2 runs, 19 Ks, 0 BB).</p>
<p>Beyond that, we'll have to wait till next year to see how he develops. His velocity is adequate right now, but can he add a couple more mph and take his fastball to the next level? Can he turn one or both of his breaking balls from "decent" to "plus"? Can he control his lanky limbs enough to repeat his delivery consistently and throw strikes? The only thing that doesn't seem to be in question yet is his role as a starter. I don't know if the A's will keep Meisner in Stockton or move him up to Double-A Midland to begin 2016, but either way we'll get to see a bit more of what he can do with a fresh arm after an offseason of rest.</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/scouting-casey-meisner-oaklands-return-for-tyler-clippard/" target="_blank">Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs</a> (eyewitness report)<br>- <a href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/6/22/8821351/mets-prospect-casey-meisner-future-major-league-ace" target="_blank">Quinn Barry of Minor League Ball</a><br>- <a href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/7/27/9052001/the-oakland-as-rebuild-continues-with-casey-meisner" target="_blank">Wayne Cavadi of Minor League Ball</a><br>- <a href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/6/24/8826559/notes-from-the-sally-casey-meisner-rhp-new-york-mets" target="_blank">John Calvagno of Minor League Ball</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/11/9116595/oaklandas-farm-report-casey-meisner-scouting-report" target="_blank">Spencer Silva with the AN Exclusive</a> (eyewitness report)</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pgnA9eqaF0Q" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Extra links:</p>
<p>- A different Meisner comp: <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/SS_Cunningham/status/625864877488406528">the dueling banjos kid from <i>Deliverance</i></a><br>- Meisner tweets a <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Meisner_Casey/status/650124040510660608">sweet defensive play</a> that he made</p>
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<h3>Final comments</h3>
<p>I was really happy with the trade deadline haul overall, and that seems to be the general opinion around the blogosphere as well. Their performances after their acquisitions were mixed, with Manaea in particular standing out positively and Nottingham struggling a bit, but three of these guys were in their first full pro seasons so it's not crazy that they were wearing down late in the year.</p>
<p>In total, the A's traded three departing free agents, and with them went chances for two qualifying offers (Kazmir and Zobrist) and thus two supplemental first-round picks. The guys they got back now have the following ranks in Oakland's system, according to MLB.com:</p>
<p>3. Manaea<br>8. Nottingham<br>11. Meisner<br>25. Mengden</p>
<p>... and the other, Brooks, has already contributed at the MLB level (and isn't eligible to be ranked anyway). There is a fair amount of risk in this list of players, but there are also some pretty high ceilings. That's something the club could use right now.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>The categories:</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/28/8964889/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-kendall-graveman-billy-burns" target="_blank">The Graduates</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/30/9055049/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-pat-venditte-barry-zito">The MLB Pitching Depth</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/1/9083103/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-dillon-overton-raul-alcantara/in/7182938" target="_blank">The Young Hurlers</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/2/9085545/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-daniel-gossett-chris-kohler" target="_blank">The Even Younger Hurlers</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/6/9093465/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-chad-pinder-franklin-barreto-joey-wendle" target="_blank">The Middle Infielders</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/8/9119391/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-matt-olson-renato-nunez" target="_blank">The Corner Sluggers: 1B</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/13/9121839/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-matt-chapman-max-muncy" target="_blank">The Corner Sluggers: 3B</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/20/9160335/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-tyler-ladendorf-sandber-pimentel">The Best of the Rest</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/26/9203677/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-colin-walsh-ryan-dull-brendan-mccurry">Stepping up in 2015</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/31/9226113/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-jesus-lopez-jose-torres">New International Standouts</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/9/2/9231211/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-carson-blair-aaron-kurcz">Final Names of Note</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/9/8/9273673/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-mikey-white-richie-martin" target="_blank">The 2015 Draft</a><br>- <b>The New Acquisitions</b></p>
<p>***</p>
<h3>The List</h3>
<p>Each player is listed at the level at which he finished the 2015 season (except where noted), and his stats only include his performance at that current level. The levels refer to the Nashville Sounds (AAA), the Midland RockHounds (AA), the High-A Stockton Ports (A+), the Single-A Beloit Snappers (A), the short-season Low-A Vermont Lake Monsters (A-), and the Arizona Rookie League (RK). For the hitters, I am going to focus less on raw numbers and more on league-adjusted stats (wRC+) and rates (K% and BB%).</p>
<p>The list has been expanded to include the five new July trade acquisitions (stats listed are since their acquisitions), as well as five of the top June draft picks (first six picks minus third-round pick Dakota Chalmers, who is still in Rookie ball). There are also five more 2015 standouts, labelled SU (Stepping Up).</p>
<p id="paragraph47"><i><b>* The following recent transactions are not reflected:</b> <b>Tyler Ladendorf</b> was promoted from Triple-A Nashville to MLB; <b>Jose Torres</b> was promoted to from Single-A Beloit to High-A Stockton. ... Sean Nolin (MLB), R.J. Alvarez (MLB), Max Muncy (MLB), Pat Venditte (MLB), Ryan Dull (MLB), Rangel Ravelo (AAA), Dillon Overton (AA), Brendan McCurry (AA), Yairo Munoz (A+), and Mikey White (A) received midseason promotions and I've only included their stats at their new, higher levels. ... Aaron Kurcz spent time in the Braves' system, but I've only included his stats from Triple-A Nashville.</i></p>
<table border="0">
<caption><b>Oakland A's 2015 Community Prospect List (stats thru Sept. 8)</b></caption>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>#</b></td>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Pos</b></td>
<td><b>Age</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015 Stats</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Matt Olson</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>585 PAs, 132 wRC+, 17 HR, 17.9% BB, 23.8% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Franklin Barreto</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>364 PAs, 122 wRC+, 13 HR, 4.1% BB, 18.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Matt Chapman</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>352 PAs, 139 wRC+, 23 HR, 11.1% BB, 22.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Renato Nunez</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>416 PAs, 124 wRC+, 18 HR, 6.7% BB, 15.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Dillon Overton</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>13 starts, 3.06 ERA, 64⅔ ip, 47 Ks, 15 BB, 4 HR, 3.34 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Kendall Graveman</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>21 starts, 100 ERA+, 115⅔ ip, 2.03 K/BB, 4.60 FIP, 0.4 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Yairo Munoz</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>165 PAs, 132 wRC+, 4 HR, 6.7% BB, 12.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Sean Nolin</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>6 games, 77 ERA+, 29 ip, 1.25 K/BB, 5.13 FIP, 0.0 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Raul Alcantara</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>15 starts, 3.88 ERA, 48⅔ ip, 29 Ks, 8 BB, 3 HR, 4.00 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Joey Wendle</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>618 PAs, 101 wRC+, 10 HR, 3.6% BB, 18.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>R.J. Alvarez</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>21 games, 41 ERA+, 20 ip, 1.77 K/BB, 7.33 FIP, -0.5 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Rangel Ravelo</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>112 PAs, 86 wRC+, 1 HR, 6.3% BB, 19.6% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Mark Canha</td>
<td>1B/OF</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>485 PAs, 106 wRC+, 16 HR, 6.8% BB, 19.8% Ks, 1.4 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Chad Pinder</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>522 PAs, 135 wRC+, 15 HR, 5.4% BB, 19.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Chris Bassitt</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>18 games, 113 ERA+, 86 ip, 2.13 K/BB, 3.76 FIP, 1.4 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Dustin Driver</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>14 games, 4.99 ERA, 52⅓ ip, 32 Ks, 35 BB, 4 HR, 5.41 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Billy Burns</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>555 PAs, 102 wRC+, 26 SB, 4.7% BB, 14.6% Ks, 2.3 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Max Muncy</td>
<td>1B/3B</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>112 PAs, 80 wRC+, 3 HR, 8.0% BB, 27.7% Ks, -0.5 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Tyler Ladendorf</td>
<td>IF/OF</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>*AAA</td>
<td>90 PAs, 76 wRC+, 1 HR, 5.6 BB%, 25.6 K%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Daniel Gossett</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>27 starts, 4.73 ERA, 144⅔ ip, 112 Ks, 52 BB, 16 HR, 4.49 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Bobby Wahl</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>24 games, 4.18 ERA, 32⅓ ip, 36 Ks, 14 BB, 2 HR, 3.17 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Chris Kohler</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>11 games, 4.66 ERA, 38⅔ ip, 37 Ks, 10 BB, 2 HR, 3.52 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Pat Venditte</td>
<td>SHP</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>26 games, 93 ERA+, 28⅔ ip, 1.92 K/BB, 4.15 FIP, 0.1 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Jaycob Brugman</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>566 PAs, 105 wRC+, 6 HR, 11.0% BB, 15.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Brett Graves</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>28 starts, 5.36 ERA, 142⅔ ip, 91 Ks, 44 BB, 15 HR, 4.49 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Bruce Maxwell</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>381 PAs, 79 wRC+, 2 HR, 10.2% BB, 14.2% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Ryon Healy</td>
<td>3B/1B</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>543 PAs, 113 wRC+, 10 HR, 5.5% BB, 15.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Branden Kelliher</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>RK</td>
<td>Arizona Rookie League</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Dylan Covey</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>26 starts, 3.59 ERA, 140⅓ ip, 100 Ks, 43 BB, 13 HR, 4.60 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Sandber Pimentel</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>471 PAs, 112 wRC+, 13 HR, 10.6% BB, 22.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Colin Walsh</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>619 PAs, 163 wRC+, 13 HR, 20.0% BB, 21.2% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Ryan Dull</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>13 games, 97 ERA+, 17 ip, 2.67 K/BB, 5.37 FIP, -0.3 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Brendan McCurry</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>14 games, 1.62 ERA, 16⅔ ip, 26 Ks, 6 BB, 1 HR, 2.04 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Jose Torres</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>*A</td>
<td>44 games, 2.69 ERA, 73⅔ ip, 80 Ks, 23 BB, 4 HR, 3.03 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Aaron Kurcz</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>18 games, 4.15 ERA, 26 ip, 31 Ks, 15 BB, 2 HR, 3.95 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Sean Manaea</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>7 starts, 1.90 ERA, 42⅔ ip, 51 Ks, 15 BB, 3 HR, 2.95 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Daniel Mengden</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>8 starts, 4.25 ERA, 42⅓ ip, 41 Ks, 10 BB, 6 HR, 4.53 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Casey Meisner</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>7 starts, 2.78 ERA, 32⅓ ip, 24 Ks, 7 BB, 1 HR, 3.35 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Aaron Brooks</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>11 games, 60 ERA+, 51 ip, 2.50 K/BB, 5.11 FIP, -0.1 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Jacob Nottingham</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>182 PAs, 107 wRC+, 3 HR, 6.6% BB, 20.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Richie Martin</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>226 PAs, 112 wRC+, 2 HR, 11.1% BB, 20.8% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Mikey White</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>145 PAs, 65 wRC+, 1 HR, 6.9% BB, 20.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Skye Bolt</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>206 PAs, 110 wRC+, 4 HR, 11.7% BB, 21.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Kevin Duchene</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>8 games, 4.84 ERA, 22⅓ ip, 18 Ks, 9 BB, 2 HR, 4.41 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Bubba Derby</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>12 games, 0.78 ERA, 34⅔ ip, 45 Ks, 10 BB, 2 HR, 2.54 FIP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/10/29/9491949/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-sean-manaea-jacob-nottinghamAlex Hall2015-09-08T17:12:44-07:002015-09-08T17:12:44-07:00A's prospect watch: Mikey White leads 2015 draft class
<figure>
<img alt="As you can see, White is an advanced prospect." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/d3h2C2jjY6ZdDqs7JrHVQiSe794=/184x0:4283x2733/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47110808/GettyImages-450494062.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>As you can see, White is an advanced prospect. | Rich Schultz/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Before the season began, Athletics Nation voted on its annual Community Prospect List, ranking the 25 best players in the minors. With hope for the playoffs dwindling by the day, it's time for us to take a look at how those top prospects are doing. For the full 2015 list, as well as a list of the different categories that I've separated the prospects into, scroll to the bottom of the post.</p>
<p>Today, we will look at <b>The 2015 Draft Class</b>. Obviously, none of these guys made the preseason list, because none of them were in the organization last winter. Several of them will crack various levels of the 2016 list, though, so let's meet them. I don't know a huge amount about each guy, so we'll run through all 10 of the top picks as well as a few other notables. The break after No. 6 Derby denotes the point at which I mostly only have stats to offer.</p>
<p>Most of these guys played for the short-season Low-A Vermont Lake Monsters, but a few of the high picks are still in rookie ball. Mikey White and Tim Proudfoot are the only two who have reached full-season ball with the Beloit Snappers. Look at this list like a group of lotto tickets -- hopefully a few of them will hit the jackpot and emerge next year, and it may be the ones you're expecting or it may be some random mid-rounders. Many more will stall out and leave this post as one of their top career hits on Google. There are five whom I expect have good chances at reaching our community list this winter, in no particular order: Martin, White, Chalmers, Bolt, and Derby.</p>
<p><b>1. Richie Martin</b> (SS)<br><b>2. Mikey White</b> (SS)<br><b>3. Dakota Chalmers</b> (RHP)<br><b>4. Skye Bolt</b> (CF)<br><b>5. Kevin Duchene</b> (LHP)<br><b>6. Bubba Derby</b> (RHP)<br>---<br><b>7. Kyle Friedrichs</b> (RHP)<br><b>8. Nick Collins</b> (C)<br><b>9. Jared Lyons</b> (LHP)<br><b>10. Steven Pallares</b> (OF)<br><b>12. Chris Iriart</b> (1B)<br><b>13. Brett Siddall</b> (OF)<br><b>14. Boomer Biegalski</b> (RHP)<br><b>19. Seth Brown</b> (1B)<br><b>20. James Naile</b> (RHP)<br><b>21. Andrew Tomasovich</b> (LHP)<br><b>24. Heath Bowers</b> (RHP)<br><b>25. Evan Manarino</b> (LHP)<br><b>35. Tim Proudfoot</b> (SS)</p>
<p>***</p>
<p><i>Lots of credit to <a target="_blank" href="http://athleticsfarm.com/">Athletics Farm</a> for helping out with info for this post, especially with the interview of Eric Kubota (A's Director of Scouting), and to </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics"><i>Oakland Clubhouse (Scout.com)</i></a><i> for their profiles and Q&As with the top draftees. Also a big tip of the hat to MLB.com, with their scouting reports and scouting grades -- the "Best tools" for the first four players on the list are based on the grades given on MLB.com on the 20-to-80 scale, including (for position players) <b>Hit, Power, Speed, Arm, Fielding</b>, and (for pitchers) <b>Fastball, Curveball, Slider, Changeup, Control</b>.</i></p>
<p><i>***</i></p>
<h3>No. 1 | Richie Martin | SS | Age 20</h3>
<p><b>Current level: Low-A</b> (Vermont Lake Monsters)</p>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 226 PAs, .237/.353/.342, 112 wRC+, 2 HR, 25 BB, 47 Ks, 7-of-14 SB</p>
<p><b>Best tools:</b> Speed, Arm, Fielding</p>
<p>Martin was Oakland's first-round pick, No. 20 overall. He's young for a college guy, and his strength is his defense. Here is a <a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015/#list=oak" target="_blank">report from MLB.com</a>, who already has him ranked as the team's No. 4 prospect:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Most college shortstops have to move to a less challenging position in pro ball, but that's not the case with Martin. ... With his quickness, range and arm strength, Martin can make all the plays needed from a shortstop. He had a tendency to make errors when he tried to do too much, but he settled down and did a better job of playing under control in 2015.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>To get an idea of what those words mean, here is an impressive play he made in college. It doesn't show off his arm, but it does highlight his athleticism, his hands, and his general instincts.</p>
<p><iframe class="imgur-embed" width="100%" height="404" frameborder="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/i5GHubM.gifv#embed"></iframe></p>
<p>Eric Kubota adds the following piece to the puzzle, <a href="http://athleticsfarm.com/2015/06/17/get-the-inside-scoop-on-oaklands-top-10-draft-picks-of-2015-from-as-scouting-director-eric-kubota/" target="_blank">via A's Farm</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>His single best tool is probably his speed - he can really run - and just a little behind that would be his defensive ability.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>While Martin's defense and speed aren't in doubt, his bat is a different story. There is plenty of reason for optimism, but every report makes it clear that his offense is not what made him a first-round pick. His approach at the plate is "to spray line drives and find a way to reach base," per <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/floridas-martin-checks-boxes/" target="_blank">Casey Tefertiller of Baseball America</a>, so don't expect a lot of power. Indeed, he walked in 11.1% of his plate appearances in Low-A Vermont, and while his batting average doesn't look impressive it's worth noting that he still managed a wRC+ of 112, meaning he was comfortably above-average overall (NY-Penn League averages: .250 avg, .667 OPS). The fact that he's so fast makes him well-suited to be a slappy on-base guy, though he apparently has some work to do on the bases after being caught in half of his 14 steal attempts with the Lake Monsters.</p>
<p>Martin sounds like a smart, athletic player, and his <a href="http://www.csnbayarea.com/athletics/top-pick-richie-martin-has-deep-roots-baseball" target="_blank">baseball roots</a> are already well-chronicled. He's far from a finished product, but there is a lot to like entering his first full pro season in 2016. Look for him to start at shortstop for Beloit next year.</p>
<h3>No. 2 | Mikey White | SS | Age 21*</h3>
<p><i>* White turned 22 on Sept. 3</i></p>
<p><b>Current level: Single-A</b> (Beloit Snappers)</p>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 131 PAs, .325/.405/.459, 153 wRC+, 2 HR, 14 BB, 29 Ks<br><b>2015 Single-A stats:</b> 145 PAs, .200/.283/.262, 65 wRC+, 1 HR, 10 BB, 30 Ks</p>
<p><b>Best tools:</b> Hit, Arm</p>
<p>White is easily the most advanced player in this draft class so far. His hot start in Vermont earned him a ticket to full-season Beloit when Yairo Munoz left the Snappers to cover for the injured Franklin Barreto in High-A Stockton.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the Alabama product didn't continue his roll at the higher level, but the more important thing is that he got experience there at all. Matt Chapman and Branden Cogswell were the only hitters from the 2014 class to reach Beloit the year they were drafted, and neither of them did anything impressive right away either. Chapman recovered in 2015, and Cogswell at least improved in Stockton this year. It's also encouraging that White improved as time went on; after batting .129 in his first 20 games in Beloit, he hit .283 in his final 15 contests.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015/#list=oak">Here is MLB.com</a>, who has White as the A's No. 15 prospect:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>He consistently barrels balls with a short right-handed swing and generates good pop for a middle infielder. His advanced on-base skills fit well at the top of a batting order. ... Though he has fringy pure speed, White runs the bases well. While he's not flashy or rangy at shortstop, he has dependable hands and makes routine plays. Second base is probably his best position</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Although White didn't conquer the Midwest League, I wouldn't be surprised to see him open 2016 in High-A Stockton. Barreto is sure to move up to Double-A Midland after a breakout year, and though Munoz figures to be the Ports' regular shortstop I'm sure the A's can find time for White at that spot while also trying him out at other positions (like 2B). That's just my speculation, though, and we'll have to wait and see how everything shakes out next spring.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Beliots Mikey White makes a play from SS <a href="http://t.co/rCTHQmTKQf">pic.twitter.com/rCTHQmTKQf</a></p>
— Dave Baker (@dbaker1221) <a href="https://twitter.com/dbaker1221/status/626965039791128576">July 31, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
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<h3>No. 3 Dakota Chalmers | RHP | Age 18</h3>
<p><b>Current level: Arizona Rookie League</b></p>
<p><b>2015 AZL stats:</b> 11 games, 20⅓ innings, 2.66 ERA, 18 Ks, 17 BB</p>
<p><b>Best tools:</b> Fastball, Curveball, Slider</p>
<p>Normally I wouldn't bother with Rookie League stats, and I don't really think they're particularly meaningful. But there they are. Remember that he was probably in high school the last time you changed the oil in your car. If you're diligent, it may have been two oil changes ago.</p>
<p>The A's paid way over slot to get Chalmers in the third round and pry him away from a <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeStiglichCSN/status/609922755027300353" target="_blank">commitment</a> to University of Georgia. Eric Kubota explains why, before slipping in a comparison to Clay Buchholz (<a href="http://athleticsfarm.com/2015/06/17/get-the-inside-scoop-on-oaklands-top-10-draft-picks-of-2015-from-as-scouting-director-eric-kubota/" target="_blank">via A's Farm</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>When we evaluated Dakota, it was as a near 1st-round pick ... We've seen him up to 95-96 mph, and we think he's got a plus curveball - a strikeout, out-pitch type of curveball - and really an advanced feel for the changeup for a high school kid. So his stuff is top notch, and we think there's physical projection left for him.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That jibes well with the <a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015/#list=oak" target="_blank">scouting report from MLB.com</a>, which goes on to mention the following area for improvement:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Chalmers' biggest need at this point is to clean up his delivery, which features more effort than scouts would like. His athleticism bodes well for his ability to refine his mechanics and improve his control and command.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Chalmers is super-duper young, and there's every reason to expect the A's will go slow with him. I wouldn't bet on seeing him anywhere above Beloit next year. Remember, we're not just waiting on his stuff to get tested against tougher competition, but also for his physical frame to fill out.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dakota Chalmers pitched well last night. <a href="http://t.co/SaPuM3T4d0">pic.twitter.com/SaPuM3T4d0</a></p>
— Appraising Arizona (@AZLBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/AZLBaseball/status/630401432819097601">August 9, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
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<h3>No. 4 Skye Bolt | CF | Age 21</h3>
<p><b>Current level: Low-A</b> (Vermont Lake Monsters)</p>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 206 PAs, .238/.325/.381, 110 wRC+, 4 HR, 24 BB, 44 Ks</p>
<p><b>Best tools:</b> Speed, Arm, Fielding, Power</p>
<p>Like Chalmers, the A's see Bolt as a guy who is better than his draft slot suggests. However, while Chalmers fell because of signability issues, Bolt dropped due to an injury and subsequent lackluster stats in his last two years of college. Eric Kubota (<a href="http://athleticsfarm.com/2015/06/17/get-the-inside-scoop-on-oaklands-top-10-draft-picks-of-2015-from-as-scouting-director-eric-kubota/" target="_blank">via AF</a>) calls him a "first-round talent" based on his physical tools, though, and while his batting average didn't jump off the page at UNC he did retain his power and plate discipline.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015/#list=oak" target="_blank">scouting report from MLB.com</a> chimes in with an interesting note, while ranking him No. 19 in the A's system:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A switch-hitter, Bolt exhibits more bat speed and a more authoritative swing as a lefty, leading some scouts to wonder if he'd be better off batting solely from that side of the plate. Maybe that would help him do a better job of handling quality fastballs and recognizing pitches, two of his weaknesses.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Indeed, Bolt's numbers in Vermont bear out that observation:</p>
<p><b>as LHB:</b> .243/.351/.417, 4 HR, 24 BB, 35 Ks (168 PAs)<br><b>as RHB:</b> .216/.211/.243, 0 HR, 0 BB, 9 Ks (38 PAs)</p>
<p>Those samples aren't much to go on, and it's possible that Bolt would do even worse against southpaws if he stayed on the left side himself, but as least you can see the criticism of his righty swing lining up with the numbers so far.</p>
<p>With all that being said, defense seems to be Bolt's carrying tool so far. Kubota lauds his glovework and MLB.com notes that he "does a nice job of covering center field from gap to gap." Time will tell whether Bolt will turn into a toolsy bust or blossom into a two-way star. We'll see what he can do in full-season ball next year.</p>
<h3>No. 5 Kevin Duchene | LHP | Age 21</h3>
<p><i>(Pronounced <a target="_blank" href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1561931-watch-meet-lake-monsters-lhp-kevin-duchene">du-SHAYN</a>)</i></p>
<p><b>Current level: Low-A </b>(Vermont Lake Monsters)</p>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 8 games, 4.84 ERA, 22⅓ innings, 18 Ks, 9 BB, 2 HR, 4.41 FIP</p>
<p>Let's lead off with this <a href="http://m.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/129672932/5th-round-pick-duchene-had-the-perfect-mentor" target="_blank">profile from MLB.com</a>, which includes a glimpse at Duchene's arsenal:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Duchene's fastball, on a big-league scale, is slightly below average. But along with a good curveball and exceptional changeup, he throws a slider that often turns into a cutter -- a la Sonny Gray.</p>
<p>"He'll throw the cutter at 82-83, sometimes 85," said [Illinois pitching coach and former A's draftee Drew] Dickinson, "Then he'll take something off it and throw it like a true slider at 75-80, so it's a pitch he can always manipulate."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>More from Eric Kubota (<a href="http://athleticsfarm.com/2015/06/17/get-the-inside-scoop-on-oaklands-top-10-draft-picks-of-2015-from-as-scouting-director-eric-kubota/" target="_blank">via A's Farm</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>He's got solid stuff - we've seen him up to 92 mph with a good breaking ball and changeup. He's got an advanced feel for how to use his stuff. ... [K]ind of an average-sized left-hander who can really pitch.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Whereas Chalmers is a raw high school prospect whom I expect the A's will develop slowly, Duchene strikes me as the kind polished college arm that can move up the system as quickly as his stats allow. He'll be 22 next season and the reports rave about his secondary pitches and his general feel and command, so why not?</p>
<h3>No. 6 Bubba Derby | RHP | Age 21</h3>
<p><b>Current level: Low-A</b> (Vermont Lake Monsters)</p>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 12 games, 0.78 ERA, 34⅔ innings, 45 Ks, 10 BB, 2 HR, 2.54 FIP</p>
<p>This is where I start to run out of actual info about the players and am left mostly with box scores and stat lines. Derby's numbers are eye-popping, but it's worth noting that he stands 5'10 and that earns him the "likely reliever" tag, fairly or not.</p>
<p>This <a target="_blank" href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/67565098/v132123983/draft-report-bubba-derby-college-pitcher/?query=bubba%2Bderby">video scouting report from MLB.com</a> sheds some light on Derby's arsenal:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>As a starter he'll throw his fastball anywhere in the 89-95 range, sitting comfortably in the 91-92 range. When he closed games for the Aztecs as a freshman, he touched 96 and 97 mph in the shorter stints. His changeup is his best secondary offering, and he has a really good feel for it, though he does throw it too frequently at times. He mixes in a slider as well.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The numbers he posted this year mostly came in 3-inning stints, which unfortunately doesn't shed any light on his future role. That's a common length for a "start" in Vermont, but it also doesn't translate to a starting workload at the higher levels. One argument in favor of the bullpen is that Derby is clearly 80-grade at filling up large amounts of free time during games:</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sometimes you just gotta switch things up to get a rally started <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lakemonsters?src=hash">#lakemonsters</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rallybox?src=hash">#rallybox</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/itworked?src=hash">#itworked</a> <a href="http://t.co/itUJBwfNtW">pic.twitter.com/itUJBwfNtW</a></p>
— Bowdien Bubba Derby (@Bderby11) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bderby11/status/639192227353395200">September 2, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
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<p>The other question, of course, is whether he will go by his given name of Bowdien (pronounced <a target="_blank" href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1561023-watch-meet-lake-monsters-rhp-bubba-derby">BO-din</a>) or his common nickname Bubba. There really isn't a wrong answer, though I obviously prefer Bubba if I were going to pick for him. His personal Twitter account currently lists him as "Bowdien Bubba Derby," which makes sense but doesn't help me answer my question; his handle is @BDerby11, but it appears that it used to be @bubbaderby11 so maybe that's a sign he's moving away from his nickname?</p>
<p>As with all the other guys on this list, only time will tell.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations to Bubba Derby (<a href="https://twitter.com/Bderby11">@BDerby11</a>) of <a href="https://twitter.com/SDSUBaseball">@SDSUBaseball</a> on being picked No. 188 overall (Rd 6) by the <a href="https://twitter.com/Athletics">@Athletics</a>: <a href="http://t.co/aCirnJHHwg">pic.twitter.com/aCirnJHHwg</a></p>
— Shotgun Spratling (@ShotgunSprD1) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShotgunSprD1/status/608893742477496321">June 11, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>★★★</p>
<h3>No. 7 Kyle Friedrichs | RHP | Age 23</h3>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 14 games, 4.50 ERA, 36 innings, 19 Ks, 13 BB, 2 HR, 4.43 FIP</p>
<p>Eric Kubota (<a href="http://athleticsfarm.com/2015/06/17/get-the-inside-scoop-on-oaklands-top-10-draft-picks-of-2015-from-as-scouting-director-eric-kubota/" target="_blank">via A's Farm</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We really think he has exceptional fastball command. And if there's one characeteristic you need to be able to pitch in the major leagues it's being able to command the fastball.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Melissa Lockard (<a href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1553862-kyle-friedrichs-a-perfect-fit-with-the-a-s" target="_blank">Oakland Clubhouse</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Friedrichs doesn't throw particularly hard, but he mixes a sinker, a four-seam fastball, a change-up and a slider to get plenty of swings-and-misses and groundballs. ... A groundball pitcher, Friedrichs works quickly and likes to keep his defense alert. He already has an advanced understanding of how to use pitch sequences to keep hitters off-balance.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Lockard also notes that Friedrichs had Tommy John surgery in 2012.</p>
<h3>No. 8 Nick Collins | C | Age 21</h3>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 132 PAs, .256/.333/.325, 100 wRC+, 2 HR, 13 BB, 14 Ks</p>
<p>Kubota (<a href="http://athleticsfarm.com/2015/06/17/get-the-inside-scoop-on-oaklands-top-10-draft-picks-of-2015-from-as-scouting-director-eric-kubota/" target="_blank">via AF</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Well, first and foremost, we think he can hit. He's a big, physical kid. He's a left-handed hitter. He's got a very strong arm. I think his receiving skills are a little bit behind those two skills right now. ... But we like his hands, and we think he's going to develop into a very good defensive catcher.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Donald Moore (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1567063-oakland-a-s-prospect-q-a-nick-collins">via Oakland Clubhouse</a>): "Collins has continued to show that he can hit for average during the outset of his professional career."</p>
<h3>No. 9 Jared Lyons | LHP | Age 22</h3>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 12 games, 12.27 ERA, 14⅔ innings, 15 Ks, 7 BB, 1 HR, 3.99 FIP</p>
<p>Kubota (<a target="_blank" href="http://athleticsfarm.com/2015/06/17/get-the-inside-scoop-on-oaklands-top-10-draft-picks-of-2015-from-as-scouting-director-eric-kubota/">via AF</a>): "It's a common theme (among this year's draft picks), but he threw strikes, he missed bats and he performed really well with solid stuff."</p>
<p>Moore (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1581789-oakland-a-s-prospect-q-a-jared-lyons-lhp">via OC</a>): "Lyons doesn't have an overpowering fastball, but he uses location and three off-speed pitches to keep hitters off-balance."</p>
<h3>No. 10 Steven Pallares | OF | Age 22</h3>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 292 PAs, .246/.363/.317, 109 wRC+, 2 HR, 40 BB, 39 Ks, 6-of-8 SB</p>
<p>Kubota (<a target="_blank" href="http://athleticsfarm.com/2015/06/17/get-the-inside-scoop-on-oaklands-top-10-draft-picks-of-2015-from-as-scouting-director-eric-kubota/">via AF</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>[H]e's unique for a college senior in that we think that there's an upside left to him. ... We think he's got the ability to stay in center. But he also has the ability to play all three of the outfield positions. He's played some infield and has some versatility.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Moore (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1569594-oakland-a-s-prospect-q-a-steven-pallares-of">via OC</a>): "Pallares also drew national attention when he stole home to win a NCAA regional game for the Aztecs. ... [He] has hit up and down the line-up [for Vermont] this season and [played] all over the outfield."</p>
<p>★★★</p>
<h4>No. 12 Chris Iriart | 1B | Age 20</h4>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 289 PAs, .230/.304/.359, 98 OPS+, 5 HR, 23 BB, 86 Ks</p>
<p>Note: Lefty corner slugger with "<a target="_blank" href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1571749-oakland-prospect-qa-chris-iriart-1b">a nose for driving in runs</a>." (via OC)</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="in" dir="ltr">Chris Iriart- <a href="https://twitter.com/VTLakeMonsters">@VTLakeMonsters</a> walkoff HR <a href="https://t.co/2jpWAqzH6o">https://t.co/2jpWAqzH6o</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube">@YouTube</a></p>
— Chris Rogers (@rogers9993) <a href="https://twitter.com/rogers9993/status/632420656433483776">August 15, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
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<h4>No. 13 Brett Siddall | OF | Age 20</h4>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 176 PAs, .264/.324/.421, 120 wRC+, 4 HR, 9 BB, 32 Ks</p>
<p>Note: His name is Brett and he's Canadian. His dad Joe <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseballessential.com/news/2015/08/28/like-father-like-son-brett-siddall-joins-family-business/">played for the Expos</a>. (It's pronounced "<a target="_blank" href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1561210-watch-meet-arizona-a-s-of-brett-siddall">SIHD-uhl</a>," rhymes with "fiddle")</p>
<h4>No. 14 Boomer Biegalski | RHP | Turned 21 on July 13</h4>
<p><b>2015 AZL stats:</b> 6 games, 11⅓ innings, 3.18 ERA, 12 Ks, 2 BB, 2 HR</p>
<p>Note: Real name is Leon</p>
<h4>No. 19 Seth Brown | OF | Turned 23 on July 13</h4>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 267 PAs, .289/.356/.431, 133 wRC+, 3 HR, 25 BB, 51 Ks, 6-of-8 SB</p>
<p>Note: Best hitter on Lake Monsters once White was in Beloit. Drafted as a 1B, but made at least 10 starts at each OF position over 62 games with Vermont.</p>
<h4>No. 20 James Naile | RHP | Age 22</h4>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 18 games, 1.93 ERA, 23⅓ innings, 17 Ks, 6 BB, 0 HR, 2.83 FIP</p>
<p>Note: Ground ball specialist, served as Vermont's closer (<a href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1568832-oakland-a-s-prospect-q-a-james-naile-rhp" target="_blank">via OC</a>)</p>
<h4>No. 21 Andrew Tomasovich | LHP | Age 22</h4>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 12 games, 2.21 ERA, 20⅓ innings, 17 Ks, 7 BB, 1 HR, 3.66 FIP</p>
<p>Note: Brother drafted by Cubs in 2014, but now plays in independent ball</p>
<h4>No. 24 Heath Bowers | RHP | Turned 22 on July 25</h4>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 15 games, 2.52 ERA, 35⅔ innings, 31 Ks, 16 BB, 1 HR, 3.66 FIP</p>
<p>Note: Groundball specialist, but with strikeout ability. <a href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1555894-a-s-heath-bowers-grounded-but-confident" target="_blank">Via Lockard</a>: "Bowers' fastball rarely tops 90, but he used that movement and location, as well as a good slider, to strike-out more than eight batters per nine innings this season [in college]."</p>
<h4>No. 25 Evan Manarino | LHP | Age 22</h4>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 15 games, 5.59 ERA, 38⅔ innings, 28 Ks, 6 BB, 2 HR, 3.21 FIP</p>
<p>Note: Led 2015 draft class in innings at Vermont</p>
<h4>No. 35 Tim Proudfoot | SS | Age 22</h4>
<p><b>2015 Single-A stats:</b> 172 PAs, .208/.276/.253, 59 wRC+, 1 HR, 12 BB, 34 Ks</p>
<p>Note: Along with Mikey White, the only position players from the draft class to reach full-season Beloit this year</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Beloits Tim Proudfoot <a href="http://t.co/jH910GTJe6">pic.twitter.com/jH910GTJe6</a></p>
— Dave Baker (@dbaker1221) <a href="https://twitter.com/dbaker1221/status/640681232515379200">September 7, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
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<h3>Final comments</h3>
<p>The general trends in this draft appeared to be as follows -- college over high school (after a few years of drafting lots of high school players); emphasis on middle infielders in the early rounds, and plate discipline overall for hitters; emphasis on K/BB and groundball rates with pitchers, not so much velocity.</p>
<p>I really like White and Bolt. White seems like one of those all-around players who gets undervalued right up until he's a star second baseman in MLB. Bolt is boom-or-bust, and I love the A's so I'm picking boom (and he <i>has</i> to make it to Oakland with that name). I like Derby but as a reliever, and there's just something about Pallares that I can't shake -- maybe it's the walking more than striking out, plus the defensive versatility?</p>
<p>If I have to pick a couple of late-round sleepers, I dunno, give me Seth Brown as a hitter and Heath Bowers as a starting pitcher. I put several seconds of thought into those picks, and I mostly chose Brown because he has the best numbers (but also because of his all-around nature, with hitting, base running, and defensive versatility). I would have picked Chris Iriart if not for the high strikeout rate (nearly 30%). I don't <i>dislike</i> the guys that I didn't mention in this final section, I just wanted to highlight a select few and share my own hunches -- in reality, Martin and Chalmers are likely the best prospects in the class right now.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>The categories:</p>
<p>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/28/8964889/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-kendall-graveman-billy-burns">The Graduates</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/30/9055049/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-pat-venditte-barry-zito" target="_blank">The MLB Pitching Depth</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/1/9083103/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-dillon-overton-raul-alcantara/in/7182938">The Young Hurlers</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/2/9085545/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-daniel-gossett-chris-kohler">The Even Younger Hurlers</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/6/9093465/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-chad-pinder-franklin-barreto-joey-wendle">The Middle Infielders</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/8/9119391/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-matt-olson-renato-nunez">The Corner Sluggers: 1B</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/13/9121839/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-matt-chapman-max-muncy">The Corner Sluggers: 3B</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/20/9160335/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-tyler-ladendorf-sandber-pimentel" target="_blank">The Best of the Rest</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/26/9203677/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-colin-walsh-ryan-dull-brendan-mccurry" target="_blank">Stepping up in 2015</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/31/9226113/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-jesus-lopez-jose-torres" target="_blank">New International Standouts</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/9/2/9231211/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-carson-blair-aaron-kurcz" target="_blank">Final Names of Note</a><br>- <b>The 2015 Draft</b><br>- The New Acquisitions</p>
<p>***</p>
<h3>The List</h3>
<p><b>(All minor league regular seasons were completed Monday, Sept. 7. Midland and Stockton both made their respective postseasons and will start their playoffs on Wednesday, Sept. 9.)</b></p>
<p>Each player is listed at the level at which he currently plays, and his stats only include his performance at that current level. The levels refer to the Nashville Sounds (AAA), the Midland RockHounds (AA), the High-A Stockton Ports (A+), the Single-A Beloit Snappers (A), the short-season Low-A Vermont Lake Monsters (A-), and the Arizona Rookie League (RK). For the hitters, I am going to focus less on raw numbers and more on league-adjusted stats (wRC+) and rates (K% and BB%).</p>
<p>The list has been expanded to include the five new July trade acquisitions (stats listed are since their acquisitions), as well as five of the top June draft picks (first six picks minus third-round pick Dakota Chalmers, who is still in Rookie ball). At the end you will find five more players, labelled SU (Stepping Up).</p>
<p id="paragraph47"><i><b>* The following recent transactions are not reflected:</b> <b>Ryan Dull</b>, <b>Tyler Ladendorf, Max Muncy, </b>and <b>Sean Nolin</b> were promoted from Triple-A Nashville to MLB; <b>Jose Torres</b> was promoted to from Single-A Beloit to High-A Stockton. ... Rangel Ravelo (AAA), Ryan Dull (AAA), Dillon Overton (AA), Brendan McCurry (AA), Yairo Munoz (A+), and Mikey White (A) received midseason promotions and I've only included their stats at their new, higher levels. ... Aaron Kurcz spent time in the Braves' system, but I've only included his stats from Triple-A Nashville.</i></p>
<p><i><b>^ Player is currently on the disabled list.</b> New additions since last update: None </i><i>... Old injuries: Matt Chapman (left wrist), Kendall Graveman (oblique), Bobby Wahl (undisclosed) ... Back from the DL: Franklin Barreto (wrist) ... Notes: </i><i>Chris Bassitt skipped his start on Sept. 1 with a shoulder injury and it is unclear if he'll start again this season</i><i>; Chapman returned from the DL for 3 games, but he re-injured his wrist and will miss Stockton's upcoming playoff series (<a href="https://twitter.com/ZackBayrouty/status/641055316918988800" target="_blank">via Ports broadcaster Zack Bayrouty</a>)</i></p>
<table border="0">
<caption><b>Oakland A's 2015 Community Prospect List (stats thru Sept. 8)</b></caption>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>#</b></td>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Pos</b></td>
<td><b>Age</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015 Stats</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Matt Olson</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>585 PAs, 132 wRC+, 17 HR, 17.9% BB, 23.8% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Franklin Barreto</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>364 PAs, 122 wRC+, 13 HR, 4.1% BB, 18.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Matt Chapman^</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>352 PAs, 139 wRC+, 23 HR, 11.1% BB, 22.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Renato Nunez</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>416 PAs, 124 wRC+, 18 HR, 6.7% BB, 15.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Dillon Overton</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>13 starts, 3.06 ERA, 64⅔ ip, 47 Ks, 15 BB, 4 HR, 3.34 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Kendall Graveman^</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>21 starts, 99 ERA+, 115⅔ ip, 2.03 K/BB, 4.61 FIP, 0.4 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Yairo Munoz</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>165 PAs, 132 wRC+, 4 HR, 6.7% BB, 12.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Sean Nolin</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>*AAA</td>
<td>14 games, 2.66 ERA, 47⅓ ip, 38 Ks, 19 BB, 5 HR, 4.83 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Raul Alcantara</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>15 starts, 3.88 ERA, 48⅔ ip, 29 Ks, 8 BB, 3 HR, 4.00 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Joey Wendle</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>618 PAs, 101 wRC+, 10 HR, 3.6% BB, 18.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>R.J. Alvarez</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>14 games, 37 ERA+, 12 ip, 2.86 K/BB, 5.89 FIP, -0.2 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Rangel Ravelo</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>112 PAs, 86 wRC+, 1 HR, 6.3% BB, 19.6% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Mark Canha</td>
<td>1B/OF</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>380 PAs, 107 wRC+, 13 HR, 6.6% BB, 20.5% Ks, 1.5 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Chad Pinder</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>522 PAs, 135 wRC+, 15 HR, 5.4% BB, 19.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Chris Bassitt</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>15 games, 142 ERA+, 73⅓ ip, 2.35 K/BB, 3.87 FIP, 1.0 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Dustin Driver</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>14 games, 4.99 ERA, 52⅓ ip, 32 Ks, 35 BB, 4 HR, 5.41 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Billy Burns</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>485 PAs, 100 wRC+, 26 SB, 4.7% BB, 14.6% Ks, 1.8 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Max Muncy</td>
<td>1B/3B</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>*AAA</td>
<td>143 PAs, 102 wRC+, 4 HR, 10.7% BB, 23.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Tyler Ladendorf</td>
<td>IF/OF</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>*AAA</td>
<td>90 PAs, 76 wRC+, 1 HR, 5.6 BB%, 25.6 K%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Daniel Gossett</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>27 starts, 4.73 ERA, 144⅔ ip, 112 Ks, 52 BB, 16 HR, 4.49 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Bobby Wahl^</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>24 games, 4.18 ERA, 32⅓ ip, 36 Ks, 14 BB, 2 HR, 3.17 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Chris Kohler</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>11 games, 4.66 ERA, 38⅔ ip, 37 Ks, 10 BB, 2 HR, 3.52 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Pat Venditte</td>
<td>SHP</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>16 games, 110 ERA+, 19⅓ ip, 3.25 K/BB, 3.76 FIP, 0.1 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Jaycob Brugman</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>566 PAs, 105 wRC+, 6 HR, 11.0% BB, 15.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Brett Graves</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>28 starts, 5.36 ERA, 142⅔ ip, 91 Ks, 44 BB, 15 HR, 4.49 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Bruce Maxwell</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>381 PAs, 79 wRC+, 2 HR, 10.2% BB, 14.2% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Ryon Healy</td>
<td>3B/1B</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>543 PAs, 113 wRC+, 10 HR, 5.5% BB, 15.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Branden Kelliher</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>RK</td>
<td>Arizona Rookie League</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Dylan Covey</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>26 starts, 3.59 ERA, 140⅓ ip, 100 Ks, 43 BB, 13 HR, 4.60 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Sandber Pimentel</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>471 PAs, 112 wRC+, 13 HR, 10.6% BB, 22.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Colin Walsh</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>619 PAs, 163 wRC+, 13 HR, 20.0% BB, 21.2% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Ryan Dull</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>*AAA</td>
<td>12 games, 1.13 ERA, 16 ip, 21 Ks, 3 BB, 1 HR, 2.35 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Brendan McCurry</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>14 games, 1.62 ERA, 16⅔ ip, 26 Ks, 6 BB, 1 HR, 2.04 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Jose Torres</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>*A</td>
<td>44 games, 2.69 ERA, 73⅔ ip, 80 Ks, 23 BB, 4 HR, 3.03 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Aaron Kurcz</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>18 games, 4.15 ERA, 26 ip, 31 Ks, 15 BB, 2 HR, 3.95 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Sean Manaea</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>7 starts, 1.90 ERA, 42⅔ ip, 51 Ks, 15 BB, 3 HR, 2.95 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Daniel Mengden</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>8 starts, 4.25 ERA, 42⅓ ip, 41 Ks, 10 BB, 6 HR, 4.53 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Casey Meisner</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>7 starts, 2.78 ERA, 32⅓ ip, 24 Ks, 7 BB, 1 HR, 3.35 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Aaron Brooks</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>6 games, 58 ERA+, 24⅔ ip, 3.33 K/BB, 3.97 FIP, 0.5 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Jacob Nottingham</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>182 PAs, 107 wRC+, 3 HR, 6.6% BB, 20.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Richie Martin</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>226 PAs, 112 wRC+, 2 HR, 11.1% BB, 20.8% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Mikey White</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>145 PAs, 65 wRC+, 1 HR, 6.9% BB, 20.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Skye Bolt</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>206 PAs, 110 wRC+, 4 HR, 11.7% BB, 21.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Kevin Duchene</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>8 games, 4.84 ERA, 22⅓ ip, 18 Ks, 9 BB, 2 HR, 4.41 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Bubba Derby</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>12 games, 0.78 ERA, 34⅔ ip, 45 Ks, 10 BB, 2 HR, 2.54 FIP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/9/8/9273673/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-mikey-white-richie-martinAlex Hall2015-09-02T19:55:35-07:002015-09-02T19:55:35-07:00A's prospect watch: Carson Blair, Aaron Kurcz
<figure>
<img alt="Hi, my name is Carson and I'll be your catcher today." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EB_6ZRJaXr4ProymCngpewHFXs8=/0x286:3142x2381/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47082576/GettyImages-464818170.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hi, my name is Carson and I'll be your catcher today. | Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Before the season began, Athletics Nation voted on its annual Community Prospect List, ranking the 25 best players in the minors. With hope for the playoffs dwindling by the day, it's time for us to take a look at how those top prospects are doing. For the full 2015 list, as well as a list of the different categories that I've separated the prospects into, scroll to the bottom of the post.</p>
<p>Today, we will hit some <b>Final Names of Note</b>. These are the last guys in the system for whom I have anything interesting to say, before we get to the 2015 draft and the July trade acquisitions. I'm reaching deep for these guys, but at this point my prospect train can't be stopped and any innocent bystanders should just get off the tracks.</p>
<h4>Final names to watch</h4>
<p><b>C Carson Blair</b> (Triple-A)<br><b>RHP Aaron Kurcz</b> (Triple-A)<br><b>RHP Kris Hall</b> (Triple-A)<br><b>RHP Tucker Healy</b> (Double-A)<br><b>RHP Joel Seddon</b> (High-A)<br><b>LHP Matt Stalcup</b> (High-A)<br><b>RHP Joey Wagman</b> (Single-A)<br><b>CF Chad Oberacker</b> (Double-A)<br><b>CF Brett Vertigan</b> (High-A)</p>
<p>***</p>
<p><i>Lots of credit to <a target="_blank" href="http://athleticsfarm.com/">Athletics Farm</a> for helping out with info for this post, especially with interviews of Grady Fuson (A's special assistant, former A's Scouting Director and former Rangers Assistant General Manager), and Rick Rodriguez (High-A Stockton Ports pitching coach and former Oakland A's bullpen coach).</i></p>
<p><i>***</i></p>
<h3>Carson Blair | C | Age 25</h3>
<p><b>Current level: MLB</b> (Oakland Athletics)</p>
<p><b>2015 Double-A stats:</b> 208 PAs, .272/.389/.506, 150 wRC+, 6 HR, 15.9% BB, 29.8% Ks<br><b>2015 Triple-A stats:</b> 120 PAs, .221/.280/.327, 60 wRC+, 3 HR, 7.1% BB, 27.0% Ks<br><b>2015 MLB stats:</b> On roster, hasn't played yet</p>
<p>Blair was a 35th-round pick out of high school who spent the better part of a decade kicking around the Red Sox' system, peaking at Double-A last year. Nearly 45% of his career plate appearances have ended in one of the Three True Outcomes -- HR, strikeout, or walk. (That's a lot -- the 2015 A's team average is 27%.) He signed with the A's this year, and he immediately torched the Texas League. He didn't hit much in Triple-A, but teammate Bryan Anderson was even worse and that was enough to get Blair a September call-up as an emergency third catcher.</p>
<p>Here is Blair's stepdad, who happens to be former Yankees infielder and current Giants Director of Player Development Fred "Chicken" Stanley, talking about Blair's defense behind the dish (<a href="http://www.sfchronicle.com/athletics/article/A-s-catching-prospect-learned-from-6097133.php?t=61bdd26c193d4cb4da&cmpid=twitter-premium" target="_blank">via Susan Slusser</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Stanley has been able to see Blair play at every level of the minors and said that, as a converted infielder, Blair has a strong and accurate arm, and is good at following pitching plans and putting them into action.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Last year, Anderson got the September call-up as the spare backstop. John Jaso was out, Derek Norris was struggling, Stephen Vogt's injured foot had relegated him to first base, and Geovany Soto started nearly half the games in the final month. Anderson still only got one at-bat. He was called on to pinch-hit to make the final out of a 7-2 loss. There is not a better example of a throwaway token plate appearance.</p>
<p>The moral of that story is that we may not actually see Blair play. Vogt and Josh Phegley are going strong, and if there's anyone whom the team should be taking an extra look at in a lost season it's Phegley. I hope the A's will give Blair one token start just to give him his MLB debut, and I bet they will, but he won't get substantial time. He's on the 40-man roster now, and I have no idea if he'll make it through the offseason or if the A's will DFA him to make space for someone else. Time will tell if he's still in the organization next year.</p>
<h3>Aaron Kurcz | RHP | Age 24 (turned 25 on Aug. 8)</h3>
<p><b>Current level: Triple-A</b> (Nashville Sounds)</p>
<p><b>2015 Triple-A stats:</b> 47 games, 3.54 ERA, 56 innings, 65 Ks, 36 BB, 3 HR<br><b>2015 w/ Nashville:</b> 16 games, 3.91 ERA, 23 innings, 27 Ks, 15 BB, 1 HR, 3.76 FIP</p>
<p>Kurcz is a right-hander with a chance to be an MLB reliever at some point. Here's <a href="https://twitter.com/DSimpson88/status/545271412546871296" target="_blank">Ethan Purser of Talking Chop</a> last winter:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Kurcz is the arm the Red Sox got for Theo and now [Atlanta] got for Varvaro. Saw him in the [Arizona Fall League]. Short guy with a big-time arm speed and very nice flow. Max effort, herky-jerky type mechanics from an H3/4 slot. 94-95 straight FB with some riding life. Potential above-average to plus slider, pretty nice pitch with tight, sharp break when he's on top. Firm CH that is playable in the upper 80s, probably a 45 but a decent pitch nonetheless.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>... And MLB.com, who ranks him as the <a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=oak" target="_blank">A's No. 29 prospect</a> right now (just ahead of Brendan McCurry):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Kurcz missed the 2013 season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery but looked good when he returned to the mound the next year. Though slightly undersized, he generates plenty of velocity with a max-effort delivery. His fastball sits around 94 mph and reaches 96 mph, and he mixes in a slider that is an above-average offering at its best.</p>
<p>Though Kurcz has never commanded his stuff particularly well, he misses a lot of bats and could soon carve out a role in a Major League bullpen.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I doubt we'll see Kurcz in September, since there are now 11 relievers on the active roster and he is not yet on the 40-man, but it's not impossible. He's still fairly young, especially for a relief pitcher, and <a href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1581333-oakland-sending-7-arizona-fall-league" target="_blank">according to Melissa Lockard</a> he is headed to the Arizona Fall League in October (though he isn't yet listed on the Mesa Solar Sox roster, so that isn't official yet). He seems likely to get his chance sometime in 2016, if he doesn't get stolen away in the Rule 5 draft.</p>
<h3>Kris Hall | RHP | Age 24</h3>
<p><b>Current level: Triple-A</b> (Nashville Sounds)</p>
<p><b>2015 Double-A stats:</b> 36 games, 2.61 ERA, 69 innings, 70 Ks, 52 BB, 4 HR, 4.41 FIP<br><b>2015 Triple-A stats, 1 game:</b> 2 innings, 3 runs, 3 Ks, 4 BB, 1 HR, 2 hits (13.50 ERA)</p>
<p>Hall wasn't going to be on this list, but then the A's picked him to go to the Arizona Fall League and so now I feel compelled to mention him. Also, as I noted in <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/9/1/9242135/oakland-athletics-matt-chapman-sean-manaea-2015-arizona-fall-league#pgh/10/2166.5" target="_blank">my AFL post yesterday</a>, I really need for there to be a guy named Hall on the Oakland A's.</p>
<p>As far as actual baseball talent, he's a righty reliever with career rates of 10 strikeouts and 6 walks per 9 innings. In this early-2014 scouting report, <a href="http://afroedelephant.blogspot.ae/2014/02/the-outliers-oakland-pitching.html" target="_blank">Chris Kusiolek gives the rundown</a> on the repertoire Hall flashed in college:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The demonstrative righty standing 6'3", 210 pounds proceeded to breeze past inferior competition with a 92-96 fastball and a eyeopening 86-88 MPH slider that, while inconsistent and occasionally inept, can obliterate even highly advanced bats when effective. Reinforcing that with a favorable breaking offering, Hall was utterly brilliant through his outings</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Keep an eye on him in the AFL. He'll be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this winter, and he's already tasting Triple-A, so whether the A's add him to the 40-man roster to protect him will speak a lot toward whether they think he's good enough to attract MLB interest (and/or if they care if he's stolen away).</p>
<h3>Tucker Healy | RHP | Age 25</h3>
<p><b>Current level: Double-A</b> (Midland RockHounds)</p>
<p><b>2015 Double-A stats:</b> 44 games, 1.99 ERA, 54⅓ innings, 52 Ks, 25 BB, 0 HR, 2.87 FIP</p>
<p>Healy has posted eye-popping strikeout numbers throughout the minors, with a career average of 12 Ks per nine innings. He reached Triple-A in 2014 and got blasted, but he's proven himself anew in Midland this year. I don't have an explanation for his dip in strikeouts this year, but it's not like he's been hittable as a result -- 5.4 hits per nine innings, and no homers at all. Healy seems like a guy with a real chance to make it to MLB. He'll be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this winter, so it will be interesting to see if the A's protect him by placing him on the 40-man roster -- it could depend on which of this year's unsuccessful relievers the team wants to keep around and give a second chance, and which ones they are okay letting go in favor of future arms like Kurcz and Hall and Healy and Jose Torres.</p>
<h3>Joel Seddon | RHP | Age 22</h3>
<p><b>Current level: High-A</b> (Stockton Ports)</p>
<p><b>2015 High-A SP:</b> 14 starts, 3.59 ERA, 77⅔ innings, 61 Ks, 13 BB, 7 HR<br><b>2015 High-A RP:</b> 17 games, 3.60 ERA, 25 innings, 19 Ks, 4 BB, 4 HR</p>
<p>Seddon was a relative unknown entering the season (11th round, 2014), but he got himself on the map by jumping from the bullpen to the starting rotation. He earned positive reviews in mid-July from both Grady Fuson and Rick Rodriguez, but then on July 19 he came out of the pen and he hasn't started again since. There could be any number of reasons for the switch despite no lag in performance, but my guess is that the team probably didn't want to put too many innings on his arm in his first full pro season -- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1560501-joel-seddon-excelling-in-new-role-for-ports">Melissa Lockard notes</a> in her excellent writeup of Seddon that he was already over his career-high by the beginning of July. More from Lockard:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Despite his relief role at USC, Seddon came to pro ball with a fairly deep arsenal of pitches: a two-seam and four-seam fastball, a change-up, a slider and a curveball. He had always been a strike-thrower and a groundball pitcher and the A's thought those characteristics would lend themselves well to the starting rotation. ... Seddon's fastball ranges from 88-92 and he has good sink on the pitch.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>His stats match the profile of a guy who relies on command and a deep arsenal rather than velocity. Rodriguez shares the sentiment (<a target="_blank" href="http://athleticsfarm.com/2015/07/12/exclusive-get-the-inside-scoop-on-stocktons-top-prospects-from-ports-manager-rick-magnante-pitching-coach-rick-rodriguez/">via A's Farm</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Yeah, he can rely on his command. That's his best tool. I told him, "It's not like you're throwing 95 mph. You have to hit your spots and change your speeds." And he's been doing that.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The A's seem enamored with Seddon. He joined Matt Chapman as the first '14 draftees to reach Beloit last year (<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/oakclubhouse/status/481093187973292033">via Lockard</a>), and not many pitchers convert from relieving to starting in the pros -- it's usually the opposite. He is a guy to watch next year, because given his profile as a strike-throwing groundball generator I think he has a chance to move quickly up the system if the A's continue to like what they see. Until I hear differently, I will assume that Seddon will be starting again in 2016, either in Stockton or Midland.</p>
<p>This video of Seddon is from late 2014, but it's still worth a peak.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Athletics?src=hash">#Athletics</a> Joel Seddon v Dbacks 09/30/14 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Instructs?src=hash">#Instructs</a> <a href="http://t.co/ULPy8qFvd8">http://t.co/ULPy8qFvd8</a></p>
— Kim ~ CopperStateA's (@Cu_As) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cu_As/status/517951080551157760">October 3, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<h3>Matt Stalcup | LHP | Age 24 (turned 25 on July 6)</h3>
<p><b>Current level: High-A</b> (Stockton Ports)</p>
<p><b>2015 High-A RP:</b> 14 games, 4.87, 20⅓ innings, 15 Ks, 10 BB, 1 HR<br><b>2015 High-A SP:</b> 12 starts, 2.69 ERA, 63⅔ innings, 58 Ks, 18 BB, 5 HR</p>
<p>Stalcup is a bit old for High-A, but he gets some extra points for being a lefty. Besides, he's consistently passed the test at a new level each year, from Vermont ('13) to Beloit ('14) to Stockton ('15). When a guy is drafted just shy of his 23rd birthday, he's always going to be old for his level. Furthermore, like Seddon, Stalcup has worked his way up from the bullpen to the rotation, stepping into the spot vacated by the promotion of Dillon Overton. In fact, Stalcup is pitching quite a bit better as a starter than as a reliever this year.</p>
<p>A quick scouting report. The first tweet is from Oct. 2014, and the second is a follow-up from May 2015:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Matt Stalcup with his usual repertoire working today. 87-89 MPH FB, 70-71 CB with extreme slow loop and 11-5 break. 80 MPH CH elevated</p>
— Chris Kusiolek (@CaliKusiolek) <a href="https://twitter.com/CaliKusiolek/status/520976214291660802">October 11, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Matt Stalcup with some rock; high 3/4, longer action with inconsistent plant. CB improved from Fall, lil better spike at 11-5 w/ later shape</p>
— Chris Kusiolek (@CaliKusiolek) <a href="https://twitter.com/CaliKusiolek/status/599424438241595392">May 16, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<p>Sounds to me like a classic junkballing lefty, struggling to hit 90 but changing speeds well and using movement. Hey, he <a href="http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140820&content_id=90511026&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb" target="_blank">threw a shutout</a> in Beloit in 2014. Is there a can't-miss prospect here? Of course not, or else he wouldn't be in this section of the Prospect Watch series. But he has done just enough for me to keep him in the corner of my eye entering next year.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Athletics?src=hash">#Athletics</a> Matt Stalcup v Dbacks 09/30/14 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Instructs?src=hash">#Instructs</a> <a href="http://t.co/yFSg6Rx9Jq">http://t.co/yFSg6Rx9Jq</a></p>
— Kim ~ CopperStateA's (@Cu_As) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cu_As/status/517950954181001216">October 3, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<h3>Joey Wagman | RHP | Age 24</h3>
<p><b>Current level: Single-A</b> (Beloit Snappers)</p>
<p><b>2015 Single-A stats:</b> 22 games, 3.66 ERA, 78⅔ innings, 65 Ks, 12 BB, 4 HR, 2.94 FIP<br><b>2015 Single-A SP:</b> 13 starts, 4.20 ERA, 64⅓ innings, 53 Ks, 10 BB, 4 HR</p>
<p>Full disclosure: The primary reason Wagman is on this list is because he graduated from my high school, Monte Vista in Danville. He went in the 17th round in 2013 out of college, the same year as his more famous Monte Vista teammate Mark Appel. He has a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=t554&player_id=642850#/splits/R/pitching/2015/MINORS">hell of a beard</a> already. These are all reasons to root for him.</p>
<p>The other reason Wagman is here is his K/BB rate as a starter. He's 24, and although he's still in Beloit he's also only in his second full professional season so it's not like he's been lingering around the minors forever. He actually began 2015 by making a decent five-inning start for Double-A Midland, followed by a few relief outings in High-A Stockton that resulted in a 13.50 ERA. You could look at that and say he tested and failed, or you could say that he already got a taste of some higher levels and learned from those experiences. He's not relatively noteworthy right now, but let's see what he does next year. He went to my high school, man. Let me have this one.</p>
<p>(As near as I can tell, there has never been an MV Mustang in MLB. Baseball-Reference lists two, but further research shows they went to a different Monte Vista in San Diego. There was a pitcher named Jeff Lyman in the A's system as recently as 2011, but he does not appear to be playing anymore.)</p>
<h3>Chad Oberacker and Brett Vertigan | CF</h3>
<p><b>Oberacker Double-A:</b> 425 PAs, .291/.353/.425, 117 wRC+, 5 HR, 17 SB, 38 BB, 69 Ks<br><b>Vertigan High-A:</b> 487 PAs, .286/.349/.399, 106 wRC+, 4 HR, 24 SB, 44 BB, 71 Ks</p>
<p>These two guys deserve at least an honorable mention, but they are so similar that I'm lumping them together into one section. They are both left-handed center fielders who are too old for their leagues -- Oberacker is in Double-A Midland at age 26, and Vertigan just turned 25 in August but is still at High-A Stockton. They were both drafted by the A's but not as particularly high picks (25th round, 10th round), and they had good pro debuts before stumbling on their climbs up the ladder. And this year, they both got back on track.</p>
<p>Oberacker and Vertigan each have similar offensive profiles. They are top-of-the-order types, getting on base with a combination of a good average and a slightly above-average walk rate. Neither has much home run power, but they help make up for it by keeping their strikeouts in check (mid-teens K%, not great but not terrible). Finally, they're both base stealers -- Oberacker is 17-for-20 in Double-A with a career-high of 30 (in 2012), and Vertigan is 24-for-32 in High-A and 30-for-39 overall including his early-season stint in Single-A Beloit. I don't know anything about the defensive skills of either guy, but I imagine that if they were particular standouts in that capacity then we would have heard about it by now.</p>
<p>It's easy for me to write these guys off for being old for their leagues, since neither is dominating his level -- Oberacker has a 117 wRC+, while Vertigan is only at 106. But you never <i>really</i> know, do you? If I had to guess, I'd say Oberacker will be playing CF in Nashville next year. What if he posts another 117 wRC+ in Triple-A? Then he's only one step away from Oakland, filling in for an injured Athletic. Vertigan isn't a power hitter, so maybe he'll find success in Midland where many others don't, like Oberacker did this year. I would call both of them longshots in terms of ever making any impact in Oakland, but anytime there's a one-in-a-million shot on a prospect who plays a position that is thin in the organization, you might as well respond by saying, "So you're saying there's a chance!"</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>The categories:</p>
<p>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/28/8964889/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-kendall-graveman-billy-burns">The Graduates</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/30/9055049/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-pat-venditte-barry-zito" target="_blank">The MLB Pitching Depth</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/1/9083103/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-dillon-overton-raul-alcantara/in/7182938">The Young Hurlers</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/2/9085545/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-daniel-gossett-chris-kohler">The Even Younger Hurlers</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/6/9093465/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-chad-pinder-franklin-barreto-joey-wendle">The Middle Infielders</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/8/9119391/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-matt-olson-renato-nunez">The Corner Sluggers: 1B</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/13/9121839/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-matt-chapman-max-muncy">The Corner Sluggers: 3B</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/20/9160335/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-tyler-ladendorf-sandber-pimentel" target="_blank">The Best of the Rest</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/26/9203677/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-colin-walsh-ryan-dull-brendan-mccurry" target="_blank">Stepping up in 2015</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/31/9226113/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-jesus-lopez-jose-torres" target="_blank">New International Standouts</a><br>- <b>Final Names of Note</b><br>- The 2015 Draft<br>- The New Acquisitions</p>
<p>***</p>
<h3>The List</h3>
<p>Each player is listed at the level at which he currently plays, and his stats only include his performance at that current level. The levels refer to the Nashville Sounds (AAA), the Midland RockHounds (AA), the High-A Stockton Ports (A+), the Single-A Beloit Snappers (A), the short-season Low-A Vermont Lake Monsters (A-), and the Arizona Rookie League (RK). For the hitters, I am going to focus less on raw numbers and more on league-adjusted stats (wRC+) and rates (K% and BB%).</p>
<p>The list has been expanded to include the five new July trade acquisitions (stats listed are since their acquisitions), as well as five of the top June draft picks (first six picks minus third-round pick Dakota Chalmers, who is still in Rookie ball). At the end you will find five more players, labelled SU (Stepping Up).</p>
<p id="paragraph47"><i><b>* The following recent transactions are not reflected:</b> <b>Ryan Dull</b> and <b>Tyler Ladendorf</b> were promoted from Triple-A Nashville to MLB; <b>Jose Torres</b> was promoted to from Single-A Beloit to High-A Stockton. ... Rangel Ravelo (AAA), Ryan Dull (AAA), Dillon Overton (AA), Brendan McCurry (AA), Yairo Munoz (A+), and Mikey White (A) received midseason promotions and I've only included their stats at their new, higher levels. ... Aaron Kurcz spent time in the Braves' system, but I've only included his stats from Triple-A Nashville. ... Max Muncy has also appeared in MLB this year but is currently back in the minors.</i></p>
<p><i><b>^ Player is currently on the disabled list.</b> New additions since last update: None </i><i>... Old injuries: Franklin Barreto (wrist), Matt Chapman (left wrist), Kendall Graveman (oblique), Bobby Wahl (undisclosed) ... Back from the DL: None at this time ... Misc.: </i><i>Kevin Duchene hasn't pitched since Aug. 11; Raul Alcantara has not pitched since Aug. 22; Chris Bassitt skipped his start on Sept. 1 with a shoulder injury but hopes to be back "in a week or two" (</i><a href="http://www.sfchronicle.com/athletics/article/Oakland-A-s-Chris-Bassitt-won-t-miss-much-time-6479476.php?t=3d175b432e3d4cb4da&cmpid=twitter-premium" target="_blank"><i>via Susan Slusser</i></a><i>).</i></p>
<table border="0">
<caption><b>Oakland A's 2015 Community Prospect List (stats thru Sept. 1)</b></caption>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>#</b></td>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Pos</b></td>
<td><b>Age</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015 Stats</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Matt Olson</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>565 PAs, 126 wRC+, 16 HR, 18.1% BB, 23.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Franklin Barreto^</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>354 PAs, 119 wRC+, 12 HR, 4.2% BB, 18.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Matt Chapman^</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>340 PAs, 148 wRC+, 23 HR, 11.5% BB, 22.6% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Renato Nunez</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>386 PAs, 117 wRC+, 16 HR, 7.3% BB, 15.5% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Dillon Overton</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>12 starts, 3.32 ERA, 59⅔ ip, 42 Ks, 15 BB, 4 HR, 3.51 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Kendall Graveman^</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>21 starts, 97 ERA+, 115⅔ ip, 2.03 K/BB, 4.60 FIP, 0.4 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Yairo Munoz</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>146 PAs, 130 wRC+, 4 HR, 4.8% BB, 11.6% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Sean Nolin</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>14 games, 2.66 ERA, 47⅓ ip, 38 Ks, 19 BB, 5 HR, 4.81 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Raul Alcantara</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>14 starts, 4.14 ERA, 45⅔ ip, 27 Ks, 8 BB, 3 HR, 4.11 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Joey Wendle</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>590 PAs, 97 wRC+, 8 HR, 3.4% BB, 18.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>R.J. Alvarez</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>12 games, 36 ERA+, 10⅓ ip, 3.00 K/BB, 6.42 FIP, -0.2 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Rangel Ravelo</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>91 PAs, 107 wRC+, 1 HR, 6.6% BB, 19.8% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Mark Canha</td>
<td>1B/OF</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>357 PAs, 102 wRC+, 11 HR, 6.2% BB, 20.4% Ks, 1.2 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Chad Pinder</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>517 PAs, 136 wRC+, 15 HR, 5.4% BB, 19.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Chris Bassitt</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>15 games, 140 ERA+, 73⅓ ip, 2.35 K/BB, 3.85 FIP, 1.0 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Dustin Driver</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>12 games, 4.47 ERA, 46⅓ ip, 28 Ks, 31 BB, 4 HR, 5.51 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Billy Burns</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>461 PAs, 103 wRC+, 25 SB, 4.8% BB, 15.2% Ks, 2.0 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Max Muncy</td>
<td>1B/3B</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>217 PAs, 103 wRC+, 4 HR, 11.5% BB, 24.0% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Tyler Ladendorf</td>
<td>IF/OF</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>*AAA</td>
<td>90 PAs, 76 wRC+, 1 HR, 5.6 BB%, 25.6 K%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Daniel Gossett</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>26 starts, 4.77 ERA, 139⅔ ip, 107 Ks, 51 BB, 16 HR, 4.58 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Bobby Wahl^</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>24 games, 4.18 ERA, 32⅓ ip, 36 Ks, 14 BB, 2 HR, 3.17 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Chris Kohler</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>10 games, 4.79 ERA, 35⅔ ip, 36 Ks, 9 BB, 2 HR, 3.43 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Pat Venditte</td>
<td>SHP</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>13 games, 122 ERA+, 16⅓ ip, 2.50 K/BB, 4.23 FIP, 0.0 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Jaycob Brugman</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>543 PAs, 106 wRC+, 6 HR, 11.0% BB, 15.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Brett Graves</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>27 starts, 5.10 ERA, 137⅔ ip, 88 Ks, 42 BB, 13 HR, 4.35 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Bruce Maxwell</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>371 PAs, 83 wRC+, 2 HR, 10.2% BB, 13.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Ryon Healy</td>
<td>3B/1B</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>519 PAs, 114 wRC+, 10 HR, 5.6% BB, 14.8% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Branden Kelliher</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>RK</td>
<td>Arizona Rookie League</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Dylan Covey</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>25 starts, 3.75 ERA, 134⅓ ip, 95 Ks, 41 BB, 13 HR, 4.67 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Sandber Pimentel</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>463 PAs, 112 wRC+, 13 HR, 10.8% BB, 21.8% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Colin Walsh</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>593 PAs, 165 wRC+, 13 HR, 19.6% BB, 21.2% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Ryan Dull</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>*AAA</td>
<td>12 games, 1.13 ERA, 16 ip, 21 Ks, 3 BB, 1 HR, 2.33 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Brendan McCurry</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>12 games, 1.84 ERA, 14⅔ ip, 22 Ks, 5 BB, 1 HR, 2.20 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Jose Torres</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>*A</td>
<td>44 games, 2.69 ERA, 73⅔ ip, 80 Ks, 23 BB, 4 HR, 3.03 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Aaron Kurcz</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>16 games, 3.91 ERA, 23 ip, 27 Ks, 15 BB, 1 HR, 3.76 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Sean Manaea</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>6 starts, 2.21 ERA, 36⅔ ip, 38 Ks, 15 BB, 3 HR, 3.59 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Daniel Mengden</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>8 starts, 4.25 ERA, 42⅓ ip, 41 Ks, 10 BB, 6 HR, 4.53 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Casey Meisner</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>6 starts, 3.29 ERA, 27⅓ ip, 20 Ks, 7 BB, 1 HR, 3.56 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Aaron Brooks</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>5 games, 75 ERA+, 22 ip, 4.50 K/BB, 3.95 FIP, 0.4 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Jacob Nottingham</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>156 PAs, 97 wRC+, 2 HR, 6.4% BB, 19.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Richie Martin</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>211 PAs, 112 wRC+, 2 HR, 11.4% BB, 20.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Mikey White</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>118 PAs, 54 wRC+, 1 HR, 5.9% BB, 22.0% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Skye Bolt</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>179 PAs, 101 wRC+, 3 HR, 11.7% BB, 22.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Kevin Duchene</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>8 games, 4.84 ERA, 22⅓ ip, 18 Ks, 9 BB, 2 HR, 4.35 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Bubba Derby</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>11 games, 0.83 ERA, 32⅔ ip, 41 Ks, 8 BB, 2 HR, 2.48 FIP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/9/2/9231211/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-carson-blair-aaron-kurczAlex Hall2015-08-31T07:14:03-07:002015-08-31T07:14:03-07:00A's prospect watch: Meet Jesus Lopez & Jose Torres
<figure>
<img alt="Three of these four players are from Venezuela." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dVJy-F4XgvYxoJIZ9PNxeakr8MM=/0x0:3036x2024/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47061438/GettyImages-85427811.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Three of these four players are from Venezuela. | Doug Benc/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Before the season began, Athletics Nation voted on its annual Community Prospect List, ranking the 25 best players in the minors. With hope for the playoffs dwindling by the day, it's time for us to take a look at how those top prospects are doing. For the full 2015 list, as well as a list of the different categories that I've separated the prospects into, scroll to the bottom of the post.</p>
<p>Today, we will visit some prospects who didn't make our preseason list but are <b>New International Standouts</b>. There's an exceedingly good chance that you hadn't heard of these guys before the season, or even before today. Three of them had already made their U.S. debuts before the season, but they've each now established themselves at the Low-A level and are gaining steam as prospects. Two of them have even cracked the A's Top-30 rankings on MLB.com. These guys are low-level wild cards right now, but I'm feeling lucky so let's take a look at them.</p>
<p>In the next post, we'll run through a final handful of other players who bear mention for various reasons before getting to the 2015 draft and the July trade acquisitions.</p>
<h4>International names entering the U.S. Picture</h4>
<p><b>2B Jesus Lopez</b> (Low-A Vermont)<br><b>LHP Jose Torres </b>(High-A Stockton)<br><b>RHP Angel Duno</b> (Low-A Vermont)<br><b>RHP Carlos Navas</b> (High-A Stockton)</p>
<p><i>***</i></p>
<h3>2B Jesus Lopez</h3>
<p><b>Current level: Low-A</b> (Vermont Lake Monsters)</p>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 191 PAs, .205/.230/.232, 38 wRC+, 0 HR, 5 BB, 37 Ks</p>
<p><b>Scouting grades: </b>Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Arm: 45 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 (<a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015/#list=oak" target="_blank">via MLB.com</a>)</p>
<p>I really shouldn't even have posted his stats at Vermont. Lopez is on this list because of potential, not current production. The Nicaraguan native is only 18 years old, with his next birthday in October, so age-wise it's like he was just drafted out of high school this summer and is forgoing his freshman year of college this fall. He's the youngest player on the Lake Monsters' roster by more than 16 months, with the next-closest being 2014 sixth-round pick Trace Loehr (a shortstop out of high school). After Loehr on the age list comes Chris Kohler, whose professional career has barely begun, and this year's first-round pick Richie Martin, who is nearly two years older than Lopez. The fact that this guy is even in Vermont yet at all is the most important part of his stat line, along with the hefty $950,000 bonus the A's signed him for in 2013.</p>
<p>With that in mind, MLB.com has Lopez as the No. 18 prospect in Oakland's system in their midseason update, quite a jump from his No. 49 spot in <a href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1523586-final-oakland-a-s-top-prospects-list-for-2015" target="_blank">Oakland Clubhouse's</a> wonderfully thorough preseason list. Here's a little taste (<a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015/#list=oak" target="_blank">via MLB.com</a>):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Lopez didn't take up switch-hitting until late in his amateur career, but his natural feel at the plate made him a quick study. He has an advanced approach at the plate for a teenager and projects to develop some power as he physically matures.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When he was signed back in 2013, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/no-14-international-prospect-jesus-lopez/">Ben Badler of Baseball America was encouraged</a> by his "sweet swing and an advanced offensive approach," and before the 2015 season <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/evaluating-the-prospects-oakland-athletics/">Kiley McDaniel of Fangraphs</a> noted Lopez's "advanced feel for the game and making contact." He has played shortstop in the past, but these reports seem to agree that his future lies at second base.</p>
<p>Don't think too much about Lopez yet. He's a teenager who is still growing up and filling out, all while <a href="http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2014/11/30/deportes/1432915-joven-astuto-y-hambriento" target="_blank">moving</a> from his home country to the Untied States. Just keep his name in your back pocket and check back next year to see how he has progressed.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Athletics?src=hash">#Athletics</a> 2nd youngest on the roster (3+ weeks older than Hiciano) Jesus Lopez <a href="http://t.co/6JMVKyq9pu">pic.twitter.com/6JMVKyq9pu</a></p>
— Kim ~ CopperStateA's (@Cu_As) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cu_As/status/588918487126507520">April 17, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<h3>LHP Jose Torres</h3>
<p><b>Current level: High-A</b> (Stockton Ports)*</p>
<p><i>* Torres was <a href="https://twitter.com/oakclubhouse/status/638406789336182784" target="_blank">promoted to High-A Stockton</a> about three hours after I posted this article.</i></p>
<p><b>2015 Single-A stats:</b> 44 games, 2.69 ERA, 73⅔ innings, 80 Ks, 23 BB, 4 HR, 3.02 FIP<br><b>2015 High-A stats:</b> Has not appeared yet</p>
<p><b>Scouting Grades:</b> Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45 (<a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015/#list=oak" target="_blank">via MLB.com</a>)</p>
<p>Torres is more advanced than Lopez. He's 21 years old, and he's in his fifth professional season and fourth season in the U.S. To put that in perspective, he was <a href="https://twitter.com/Athletics/status/17596154173" target="_blank">signed at the same time</a> as Renato Nunez. The lefty was initially a starter, but he has transitioned to full-time relief work with the Single-A Beloit Snappers.</p>
<p>After a strong season out of Beloit's bullpen, MLB.com currently ranks Torres as the A's No. 23 prospect, ahead of fellow pitchers R.J. Alvarez (24), Daniel Mengden (25), Bobby Wahl (26), and Brendan McCurry (30). <a target="_blank" href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015/#list=oak">From MLB.com</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Torres fastball made a jump in the Venezuelan Winter League last offseason and he has maintained his increased velocity this season. He usually sits at 92-94 mph and peaks at 96. He's seeking more consistency with his slider to give him a reliable second pitch.</p>
<p>Torres also has a changeup that he hasn't used as much since becoming a full-time reliever this year. In addition to his fastball, he also has improved his control and command, as he's throwing more strikes and more quality strikes. If he keeps this up, he could emerge as a set-up man in the big leagues one day.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That report isn't kidding about Torres' increased velocity -- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.scout.com/mlb/athletics/story/1454141-quick-hits-with-a-s-prospect-jose-torres">Oakland Clubhouse described him</a> as "high-80s, touching 90 on occasion" as recently as Sept. 2014. He's tall, he throws hard, and he throws strikes. I don't know a whole lot about this guy yet, but there seems to be a lot to like. (<b>UPDATE, 1:00 p.m. PT:</b> The A's must agree, because they promoted him to High-A Stockton on Monday about three hours after I posted this article, <a href="https://twitter.com/oakclubhouse/status/638406789336182784" target="_blank">via Melissa Lockard</a>.)</p>
<p>Here's a photo of Torres pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League in 2014:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="es" dir="ltr">José Torres también destacó al lanzar dos innings en blanco con dos ponches en la clase A media de los <a href="https://twitter.com/Athletics">@Athletics</a> <a href="http://t.co/orFYRWG2Qr">pic.twitter.com/orFYRWG2Qr</a></p>
— Leones del Caracas (@leones_cbbc) <a href="https://twitter.com/leones_cbbc/status/596326559566422017">May 7, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<h3>RHP Angel Duno</h3>
<p><b>Current level: Low-A</b> (Vermont Lake Monsters)</p>
<p><b>2015 Low-A stats:</b> 5 starts, 5.62 ERA, 24 innings, 9 Ks, 1 BB, 2 HR, 3.91 FIP</p>
<p>You can thank AN member "franks a lot" for pointing out Duno in a comment recently and getting me to take a look at him. Franks a lot, buddy!</p>
<p>I know even less about Duno than I do about the previous two youngsters, and this time I don't have an MLB.com scouting report to fall back on because he isn't in their Top 30. The Venezuelan right-hander is 21 years old, which makes him the same age as most of Oakland's 2015 draft picks -- he's a month younger than fifth-rounder Kevin Duchene, and five days older than fourth-rounder Skye Bolt.</p>
<p>Duno spent three seasons in the short-season Dominican Summer League (Rookie ball), but in 2015 he made the jump to the Arizona Rookie League. I'm not big on Rookie League numbers, but Duno's 35 strikeouts to 3 walks (in 40 innings) certainly open the eyes. That performance earned him a promotion to Vermont to join most of the 2015 draft class, and it took until his fifth start to issue his first walk. Unfortunately, he also got rocked in that fifth start and his 3.32 ERA shot up to 5.62, and on top of that his strikeout rate is awfully low. But one walk in 24 innings still gets my attention.</p>
<p>And honestly, that is the extent of my knowledge about him. I don't know what he throws or how hard he throws it, so we'll have to wait until more info comes out to find out what to make of these intriguing stats. At 6'0, 180, is he destined for the bullpen? Or is he the kind of efficient pitch-to-contact guy who can eat innings in a rotation? Your guess is as good as mine at the moment. At this point, though, I think we can safely deduce that he knows how to throw strikes.</p>
<p>Here's a pic of Duno in Arizona:</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="tl"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZL_Athletics?src=hash">#AZL_Athletics</a> 6/25/15 at Mariners Angel Duno <a href="http://t.co/CnfeLNjay7">pic.twitter.com/CnfeLNjay7</a></p>
— Kim ~ CopperStateA's (@Cu_As) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cu_As/status/614348700392013824">June 26, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
</p>
<h3>RHP Carlos Navas</h3>
<p><b>Current level: High-A</b> (Stockton Ports)</p>
<p><b>2015 Single-A stats:</b> 44 games, 2.61 ERA, 58⅔ innings, 69 Ks, 18 BB, 2 HR, 2.70 FIP<br><b>2015 High-A stats:</b> 4 games, 3.86 ERA, 7 innings, 7 Ks, 2 BB, 1 HR, 5.35 FIP</p>
<p>Like with Duno, I know little about Navas except for his numbers. He spent three seasons with Oakland's Dominican Rookie League team, two more in the Arizona Rookie League, and then made it to full-season ball in Beloit this year at age 22 in his sixth pro campaign. He responded by striking out everything in sight, over a quarter of the batters he faced and nearly four for every walk. Even with a pedestrian hit rate he maintained a great ERA, and in mid-August the Venezuelan found himself promoted to High-A Stockton.</p>
<p>That promotion is the reason I included Navas in this post. He's older than the three preceding players, and in fact he turned 23 a couple weeks ago, but he's an appropriate age for his level and this is still his first taste of full-season ball. We're talking about an A-ball reliever here, and an as-yet unheralded one at that, but he's a guy to keep an eye on in 2016.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="es" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZL?src=hash">#AZL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Athletics?src=hash">#Athletics</a> RHP Carlos Navas facing <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash">#Dodgers</a> Cuban-born prospect, Erisbel Arruebarrena <a href="http://t.co/tMyfBNTJ3Z">http://t.co/tMyfBNTJ3Z</a></p>
— Kim ~ CopperStateA's (@Cu_As) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cu_As/status/501655755729010689">August 19, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>The categories:</p>
<p>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/28/8964889/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-kendall-graveman-billy-burns" target="_blank">The Graduates</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/7/30/9055049/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-pat-venditte-barry-zito">The MLB Pitching Depth</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/1/9083103/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-dillon-overton-raul-alcantara/in/7182938" target="_blank">The Young Hurlers</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/2/9085545/oakland-athletics-2015-community-prospect-list-daniel-gossett-chris-kohler" target="_blank">The Even Younger Hurlers</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/6/9093465/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-chad-pinder-franklin-barreto-joey-wendle" target="_blank">The Middle Infielders</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/8/9119391/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-matt-olson-renato-nunez" target="_blank">The Corner Sluggers: 1B</a><br>- <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/13/9121839/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-matt-chapman-max-muncy" target="_blank">The Corner Sluggers: 3B</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/20/9160335/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-tyler-ladendorf-sandber-pimentel">The Best of the Rest</a><br>- <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/26/9203677/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-colin-walsh-ryan-dull-brendan-mccurry">Stepping up in 2015</a><br>- <b>New International Standouts<br></b>- Final Names of Note<br>- The 2015 Draft<br>- The New Acquisitions</p>
<p>***</p>
<h3>The List</h3>
<p>Each player is listed at the level at which he currently plays, and his stats only include his performance at that current level. The levels refer to the Nashville Sounds (AAA), the Midland RockHounds (AA), the High-A Stockton Ports (A+), the Single-A Beloit Snappers (A), and the short-season Low-A Vermont Lake Monsters (A-). For the hitters, I am going to focus less on raw numbers and more on league-adjusted stats (wRC+) and rates (K% and BB%).</p>
<p>The list has been expanded to include the five new July trade acquisitions (stats listed are since their acquisitions), as well as five of the top June draft picks (first six picks minus third-round pick Dakota Chalmers, who is still in Rookie ball). At the end you will find the three players from today's post, labelled SU (Stepping Up).</p>
<p><i><b>* The following recent transactions are not reflected:</b> None at this time ... Rangel Ravelo (AAA), Ryan Dull (AAA), Dillon Overton (AA), Brendan McCurry (AA), Yairo Munoz (A+), and Mikey White (A) received midseason promotions and I've only included their stats at their new, higher levels. ... R.J. Alvarez, Max Muncy, and Tyler Ladendorf have all appeared in MLB this year but are currently back in the minors. </i></p>
<p><i><b>^ Player is currently on the disabled list.</b> New additions since last update: None </i><i>... Old injuries: Franklin Barreto (wrist), Matt Chapman (left wrist), Kendall Graveman (oblique), Bobby Wahl (undisclosed) ... Back from the DL: Renato Nunez (hamstring) ... Misc.: </i><i> Kevin Duchene hasn't pitched since Aug. 11.</i></p>
<table border="0">
<caption><b>Oakland A's 2015 Community Prospect List (stats thru Aug. 30)</b></caption>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>#</b></td>
<td><b>Name</b></td>
<td><b>Pos</b></td>
<td><b>Age</b></td>
<td><b>Level</b></td>
<td><b>2015 Stats</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Matt Olson</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>557 PAs, 127 wRC+, 16 HR, 18.3% BB, 23.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Franklin Barreto^</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>354 PAs, 119 wRC+, 12 HR, 4.2% BB, 18.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Matt Chapman^</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>340 PAs, 148 wRC+, 23 HR, 11.5% BB, 22.6% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Renato Nunez</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>382 PAs, 117 wRC+, 16 HR, 7.1% BB, 15.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Dillon Overton</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>11 starts, 3.60 ERA, 55 ip, 35 Ks, 14 BB, 4 HR, 3.72 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Kendall Graveman^</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>21 starts, 97 ERA+, 115⅔ ip, 2.03 K/BB, 4.59 FIP, 0.4 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Yairo Munoz</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>141 PAs, 124 wRC+, 4 HR, 3.5% BB, 12.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>Sean Nolin</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>13 games, 2.95 ERA, 42⅔ ip, 32 Ks, 19 BB, 5 HR, 5.23 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Raul Alcantara</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>14 starts, 4.14 ERA, 45⅔ ip, 27 Ks, 8 BB, 3 HR, 4.10 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Joey Wendle</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>582 PAs, 96 wRC+, 8 HR, 3.4% BB, 18.2% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>R.J. Alvarez</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>31 games, 4.11 ERA, 35 ip, 41 Ks, 17 BB, 2 HR, 3.53 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Rangel Ravelo</td>
<td>3B</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>83 PAs, 109 wRC+, 1 HR, 6.0% BB, 19.3% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>Mark Canha</td>
<td>1B/OF</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>348 PAs, 102 wRC+, 10 HR, 6.0% BB, 20.4% Ks, 1.0 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Chad Pinder</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>513 PAs, 137 wRC+, 15 HR, 5.5% BB, 19.7% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>Chris Bassitt</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>15 games, 140 ERA+, 73⅓ ip, 2.35 K/BB, 3.85 FIP, 1.0 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Dustin Driver</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>12 games, 4.47 ERA, 46⅓ ip, 28 Ks, 31 BB, 4 HR, 5.50 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Billy Burns</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>456 PAs, 105 wRC+, 25 SB, 4.8% BB, 15.1% Ks, 1.8 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Max Muncy</td>
<td>1B/3B</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>209 PAs, 106 wRC+, 4 HR, 12.0% BB, 23.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Tyler Ladendorf</td>
<td>IF/OF</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>86 PAs, 85 wRC+, 1 HR, 5.8 BB%, 25.6 K%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Daniel Gossett</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>26 starts, 4.77 ERA, 139⅔ ip, 107 Ks, 51 BB, 16 HR, 4.57 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>21</td>
<td>Bobby Wahl^</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>24 games, 4.18 ERA, 32⅓ ip, 36 Ks, 14 BB, 2 HR, 3.16 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>22</td>
<td>Chris Kohler</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>9 games, 5.23 ERA, 32⅔ ip, 34 Ks, 9 BB, 2 HR, 3.45 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>23</td>
<td>Pat Venditte</td>
<td>SHP</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>13 games, 121 ERA+, 16⅓ ip, 2.50 K/BB, 4.23 FIP, 0.0 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>24</td>
<td>Jaycob Brugman</td>
<td>OF</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>535 PAs, 104 wRC+, 5 HR, 11.0% BB, 15.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>25</td>
<td>Brett Graves</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>26 starts, 5.02 ERA, 132⅔ ip, 88 Ks, 41 BB, 13 HR, 4.35 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Bruce Maxwell</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>367 PAs, 85 wRC+, 2 HR, 10.4% BB, 13.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Ryon Healy</td>
<td>3B/1B</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>515 PAs, 115 wRC+, 10 HR, 5.6% BB, 14.8% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Branden Kelliher</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>Arizona Rookie League</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Dylan Covey</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>25 starts, 3.75 ERA, 134⅓ ip, 95 Ks, 41 BB, 13 HR, 4.67 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NR</td>
<td>Sandber Pimentel</td>
<td>1B</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>455 PAs, 114 wRC+, 13 HR, 11.0% BB, 22.0% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Colin Walsh</td>
<td>2B</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>584 PAs, 165 wRC+, 13 HR, 19.2% BB, 21.4% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Ryan Dull</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>AAA</td>
<td>12 games, 1.13 ERA, 16 ip, 21 Ks, 3 BB, 1 HR, 2.34 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SU</td>
<td>Brendan McCurry</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>12 games, 1.84 ERA, 14⅔ ip, 22 Ks, 5 BB, 1 HR, 2.19 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Sean Manaea</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>AA</td>
<td>6 starts, 2.21 ERA, 36⅔ ip, 38 Ks, 15 BB, 3 HR, 3.58 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Daniel Mengden</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>7 starts, 3.43 ERA, 39⅓ ip, 38 Ks, 8 BB, 4 HR, 3.93 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Casey Meisner</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>6 starts, 3.29 ERA, 27⅓ ip, 20 Ks, 7 BB, 1 HR, 3.56 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Aaron Brooks</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>MLB</td>
<td>5 games, 75 ERA+, 22 ip, 4.50 K/BB, 3.94 FIP, 0.4 fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TR</td>
<td>Jacob Nottingham</td>
<td>C</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A+</td>
<td>151 PAs, 103 wRC+, 2 HR, 6.6% BB, 19.2% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Richie Martin</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>200 PAs, 118 wRC+, 2 HR, 11.5% BB, 20.5% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Mikey White</td>
<td>SS</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A</td>
<td>109 PAs, 56 wRC+, 1 HR, 6.4% BB, 22.9% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Skye Bolt</td>
<td>CF</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>170 PAs, 92 wRC+, 3 HR, 12.4% BB, 24.1% Ks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Kevin Duchene</td>
<td>LHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>8 games, 4.84 ERA, 22⅓ ip, 18 Ks, 9 BB, 2 HR, 4.34 FIP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DR</td>
<td>Bubba Derby</td>
<td>RHP</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>A-</td>
<td>11 games, 0.83 ERA, 32⅔ ip, 41 Ks, 8 BB, 2 HR, 2.47 FIP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/8/31/9226113/oakland-athletics-prospect-watch-jesus-lopez-jose-torresAlex Hall