Lawrence Butler taking part in for the Oakland Athletics in 2023, CCed by Liscense 2.0
Actually, I simply really feel unhealthy for the followers of the Athletics. They have not had something to look ahead to since that they had Matt Olson, Sean Murphy, Matt Chapman, and Mark Canha all on the identical group and even then, issues simply weren’t clicking. We now have come to count on the A’s to sit down on the backside of the AL. For followers, issues look fairly grim.
Oakland Athletics (69-93)
AVG: .233 (twenty fifth out of 30)
SO: 1502 (twenty fifth out of 30)
OPS: .694 (twentieth out of 30)
Runs Scored per Recreation: 3.97 (twenty sixth out of 30)
ERA: 4.37 (twenty fifth out of 30)
WHIP: 1.333 (twenty fifth out of 30)
Runs Allowed per Recreation: 4.72 (twenty fifth out of 30)
Strikeouts per 9: 7.9 (twenty ninth out of 30)
Wanting on the Athletics stats this 12 months, each side of the ball have been extraordinarily underwhelming. This has been the narrative for the Athletics for the previous few years whereas they try to put a aggressive roster collectively. This season, hitting was not their sturdy go well with. The Athletics struggled with every part other than hitting for energy. They have been within the backside half for all of the above hitting stats, except house runs. The truth that they’ve folks that may hit for energy is an efficient factor, they simply want to have the ability to hit for contact and hit for common as a group as effectively.
Pitching was even worse. There was completely nothing of worth that was added via pitching. Of the pitching stats listed above, the Athletics ranked within the backside third in all of them. They common extra runs allowed per recreation than runs scored per recreation, and nonetheless gained 69 video games. Whereas that’s not lots, the offense was in a position to present sufficient in video games although their pitching was lackluster. If the pitching for the Athletics can enhance within the offseason, I might count on the Athletics to win extra video games and begin to develop into extra aggressive within the AL.
The Athletics have a number of gamers and issues to look ahead to subsequent season:
The Athletics have a number of gamers that appeared actually good this 12 months together with Mason Miller, Lawrence Butler, Shea Langliers, Jacob Wilson, and Zack Gelof. These gamers are all 26 and under, with gamers like Gelof, Butler, and Miller getting their first full season of labor this 12 months; expertise that shall be essential and helpful of their future growth.
Mason Miller had by far the largest breakout season on the Athletics. Identified for his triple digit fastball, together with a slider, he was one of the vital infamous closers within the league this 12 months. The one situation with that is the Athletics seemingly don’t wish to waste his pitching prowess when they’re solely profitable 69 video games, so don’t be shocked if he will get traded within the coming season. In 2024, he had a 2.49 ERA, with 104 strikeouts, 28 saves, and he did all of this in simply 55 video games, as he was injured for a pair weeks throughout the season. In his first 12 months of full motion, having a 2.49 ERA is unimaginable. He was a really dependable nearer/reliever, averaging 14.4 Ok/9. I might count on him to proceed so as to add to his resume and develop into a 2x all-star. His most important factor to enhance on sooner or later could be having the ability to hold his pitch depend down as a lot as doable. This might permit him to pitch a number of video games in every week and be utilized extra typically.
Lawrence Butler actually carved out a future within the MLB this 12 months, whether or not or not it’s with the Athletics or not. He was in a position to common .262, with 22 HR, 57 RBI’s, and 18 SB in 125 video games. For his first full season of labor he was one of many few vibrant spots for the crumbling Athletics group. He had the 2nd highest Wins Above Alternative (WAR) on the group at three, main him to be one of the vital dependable and handiest gamers when on the sphere. He’s solely 24 and nonetheless below the Athletics management for some time, so I might search for him to repeatedly impact the group for the higher. He simply must be a tad bit extra selective on the plate so he can draw extra walks. He walked a meager 35 occasions in 451 plate appearances, and struckout 108 occasions. If he can discover a joyful medium between being selective and being aggressive, he shall be extraordinarily profitable within the MLB.
Jacob Wilson made his debut this 12 months and was in a position to climb from Double AA to the Main League roster. Within the minors this 12 months, plus a stint with the Rookie ball group, he averaged .433, hit 7 HR, and had 39 RBI’s in 53 video games. His batting common is completely insane and is one thing the Athletics should look ahead to subsequent season if he is ready to preserve his consistency as a hitter. If he’s totally in a position to unlock his energy, he might be within the dialog for Rookie of the 12 months subsequent season. In his small pattern measurement of 92 at bats this season he was in a position to common .250, with 0 HR, and three RBI’s. Regardless of the shortage of instant success within the majors, don’t be shocked when Wilson makes the Opening Day roster proper out of Spring Coaching.
Zack Gelof slowed down somewhat bit in his first full season, however there’s nonetheless lots to be enthusiastic about. He averaged .211, with 17 HR, 49 RBI’s, 25 SB, and he did this in 138 video games. In his prior season the place he solely appeared in 69 video games he put up related numbers, and was projected to do lots higher this season. This might be the sophomore slumps, or might be accredited to this being his first full season of motion and there was merely extra movie and statistics for pitchers to have a look at, so they might recreation plan to face him. If he could make changes off of this season, I might count on him to get again to the shape we noticed him in when he first entered the league in 2023.
The A’s have been loading up on farm system expertise within the final couple drafts and worldwide signing intervals, and prospects like Nick Kurtz, Luis Morales, and Colby Thomas look very promising.
Kurtz was drafted over the summer time out of Wake Forest 4th total, and he was in a position to make his skilled debut this season as effectively. He ended the 12 months in Double-A after taking part in solely 7 video games in Single-A. He performed 12 video games complete and averaged .368, with 4 HR, and 13 RBI’s. I might count on him to start out the season both again with the Double-A group or with the Athletics Excessive-A affiliate, simply so he can get extra expertise on the skilled degree. He was drafted as a constant hitter with energy and that’s one thing extraordinarily arduous to search out. Most gamers have one or the opposite, and if they will hit for contact and for energy, they’ve bother being constant. If he is ready to replicate what he did at Wake Forest, averaging a mixed .333 over 3 seasons, with 61 HR, and 182 RBI’s, he has the possibility to have a tremendous profession with the Athletics and fly via their farm system to a hopeful debut by the 2026 season.
Luis Morales was signed as part of the 2023 worldwide class, and he carried out okay this 12 months in his first full 12 months {of professional} baseball. In 2024, he had a 4.22 ERA, with 84 strikeouts and 36 walks over 81 innings pitched. Morales makes use of a fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup to work his magic on the diamond. His most important situation lies in his walks and pitching effectivity. He was solely in a position to make it to the sixth inning in one in every of his begins this 12 months which is somewhat alarming. If he can pound the strike zone and get into pitcher-friendly counts early in at-bats, I might count on to see him get the promotion to Double-A. He’ll probably begin again out in Excessive-A, so he can work out among the points he bumped into final season. There are a number of thrilling issues to look ahead to with Morales and he might have an effect on the Athletics as early as 2027 or late 2026 if he can work on getting deeper into ball video games. If he continues to wrestle, it could not shock me if he will get moved to the bullpen together with his 4 pitch combine.
Colby Thomas, ranked because the Athletics seventh greatest prospect of their system, was drafted within the third spherical of the 2022 MLB draft. This season was his second full season {of professional} baseball and he was in a position to get the promotion from Double-A to Triple-A. Throughout each groups, he averaged .277, with 31 HR, 92 RBI’s, and 15 SB in 132 video games. He ought to begin the 2025 season again on the Triple-A squad, working in direction of a promotion to the MLB squad which ought to come this season. He has an opportunity to be one thing particular together with his capacity to play all three outfield spots, the place he was primarily utilized in left subject this 12 months. He additionally has uncooked energy, with 80 of his 142 hits being further base hits. If he will get the promotion this 12 months, he is not going to solely add some a lot wanted depth to the outfield, however some a lot wanted offense. Translating his success from the minor leagues to the majors is what many groups have to look out for. I might circle him as somebody who might be an All-Star by 2028. He’s solely 23, which suggests he nonetheless has extra progress forward of him as a participant, so for the Athletics sake, let’s hope this 12 months was not a peak 12 months and he can proceed to construct off of his extraordinary successes this season.
The Athletics have an extended highway forward of them earlier than they will even be within the dialog for a World Collection title, and for followers I do know that’s arduous to listen to. Nevertheless, there isn’t any scarcity of expertise on the best way to bolster this struggling group. It might take a few seasons, however relying on what occurs over the following couple of free company intervals, I might see the Athletics being a Wild Card group within the subsequent 4 seasons. Be careful for this squad within the coming seasons, as a result of if every part goes their means, they’ve the potential to be very scary.
