MESA, Ariz. -- The Athletics spent more money this offseason than they have in years. They paid the largest guaranteed contract ($67 million) in franchise history to Luis Severino, gave $125.5 million in extensions to Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker and assumed $21.75 million in obligations to Jeffrey Springs after acquiring him from the Rays in December.
Though those moves will assure a veteran presence as the club plays its first season in Sacramento, the A¡¯s also could have an influx of rookies in 2025. Their four best prospects -- shortstop Jacob Wilson, first baseman Nick Kurtz, outfielder Colby Thomas and right-hander Mason Barnett -- have the talent and opportunity to earn starting jobs at some point this year.
Wilson (No. 1/MLB No. 31) will break camp as the A¡¯s shortstop after slashing .250/.314/.315 during a month in the Majors last season. The sixth overall pick in the 2023 Draft out of Grand Canyon is an elite contact hitter who batted .401 in 79 games in the Minors, and he gets the job done defensively. He¡¯s a better version of his father, Jack, who played 12 years in the big leagues and made the 2004 All-Star Game.
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¡°Jack has a knack for getting hits,¡± farm director Ed Sprague said. ¡°It¡¯s not going to be big power, but I think he can hit between 10-15 homers a year because he¡¯s such a smart hitter, and he¡¯ll learn what counts he can look for inside pitches to drive.
¡°We¡¯ve been fortunate to have a lot of good defensive shortstops come through here, and he¡¯s another one. He makes plays, his arm is strong enough, he has good feet and hands. His dad taught him well.¡±
The A¡¯s ranked Kurtz (No. 2/MLB No. 38) atop their Draft board last summer and were delighted that he was available with the No. 4 overall choice. Though a hamstring injury limited him in his pro debut, he raked at a .360/.482/.674 clip in 25 games between Single-A, Double-A and the Arizona Fall League. While his well-above-average raw power is his most obvious tool, he¡¯s also a gifted hitter who led NCAA Division I with 78 walks at Wake Forest last spring and plays a nifty first base.
¡°Nick really is a complete package,¡± Sprague said. ¡°His power stands out first but he has true hitting skills. It¡¯s not just turn and burn. He¡¯s a monster but he moves his feet well and he¡¯s surprisingly athletic at first base. He¡¯s going to move fast. I¡¯m not going to be surprised to see him in Sacramento this year.¡±
Thomas (No. 3) flew more under the radar in college than Wilson and Kurtz did, coming out of Mercer as a third-round pick in 2022. He¡¯s tooled up, with plus power and solid speed that translated into a .277/.342/.563 season between Double-A and Triple-A last year, when he led the Minors in extra-base hits (80) while ranking second in doubles (44) and total bases (289) and fourth in homers (31). He did strike out in 25 percent of his plate appearances, and that figure rose to 30 percent at Triple-A.
¡°Colby¡¯s next hurdle is his whiff rate,¡± Sprague said. ¡°When he cuts that down, it means more balls in play, more doubles and home runs. He¡¯s aware of it. It¡¯s really about laying off some high heaters and hard breakers while maintaining some of his aggressiveness. He can really run and play above-average defense. We think he can play all three outfield spots.¡±
The top pitching prospect in the system, Barnett (No. 4) headlined a three-player package from the Royals in a deal for Lucas Erceg last July. Using a traditional four-pitch mix while providing consistent strikes, the righty posted a 2.61 ERA with a 52/13 K/BB ratio in 41 1/3 Double-A innings following the trade and allowed just one run in two Texas League postseason starts.
¡°Mason¡¯s cut/ride heater and his slider complement each other very well,¡± Sprague said. ¡°We want him to throw his changeup more than he throws it. He was very impressive for us, especially in the playoffs.¡±
Camp standout: Gunnar Hoglund
Hoglund (No. 16) established himself as a top-10-overall candidate at Mississippi in 2021 before blowing out his elbow that May and requiring Tommy John surgery. The Blue Jays still drafted the right-hander 19th overall before shipping him to the A¡¯s in a trade for Matt Chapman a year later. In his first three years as a pro, Hoglund pounded the strike zone and reached Triple-A but didn¡¯t quite regain the 92-96 mph fastball and 83-88 mph slider he showed before his elbow reconstruction.
¡°Gunnar has had a great camp,¡± Sprague said. ¡°His velocity has ticked up to 97-98 mph this spring. I think he was [holding back] on himself last year. His slider seems improved too. It makes a difference because he has been more of a command guy.¡±
Bounceback candidate: Steven Echavarria
The A¡¯s floated Echavarria down to the third round in the '23 Draft, where they paid the New Jersey prep right-hander first-round money ($3 million) to divert him from a Florida commitment. He displayed a power arsenal (mid-90s fastball, mid-80s slider, upper-80s changeup) during his pro debut last summer, but spotty control and command resulted in a 6.55 ERA in Single-A.
¡°Steven has been good this spring,¡± Sprague said. ¡°He has been up to 98 mph and seems to be around the zone more. The stuff is certainly there. The slider and changeup are good but they¡¯re just not consistent. When he gets in trouble, he tends to try to throw the ball by everybody. He¡¯s still learning feel.¡±
Draft sleeper: Davis Diaz
After declining seven-figure bonus offers as a California high schooler in 2021, Diaz became an immediate starter at third base for Vanderbilt but didn¡¯t make much impact (.243/.360/.369) in three college seasons. His defensive versatility outshines his individual tools, and the A¡¯s began converting him to catcher after signing him as an eighth-rounder last July.
¡°Davis has the arm strength, receiving and blocking to do it,¡± Sprague said. ¡°The blocking usually takes time but he has really taken to it. He has a quick bat too.¡±