A's Opening Day roster starting to come into focus

Spring Training is on the horizon for the Athletics, and there are still a few question marks on the roster with answers that likely will be determined by performance over the next two months.

Before the A’s open up camp in Mesa, Ariz., this week, here’s an early projection for their 26-man roster:

Catcher (2): Shea Langeliers, Johnny Pereda
Displaying strong durability by appearing in 254 games behind the plate over the past two seasons, Langeliers is entrenched as the A’s primary catcher. Who begins the season as his backup remains up in the air. Pereda, whom the A’s claimed off waivers from the Marlins last month, is the only other catcher currently on the 40-man roster. Non-roster invitees Kyle McCann -- who was last year’s primary backup before getting designated for assignment in January -- Willie MacIver and Daniel Susac (A's No. 11 prospect) are in the mix here. Former top prospect Tyler Soderstrom, originally drafted as a catcher, is another possibility.

First base (1): Tyler Soderstrom
Soderstrom generated some momentum for himself last season by slashing .250/.310/.485 with eight home runs and 21 RBIs over his final 37 games. After limited playing time over his first two big league seasons, the 23-year-old Turlock native should be in line for more of an everyday role in 2025.

Second base (1): Zack Gelof
Gelof battled an oblique injury in what was a difficult follow-up to his impressive 2023 rookie campaign and still ended up with 17 homers and 25 stolen bases. The A’s fully believe the 25-year-old can get himself back on track this upcoming season.

Third base (1): Gio Urshela
Urshela has consistently graded out as an above-average defender at the hot corner over the past several seasons, making him an ideal candidate to man third base on an everyday basis for an A’s club that went through multiple players at the position last season and struggled to find a consistently reliable option.

Shortstop (2): Jacob Wilson, Darell Hernaiz
After slashing .401/.446/.606 over 337 Minor League plate appearances, Wilson got his feet wet in the Majors last season and demonstrated his impressive tools -- both offensively and defensively. He should hit the ground running in 2025 as the A’s starting shortstop. Hernaiz provides another option for the left side of the infield.

Outfield (5): Brent Rooker, Miguel Andujar, Seth Brown, JJ Bleday, Lawrence Butler
Rooker emerged as one of the game’s elite hitters last season by hitting .293 with a .927 OPS, 39 home runs and 112 RBIs, all while playing through a forearm injury that required surgery after the season. Now fully healthy, he is expected to see more time in left field this upcoming season. Brown is a versatile power threat who should see time at the corner outfield spots and first base. Bleday and Butler enjoyed breakout campaigns and will enter the year with starting spots in center and right. Andujar could alternate with Rooker at designated hitter. Speedster Esteury Ruiz is another option here but likely enters camp as the odd man out.

Utility (1): Max Schuemann
Schuemann went through a stretch as the A’s starting shortstop last season prior to Wilson’s arrival and ultimately demonstrated his value as a super-utility player by logging time at second, third and all three outfield spots.

Starting pitchers (5): Luis Severino, JP Sears, Jeffrey Springs, Osvaldo Bido, Joey Estes
The A’s addressed their rotation in a major way this offseason by adding a pair of veterans in Severino and Springs. With the durable Sears also a lock and Bido well ahead for the fourth spot, the final rotation slot could come down to a spring battle between a group that includes Estes, Mitch Spence, J.T. Ginn, Brady Basso and Hogan Harris. Left-hander Ken Waldichuk and right-hander Luis Medina are both recovering from Tommy John surgery and could enter the rotation picture later this season.

Relievers (8): Mitch Spence, Grant Holman, Noah Murdock, T.J. McFarland, Michel Ota?ez, Tyler Ferguson, José Leclerc, Mason Miller
Miller returns as the closer after a stellar 2024 All-Star campaign as a rookie. Newcomer Leclerc figures to slot into a high-leverage role along with Ferguson, Ota?ez and McFarland. Murdock was a Rule 5 selection this winter, which means he must make the team out of Spring Training and remain with the club for the entire season or be offered back to his original club in the Royals. Spence, Ginn, Basso and Harris are all in the mix for long relief roles if they do not make the rotation.