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The Athletics proved their 2012 resurgence was no fluke, taking home their second straight American League West title in 2013.
They followed it with yet another Division Series exit, but the franchise appears set to keep competing with its bigger-spending division rivals in the seasons ahead. General manager Billy Beane won the Baseball America Major League Executive of the Year award as the A’s embraced the use of platoons as a means of generating offense on a budget.
(Oakland ranked 27th out of 30 teams in Opening Day payroll in 2013 at $60.7 million.) The A’s used platoons at four positions and had four outfielders share three jobs. To get to that point, the organization found some new homes for several current or former prospects.
Having young, cost-controlled players on hand will continue to be vital to the Athletics’ success. Still, that hasn’t stopped them from using prospects as assets to help the big league team, and made several moves in 2013 to further their use of platoons.
The A’s made a pair of key prospects-for-big leaguer deals following the 2012 season in which they surrendered their two highest-ranked pitching prospects at the time, righthanders A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock.
Oakland traded Cole to the Nationals in January 2013 in a three-team deal that also involved the Mariners and brought John Jaso to the A’s to be part of their catching rotation.
A few weeks later, Oakland brought in shortstop Jed Lowrie from the Astros, giving up Peacock, first baseman Chris Carter and catcher Max Stassi. Carter already had graduated to the majors, but he had become the odd man out in Oakland’s first base platoon behind Brandon Moss and rookie Rule 5 pick Nate Freiman.
Stassi had been a high-profile prospect before his career was beset by injuries, though he did make the majors in 2013 with Houston. The A’s later dealt three first-round picks within a few months of each other: Jemile Weeks (2008), Grant Green (2009) and Michael Choice (2010). They dispatched Green, who had struggled to find a defensive home, to the Angels at the trade deadline for Alberto Callaspo, whom they paired in a platoon with Eric Sogard at second base.
In December, Choice went to the Rangers for outfielder Craig Gentry, another move to further the A’s platoon options. Weeks, who had never regained the form that saw him hit .303 as a rookie in 2011, went to Baltimore for closer Jim Johnson later in December. Even minus Cole and Peacock, the A’s didn’t lack for young pitching in 2013.
Four-fifths of Oakland’s rotation was age 26 or younger, save for 40-year-old Bartolo Colon. Righthander Dan Straily, the organization’s breakout prospect in 2012, had a solid first full year in Oakland, going 10-8, 3.86 in 27 starts. The A’s also got vital contributions from righty Sonny Gray, their 2011 first-round pick, who made his major league debut in July and joined the rotation down the stretch. Gray went 5-3, 2.67 in 64 big league innings during the regular season and made two playoff starts, including an electrifying performance in which he threw eight shutout innings against the Tigers in Game Two of their Division Series.
Between trades, the graduations of Gray and Straily and a couple of thin drafts in 2010 and 2011, the upper levels of Oakland’s system have been largely cleaned out of impact prospects.
Just two of Oakland’s Top 10 Prospects—Addison Russell and Max Muncy—are expected to open the season at Double-A or above.
1. Addison Russell, ss
Addison Russell (Photo by Bill Mitchell)
Born: Jan. 23, 1994. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 195.
Drafted: HS—Pace, Fla., 2012 (1st round). Signed by: Kelcey Mucker.
Background: A prominent amateur player, Russell was one of just two underclassmen to play in the 2010 Under Armour All-America Game. Athletics scouts were impressed at how he stood out playing with USA Baseball’s 18-and-under team, where he hit a grand slam in the gold-medal win against Canada in the 2011 Pan Am Championship in Colombia. In 2012, Oakland made him its first first-round pick out of high school since Jeremy Bonderman in 2001. The 11th overall pick, Russell signed for $2.625 million. After tearing up three levels in his pro debut in 2012, he earned an invitation to big league spring training in 2013. The A’s gave him an aggressive assignment to high Class A Stockton, where he was the youngest player on a California League Opening Day roster by six months. Russell took some time to catch up with the speed of the league but hit .305/.424/.555 in the second half.
Scouting Report: Russell can do everything on the field while showing polish beyond his years. His swing hasn’t required much tinkering since he entered pro ball, as he generates explosive bat speed and has the bat-to-ball skills to make consistent contact. During Russell’s time in big league camp last spring, A’s manager Bob Melvin noted the quality of his at-bats. He uses the whole field and stays inside the ball well. He already had a mature approach, but he chased fewer pitches and controlled the strike zone even better as the 2013 season went along. His 61 walks were the second-most of any Stockton player. Russell has plenty of power for a shortstop, though he’ll rate close to average overall as he projects to continue producing 15-20 homers a season after clubbing 17 in 2013. Russell tried bulking up in high school to become more of a power hitter, but the extra muscle did little more than relegate him to third base with Team USA. As a result, he refocused his efforts on making sure he could stay at shortstop, and few question his defensive future now. Russell has solid fundamentals and takes good angles to balls. His lower half works well, and he has the range and athleticism to make plenty of highlight-quality plays. He doesn’t have a cannon for an arm, but it’s strong enough for the position and plays up thanks to his quick transfer and accuracy. He runs well and steals bases efficiently.
The Future: The question isn’t if Russell will become the A’s everyday shortstop, but when. Jed Lowrie and Nick Punto will hold down the position in 2014, but neither should stand in Russell’s way when he’s ready. Slated to open 2014 at Double-A Midland, he should debut in Oakland at some point in 2014 and be the regular shortstop in 2015.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Stockton (Hi A)
.275
.377
.508
429
85
118
29
10
17
60
61
116
21
Sacramento (AAA)
.077
.077
.077
13
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
9
0
Addison Russell Player Card
2. Billy McKinney, of
Billy McKinney (Photo by Stacy Jo Grant)
Born: Aug. 23, 1994. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 195.
Drafted: HS—Plano, Texas, 2013 (1st round). Signed by: Armann Brown.
Background: The Athletics had not selected a prep hitter in the first round since Eric Chavez in 1996, but they went to that demographic in successive drafts by taking Addison Russell in 2012 and McKinney in 2013, signing the latter for $1.8 million. McKinney showed his offensive polish by hitting a combined .326/.387/.437 at two levels in his debut spent mostly in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
Scouting Report: It didn’t take long for observers in pro ball to fall in love with McKinney’s baseball aptitude and picturesque lefthanded swing. He shows advanced instincts both at the plate and in the field, with his tool set drawing Mark Kotsay comparisons. McKinney gets around on good fastballs but also has the bat control to handle offspeed stuff. Scouts forecast his power to show up more down the road, projecting him for 15-20 homers. He doesn’t have premium speed, but he’s a good athlete and average runner. He gets good jumps and takes quality routes in the outfield, giving him a chance to stick in center field, though the pre-draft consensus was he’d have to move to a corner. His average arm could give him a chance in right if he can’t stick in center.
The Future: Though McKinney isn’t bursting with elite tools, he doesn’t have any real holes, either. He starts the climb to Oakland at low Class A Beloit in 2014.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
AZL Athletics (R)
.320
.383
.414
101
31
58
7
2
2
20
17
29
7
Vermont (SS)
.353
.405
.559
34
5
12
2
1
1
6
3
4
1
Billy McKinney Player Card
3. Raul Alcantara, rhp
Raul Alcantara (Photo by Bill Mitchell).
Born: Dec. 4, 1992. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 180.
Signed: Dominican Republic, 2009. Signed by: Manny Nanita (Red Sox).
Background: The lowest-profile component of the three-player package the Athletics received from the Red Sox for Andrew Bailey in December 2011 (joining the organization along with Josh Reddick and Miles Head), Alcantara now stands as Oakland’s best pitching prospect after a big 2013. He was hit hard in the Midwest League in 2012 but was much improved last season, going 7-1, 2.44 for low Class A Beloit to earn a promotion to high Class A Stockton at midseason.
Scouting Report: The A’s attribute much of Alcantara’s improvement to staying more on line to the plate and finishing his pitches better. He now throws with a smooth, repeatable delivery and commands the zone with fastballs that sit 92-93 mph and top out at 95. He sells his plus changeup with fading action well. He was able to turn his slider and curveball into distinct offerings last season, with the slider the more promising of the two, flashing plus at times. Scouts also noted a difference in Alcantara’s mound presence, another issue in 2012.
The Future: The A’s added Alcantara to the 40-man roster after 2013, and while he’ll probably begin 2014 back at Stockton he could reach Double-A Midland at some point. He has the makings of a mid-rotation starter and could be ready for Oakland by mid-2015.
2013 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
Beloit (Lo A)
7
1
2.44
13
13
1
0
77
84
3
7
58
.272
Stockton (Hi A)
5
5
3.76
14
14
0
0
79
73
8
17
66
.243
Raul Alcantara Player Card
4. Michael Ynoa, rhp
Michael Ynoa (Photo by Brian Westerholt)
Born: Sept. 24, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-7. Wt.: 210.
Signed: Dominican Republic, 2008. Signed by: Trevor Schaffer.
Background: Injuries knocked Ynoa’s career off the rails for the better part of three years, but he has finally regained most of his luster. The star of the 2008 international class, he signed with the Athletics for a then-Latin American amateur record $4.25 million, but he lost all of the 2009 and 2011 seasons to injury, most notably Tommy John surgery. He didn’t make his full-season debut until 2013.
Scouting Report: The A’s monitored Ynoa’s workload closely, limiting him to 55 pitches early in the season and maxing him out at 90 late. Scouts worry about the uprightness in his delivery, but he gets good downhill plane from his 6-foot-7 frame, throwing fastballs at 93-95 mph and peaking at 97. His changeup and inconsistent curveball both rate as solid-average and show the makings of being plus in the future. Ynoa’s curve drops straight down with hard velocity in the low 80s when it’s on, while the changeup shows sink to the arm side. After losing so much development time, he still must work on his feel for pitching and mound presence.
The Future: With a healthy season and a trip to the Futures Game, Ynoa’s stock rebounded in 2013, but his injury history is long. The A’s will try to add another 30-40 innings to his workload 2014, which he’ll open back at high Class A Stockton.
2013 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
Beloit (Lo A)
2
1
2.14
15
15
0
0
55
45
3
18
48
.221
Stockton (Hi A)
1
2
7.71
7
6
0
1
21
23
2
17
20
.274
Michael Ynoa Player Card
5. Renato Nunez, 3b
Renato Nunez (Photo by Mike Janes)
Born: April 4, 1994. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185.
Signed: Venezuela, 2010. Signed by: Julio Franco.
Background: Nunez got onto scouts’ radars in August 2009 when he hit .333/.385/.583 for Venezuela at the World Youth Championship. The Athletics were already onto him, however, and signed him the following July for $2.2 million. Nunez made his full-season debut as a 19-year-old in 2013, part of a youthful, talented low Class A Beloit infield, and he hit .278/.327/.496 with 13 homers in the first half before tailing off.
Scouting Report: His power potential started turning into game power in 2013, when his 19 homers more than doubled his career total (nine) from two years in Rookie ball. Nunez has as pure a swing as any hitter in the organization. He can cover all parts of the plate and hit balls hard to all fields. He has the ingredients to hit for average, but right now he’s overly aggressive and too often gets himself in bad counts. Scouts have doubted Nunez’s glove going back to his amateur days, and it remains an issue after he made 39 errors in 2013, the most among Midwest League third basemen. He does have a strong enough arm, but his hands and footwork are rough and his throwing accuracy erratic. A below-average runner, he’s not a great athlete either.
The Future: Nunez’s bat will have to carry him, but it’s good enough to do it. He’ll step up to high Class A Stockton in 2014.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Beloit (Lo A)
.258
.301
.423
508
69
131
27
0
19
85
28
136
2
Renato Nunez Player Card
6. Max Muncy, 1b
Born: Aug. 25, 1990. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 190.
Drafted: Baylor, 2012 (5th round).
Signed by: Armann Brown.
Background: The Indians tried drafting Muncy as a catcher out of high school in 2009, but he opted to attend Baylor instead, where he was a two-time all-Big 12 Conference selection as a first baseman. Signed for $240,000 in the fifth round in 2012, he had a banner first full season in 2013, leading the Athletics system in homers (25) and RBIs (100) while reaching Double-A Midland.
Scouting Report: A lack of power always has been the knock on Muncy, and while he hit 21 home runs at high Class A Stockton, he connected for 15 of those in home games in a park that favors lefthanders. Scouts view his hit tool more favorably, because his pitch-recognition skills are second to none in the system and his short swing allows him to stay inside the ball. Muncy struggled at Double-A Midland initially after his July promotion but improved steadily, hitting .296/.386/.490 in August. A playable defender at first base, he’s a below-average runner who’s fairly nimble around the bag and has enough arm strength that some scouts can envision left field as an option. The A’s have shown no inclination to move him.
The Future: After he finished the 2013 season in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .224/.350/.265, Muncy will return to Double-A in 2014.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Stockton (Hi A)
.285
.400
.507
351
67
100
13
1
21
76
64
68
1
Midland (AA)
.250
.340
.413
172
22
43
12
2
4
24
24
34
0
Max Muncy Player Card
7. Dylan Covey, rhp
Born: Aug. 14, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 195.
Drafted: San Diego, 2013 (4th round).
Signed by: Eric Martins.
Background: The Brewers drafted Covey with the 14th overall pick in 2010, but when an August physical revealed he had Type 1 diabetes, he decided to attend San Diego. He had an inconsistent three-year run with the Toreros, posting a 5.05 ERA as a junior before landing with the Athletics in the 2013 draft and signing for $370,000.
Scouting Report: The A’s believe they got a first-round-caliber arm in the fourth round. Covey throws four quality pitches, led by a 90-95 mph fastball he throws with nice downhill angle. He has a power curveball with hard top-to-bottom break, and he can use it either as a put-away pitch or take a little off if he needs to get one over. His low- to mid-80s slider can be another strikeout pitch, and his changeup shows promise with the arm speed and fading action he generates. Covey throws with a smooth, easy motion and pounds the strike zone, though he does need to throw more quality strikes. Scouts felt he didn’t always trust his stuff in college, but he pitched with more confidence against wood bats.
The Future: After his promotion from short-season Vermont, Covey didn’t execute as consistently with low Class A Beloit and could head back there in 2014. The A’s see him as a big league starter and one of the steals of the 2013 draft.
2013 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
Vermont (SS)
0
0
0.00
4
4
0
0
12
9
0
1
15
.205
Beloit (Lo A)
1
1
4.75
10
10
0
0
47
64
4
17
31
.327
Dylan Covey Player Card
8. Bobby Wahl, rhp
Born: March 21, 1992. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 210.
Drafted: Mississippi, 2013 (5th round). Signed by: Kelcey Mucker.
Background: The Indians pushed hard to sign Wahl as a 39th-round pick out of high school but couldn’t keep him from going to Mississippi. Entering spring 2013 as a potential first-round pick, he dealt with persistent blister issues on his right middle finger and pitched with diminished stuff. He still dominated nonetheless, going 10-0, 2.03 for the Rebels, though he lasted until the fifth round and signed with Oakland for $500,000.
Scouting Report: The Athletics limited Wahl to shorter stints after signing him and worked on shortening his delivery, and his stuff seemed to rebound. He demonstrated the arm strength to hit 97 mph in college, but he often worked at 89-92 for Ole Miss in 2013. He bounced back to the mid-90s over the summer, though, while his slider, the main culprit behind his blister problems, showed hard, late break. He also has a quality changeup with depth. Wahl uses both sides of the plate and generally keeps the ball down. Scouts see some effort in his delivery, though it does give him deception.
The Future: Wahl has the three-pitch repertoire to be a starter. He shined as a closer for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team in 2012, however, and he could reach the majors fairly quickly as a reliever. He’ll probably open 2014 at low Class A Beloit.
2013 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
AZL Athletics (R)
0
0
9.00
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
.000
Vermont (SS)
0
0
3.92
9
4
0
2
21
20
3
6
27
.241
Bobby Wahl Player Card
9. Daniel Robertson, ss
Daniel Robertson (Photo by Mike Janes)
Born: March 22, 1994. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 185.
Drafted: HS—Upland, Calif., 2012 (1st round supplemental). Signed by: Eric Martins.
Background: After taking Addison Russell in the first round in 2012, the Athletics continued their splurge on high school players by taking Robertson and first baseman Matt Olson in the sandwich round. Signed for $1.5 million, Robertson went to low Class A Beloit in 2013 and steadily picked up his production as the season went along, batting .314/.381/.495 with five homers in August.
Scouting Report: Robertson brings an advanced plate approach for his age. He takes short swings and is willing to hit balls to all fields. Projections on his power have varied going back to his high school days, but he has the physicality, bat speed and swing path to suggest he’ll hit for power down the road. Robertson’s skeptics don’t believe he can stick at shortstop, though the A’s say he has a chance. He’s a below-average runner but not a bad athlete. He has good hands and can make the throws on balls he gets to. Range is a question, and he compensates for it with his anticipation skills, instincts and internal clock. The A’s laud Robertson’s work ethic.
The Future: A move to third base may be inevitable for Robertson with Addison Russell ahead of him in the organization, and whether he will profile at third base depends on his power development. He moves to high Class A Stockton for 2014.
2013 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
Beloit (Lo A)
.277
.353
.401
401
59
111
21
1
9
46
41
79
1
Daniel Robertson Player Card
10. Nolan Sanburn, rhp
Born: July 21, 1991. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 205.
Drafted: Arkansas, 2012 (2nd round). Signed by: Yancy Ayres.
Background: Sanburn has the potential to be one of the Athletics’ most exciting pitching prospects, but he hasn’t had many chances to show it. Used as a reliever at Arkansas, he threw just 73 innings in two seasons before he signed for $710,000 as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2012. A shoulder strain in 2013 prevented him from joining low Class A Beloit until mid-July. The A’s kept him on a schedule of working two innings every four days, then built him up to three-inning outings in instructional league.
Scouting Report: Sanburn remains inexperienced on the mound but has the four-pitch mix to be a starter, with two potential plus pitches. His fastball is electric at 93-94 mph and touches 96 with riding life, and his curveball shows impressive depth while coming in hard in the high 70s. He’ll also flash a quality sinking changeup at times and has some feel for it. Even his fourth pitch, a slider, features promising, tight spin. Sanburn has the athleticism and delivery to hold up as a starter, but after years as a reliever, he’s still learning to pace himself and develop a starter’s routine.
The Future: Sanburn’s upside is immense if everything comes together, and he has a relief background to fall back on. The A’s will keep building up his innings at high Class A Stockton.
2013 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
AZL Athletics (R)
0
0
2.25
2
1
0
0
4
3
0
1
6
.200
Beloit (Lo A)
1
3
1.38
14
1
0
0
26
17
1
9
20
.191
Nolan Sanburn Player Card
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