2025 Prospects: Sacramento Athletics Top Prospects

• 
• 1.
• Nick Kurtz
• Pos: 1B
• Born: 2003-03-12
• B: Left
• T: Left
• H: 6′ 5″
• W: 240 lbs.
• Historical past: Drafted fourth total within the 2024 draft, Wake Forest College; signed for $7 million.
• Earlier Rank: NR
• Main League ETA: 2026

The Report: Kurtz spent three years within the ACC totally destroying baseballs, hitting his method to a top-five choice in final summer time’s draft. It’s laborious to nitpick the efficiency, he does the whole lot properly on the plate. He continued to hit the ball laborious with wooden after the draft and make a number of contact for the ability he generates, whereas not increasing the zone a lot in any respect. Kurtz has a compact, torquey swing for his dimension, however he’s not a sell-out, lift-and-pull man. Whereas attempting to raise and have a good time may assist him faucet right into a tad extra over-the-fence energy, he’s a adequate hitter it shouldn’t matter if he’s averaging a 12 diploma launch angle as an alternative of 18. He additionally has struggled some towards higher velocity, which he nonetheless gained’t see a ton of till the higher minors, however Kurtz has a really well-rounded offensive talent set which ought to settle into one thing like plus hit, plus energy, and loads of OBP. Now Kurtz is first-base-only and merely “nice” there, so he might want to hit rather a lot, however he has but to discover a stage the place there isn’t a one in entrance of the decimal level in his OPS. So it’s honest to be assured he’ll cross the “rather a lot” line. If you wish to nitpick a bit extra although, we’ve mentioned that about a number of excessive decide school nook bats recently, and most haven’t hit that plus consequence. You actually do must hit rather a lot.

OFP: 60 / Plus first baseman
Variance: Medium. Kurtz had a not insignificant shoulder damage within the spring within the midst of a tough first half for the Demon Deacons. All the things popped after that, however the shoulder is one thing to control given how bat pace/energy dependent the profile is. However well being allowing he ought to be an on a regular basis first sacker in brief order. This mix of contact, swing selections, and pop, even in a brief professional pattern, simply isn’t that frequent.

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 52
• Potential Earnings: $15-20
• Fantasy Overview: At his greatest, Kurtz faucets into all of his plus energy in video games with strong contact abilities and a affected person method. Some struggles towards excessive velocity and a borderline passive method create some three-true-outcomes threat. Kurtz has the upside to develop right into a .275/30+ bat with a lift in OBP codecs
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Anthony Rizzo

• 
• 2.
• Jacob Wilson
• Pos: SS
• Born: 2002-03-30
• B: Proper
• T: Proper
• H: 6′ 2″
• W: 190 lbs.
• Historical past: Drafted sixth total in 2023 draft, Grand Canyon College; signed for $5.5 million.
• Earlier Rank: #5 (org)
• Main League ETA: Debuted in 2024

The Report: It was a story of two halves for Wilson, who had about nearly as good a primary half within the minors as you can. Regardless of getting jumped straight to Double-A for his first full professional season, he hit .455 for a month, earlier than cooling off to .396 within the desert of Las Vegas. At his Triple-A cease he ran a 99% in-zone contact price whereas including a little bit of hole energy to his recreation. By the point Wilson was referred to as as much as the large membership shortly after the All-Star Break, I declared my school write-up on him was “about as much as I’ve undershot a prospect while being correct about the general skill set.”  He promptly obtained successful in his first at-bat—a single, naturally—after which strained his hamstring rounding third base. Wilson made it again to the Athletics lineup about six weeks later and from there on out…properly I’ll have been proper earlier than I used to be improper. He nonetheless demonstrated elite bat-to-ball abilities, however the affect was dulled by higher stuff and a very expansive method. Chase has all the time been a difficulty for Wilson going again to school, and he merely could make extra contact than he ought to, resulting in rolled over floor balls or medium flyners.

Additionally regarding is that each defensive metric graded him out at below-average at shortstop. I by no means thought Wilson can be a gold glover there, however no less than a strong, workmanlike 55 on the six—which would supply a ground for his on-field worth even when the grounders weren’t discovering holes. It’s a small pattern—and these are all small samples—but it surely’s one thing to control. On stability, Wilson is a greater prospect now than he was a 12 months in the past—you may’t simply handwave how briskly he obtained to the majors—however conversely he hasn’t really assuaged as lots of the offensive dangers as you’d like.

OFP: 55 / Above-average shortstop
Variance: Medium. Wilson can be penciled in at shortstop for the 2025 Athletics, and we’ll get an extended, hopefully more healthy take a look at what he can do towards major-league stuff. If he reins within the chase even a little bit which may assist buoy the general hit device again to plus, however he’s a reasonably secure wager to be no less than a median major-leaguer, assuming the defensive dip is merely a blip.

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 39
• Potential Earnings: $5-10
• Fantasy Overview: Wilson is the acute model of the empty-average infielder by which he principally by no means whiffs but additionally hardly ever impacts the ball and affords little to no pace. How you are feeling about Luis Arraez possible will apply in equal measure to Wilson. He’s a high-probability fantasy-relevant performer however with restricted ceiling.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Mark Loretta

• 
• 3.
• Luis Morales
• Pos: RHP
• Born: 2002-09-24
• B: Proper
• T: Proper
• H: 6′ 3″
• W: 190 lbs.
• Historical past: igned January 2023 out of Cuba for $3 million.
• Earlier Rank: #4 (org)
• Main League ETA: 2026

The Report: The A‘s slowly stretched out Morales in 2024, and whereas you’ll have solely gotten to see him in small doses, the stuff was actually massive. His fastball was routinely as much as 99 and sat mid-to-upper 90s and when his supply is on line, he simply performs catch on the high of the zone. He pairs the plus-plus heater with two completely different breaking ball appears to be like: a low-80s curve with extra depth, and a mid-to-upper-80s slider that’s extra of an influence slurve. I think the slider finally ends up higher long run—assuming it will get absolutely teased out—however somehow, there’s a very good shot at a plus breaker to again the 7 fastball.

Okay, now let’s circle again to “when his supply is on line.” Morales has a reasonably straightforward tempo as much as when he begins driving ahead, however then he accelerates the whole lot late to generate his near-triple-digit velocity. That may result in non-competitive fastballs and breaking balls pulled to the glove aspect as he wrenches his launch throughout his physique. Along with the greater than intermittent glove-side command points, Morales doesn’t actually maintain the highest finish velocity deeper in even his 3-4 inning outings, settling extra round 95 as the sport goes on. He does have a changeup and whereas there may be simply 10+ mph of separation on it from the fastball, it’s nonetheless very agency with a little bit of an arm-side wrinkle to it when it isn’t pulled into the dust. If this all feels like a late-inning reliever to you, properly, you’re most likely proper, however there may be most likely some worth in protecting the 21-year-old stretched out for no less than one other 12 months to see if there may be additional development in his command and stamina in Double-A. As a result of these things is massive if he can keep a starter.

OFP: 55 / no. 3/4 starter however extra possible a very good eighth inning man or second-division nearer.
Variance: Excessive. If this all feels like a late-inning reliever to you, properly, you’re most likely proper.

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 105
• Potential Earnings: $10-15
• Fantasy Overview: Morales tantalizes with an electrical fastball and devastating slider. But, he has aid markers with supply and command inconsistencies and hassle sustaining velocity deep in begins. Regardless, Morales has fantasy upside, both as a risky, high-strikeout starter or a lights-out reliever.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Late-career Charlie Morton

• 
• 4.
• Denzel Clarke
• Pos: OF
• Born: 2000-05-01
• B: Proper
• T: Proper
• H: 6′ 4″
• W: 220 lbs.
• Historical past: Drafted within the fourth spherical of the 2021 draft, Cal State Northridge; signed for $700,000.
• Earlier Rank: #1 (org), #99 (High 101)
• Main League ETA: Late 2025/Early 2026

The Report: Regardless of massive instruments, Clarke has struggled to remain on the sector as a professional as a consequence of recurrent shoulder accidents. He obtained a full-season within the Texas League underneath his belt in 2024, and after a cool begin, confirmed off extra of the plus-power/plus-speed combo that snuck him on the again of final 12 months’s High 101. The ability remains to be very a lot current, though Clarke’s considerably sophisticated setup and swing path—he begins with the bat pointed behind him, flicks it up, after which wraps a little bit anyway—means he’s not all the time getting probably the most out of his bat pace and power. He can find yourself late on pitches you’d desire he flip round to the left area bleachers, which are as an alternative laborious, inside-out line drives. There can be swing-and-miss points as properly, so that you’d wish to see a bit extra recreation energy to offset what can be a below-average hit device total. Clarke was a lot better after a gradual begin to 2024, slashing .307/.374/.510 after June 1st, however that run got here after he’d already logged 120 video games on the stage as a 24-year-old. Parsing out how a lot of that was “determining the extent” versus “my shoulder isn’t bothering me anymore” could be a maddening hindsight train, however the offensive projection goes to stay very high-variance regardless. The protection is nice in middle area as Clarke runs properly and simply cruises from hole to hole flagging down fly balls, so if he may even handle sufficient pop to buoy a major-league line to in vary of common, he ought to have a really good profession.

OFP: 55 / Above-average middle fielder
Variance: Excessive. Accidents have meant Clarke has been outdated for his stage the final couple seasons, and he hasn’t dominated Double-A as a lot as you’d hope. Nonetheless there may be clear on a regular basis upside within the profile if he even hits .230 or so.

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 221
• Potential Earnings: $0-5
• Fantasy Overview:.Clarke has intriguing power-speed potential clouded by a below-average hit device. His glove and instruments ought to present alternatives, nevertheless. If it clicks, Clarke has as a lot fantasy upside as anybody on this system.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Drew Stubbs

• 
• 5.
• Max Muncy
• Pos: SS
• Born: 2002-08-25
• B: Proper
• T: Proper
• H: 6′ 0″
• W: 180 lbs.
• Historical past: Drafted within the first spherical of the 2021 draft, Thousand Oaks HS (Thousand Oaks, CA); signed for $2.85 million.
• Earlier Rank: #2 (org)
• Main League ETA: 2025

The Report: One other Athletics prospect who’s handled a latest damage bug, Muncy was restricted to simply 58 video games in 2024 as a consequence of a hand damage. Even in an abbreviated season although, he managed to determine himself as a possible 2025 infield choice for the A’s. As a participant he’s fairly near the polar reverse of his Dodgers dopplegänger—though they might find yourself taking part in principally the identical positions—with an aggressive, up-the-middle-oriented method and a really common offensive talent set. Muncy’s 2024 energy spike was actually environmentally-aided, however he’s gotten stronger within the professionals, and tasks for common energy now. One thing like .260 and 17 house runs isn’t all that thrilling, but it surely’s a pleasant little participant if you find yourself a median defender at brief in addition. Muncy could not find yourself taking part in shortstop in deference to Jacob Wilson’s glove nevertheless, and he’s a little bit of a tweener at second or third until he finds one other half grade of hit or energy within the bigs. He’s very prone to be a giant leaguer although, and whereas nothing right here will wow you, there’s nonetheless a shot it provides as much as an above-average common someplace on the dust.

OFP: 50 / Common infielder
Variance: Medium. Muncy could be very near main league affect, but additionally can’t actually give again any of his hit and energy beneficial properties within the bigs and nonetheless be something greater than a fringe common.

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 322
• Potential Earnings: $0-5
• Fantasy Overview: A really common offensive talent set that receives common MLB taking part in time is usually a fantasy-relevant participant, particularly at shortstop. One thing like .260 and 17 house runs isn’t all that thrilling, but it surely’s a pleasant little [fantasy] participant.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Orlando Arcia

• 
• 6.
• Steven Echavarria
• Pos: RHP
• Born: 2005-08-06
• B: Proper
• T: Proper
• H: 6′ 1″
• W: 180 lbs.
• Historical past: Drafted 72nd total within the 2023 draft, Millburn HS (Millburn, NJ); signed for $3 million.
• Earlier Rank: #7 (org)
• Main League ETA: 2027/2028

The Report: You’d anticipate some rising pains from a third-round, young-for-his-class, cold-weather prep arm, and Echavarria’s 2024 marketing campaign actually qualifies. The North Jersey righty held a very good little bit of his draft 12 months velocity beneficial properties, though he sits extra in a median velocity band given his age and handedness. He does have plus arm pace and completely rips it although his arm stroke, which provides him a little bit of added carry however can result in an inconsistent launch level and downright scattershot management. The fastball is generally there to arrange Echavarria’s breaking ball: a tough, two-plane slider that’s completely an excessive amount of for Cal League hitters and feels a bit gentle at merely a plus projection, however like his heater, it’s nonetheless fairly inconsistent. He even flashes a pleasant little split-change once in a while. Echavarria pitched virtually your complete season as an 18-year-old, however his season was a little bit of a large number truthfully. Nonetheless, there may be apparent upside within the stuff right here, even when the variance and aid threat for an undersized righty with management points goes to be excessive—regardless of his age.

OFP: 50 / no. 4 starter or setup slider monster
Variance: Excessive. He has a very, actually cool breaking ball. All the things else stays a piece in progress.

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown: 

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 307
• Potential Earnings: $0-5
• Fantasy Overview: Echavarria had an up-and-down 12 months, with comprehensible rising pains as an 18-year-old in Low-A. Nevertheless, he has stuff to dream on in fantasy, particularly if he sees additional velocity beneficial properties and command enchancment.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Jarrod Parker

• 
• 7.
• Mason Barnett
• Pos: RHP
• Born: 2000-11-07
• B: Proper
• T: Proper
• H: 6′ 0″
• W: 218 lbs.
• Historical past: Drafted by the Kansas Metropolis Royals within the third spherical of the 2022 draft, Auburn College; signed for $697,500. Acquired from the Royals for Lucas Erceg.
• Earlier Rank: #11 (org, KCR)
• Main League ETA: 2025

The Report: Barnett led the Athletics return for reliever Lucas Erceg on the deadline. Placing apart whether or not or not the return was sufficient for a late-inning reliever with a few years of management—albeit one who will flip 30 subsequent 12 months—Barnett has continued his path in direction of major-league back-end starterdom with a strong sufficient season within the Texas League. He’s made some enhancements with each his breaking balls, and whereas they nonetheless don’t all the time get down and out of the zone as usually as you’d like, each ought to find yourself average-or-better—together with his mid-80s slider extra prone to hit the “or higher.” Barnett’s fastball is average-ish in velocity, and visually unimpressive—it appears to be like prefer it simply kind of floats up there to hitters—however generates sufficient late hacks to recommend no less than a 3rd common pitch. He has a change as properly, but it surely’s a little bit of a flat runner and infrequently prefers to make use of his vertically shifting breakers towards lefties. I stay involved about how a lot his fairly pedestrian stuff results in the zone—particularly the breaking balls—and I anticipate that can be an issue within the majors if he doesn’t tighten up his command some extra, however the total arsenal enhancements have firmed up final 12 months’s fourth starter projection a bit.

OFP: 50 / no. 4 starter
Variance: Medium. There’s nonetheless some aid threat in Barnett’s profile, and even when he stays a starter, he could get knocked round extra like a fifth/sixth starter if his slider and curve don’t persistently get out of the zone and induce whiff as soon as there.

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: 408
• Potential Earnings: $0-5
• Fantasy Overview: Barnett has 4 viable pitches with no true plus providing and sufficient command to squeeze out fantasy worth as a back-end starter. Are you prepared to belief that profile in Sacramento, nevertheless?
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: James Kaprielian

• 
• 8.
• Joshua Kuroda-Grauer
• Pos: SS
• Born: 2003-01-31
• B: Proper
• T: Proper
• H: 6′ 0″
• W: 190 lbs.
• Historical past: Drafted within the third spherical of the 2024 draft, Rutgers College; signed for $1,043,900.
• Earlier Rank: NR
• Main League ETA: Late 2026

The Report: Kuroda-Grauer hit properly over .400 his junior 12 months at Rutgers, and whereas he remained a lot the identical sort of punch-and-slash hitter he was his first two seasons with the Scarlet Knights, .428 is .428. I doubt he’ll come inside 100 factors of that within the professionals, and there’s 30 energy right here at greatest, however Kuroda-Grauer’s bat-to-ball abilities are plus. He works from a quite simple arrange: low fingers, minimal load, direct to the ball. He’s aggressive within the zone, very slashy and opposite-field oriented. The dearth of affect suggests the hit device may solely play to a 55 or so, but it surely ought to include a bevy of walks and a protracted line of pissed off pitchers as he wastes their greatest offspeed. Kuroda-Grauer was a shortstop at Rutgers and has performed principally on the six within the professionals, however his arm power is a little bit gentle for the left aspect. His throws fly on him a bit when he actually has to get into one, though in any other case he’s correct, even on the transfer. He’s higher match for second, however has performed a little bit of outfield in summer time ball, and I wouldn’t be stunned if he finally ends up carrying a duffle bag full of various gloves by the point he will get to the majors. Kuroda-Grauer isn’t going to wow you with instruments on both aspect of the ball, however given his knack for hitting and talent to face at a bunch of locations, he ought to carve out a big major-league profession for no less than just a few years.

OFP: 50 / Helpful 500 PA man who can bounce round and hits in every single place
Variance: Medium. The hit-tool pushed, walks greater than he strikes out, not a premium defender, third spherical school man is all the time going to must show it at each stage, particularly those the place pitchers can begin finding extra premium stuff towards you.

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown: 

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: UR
• Potential Earnings: $0-5
• Fantasy Overview: Kuroda-Grauer hit .428 in school (second in D-1) then .324 in a debut that completed in Triple-A. He’s a high-contact hitter with below-average energy (and even much less over-the-fence energy). But, he may develop right into a helpful fantasy piece with strong averages and a few steals.
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: David Fletcher

• 
• 9.
• Kade Morris
• Pos: RHP
• Born: 2002-06-21
• B: Proper
• T: Proper
• H: 6′ 3″
• W: 190 lbs.
• Historical past: Drafted by the New York Mets within the third spherical of the 2023 draft, College of Nevada; signed for $666,500. Acquired from the Mets for Paul Blackburn.
• Earlier Rank: NR
• Main League ETA: Late 2026/2027

The Report: Morris is a little bit of a kitchen-sink righty now, exhibiting off two completely different fastballs and three completely different breaking ball appears to be like. The four-seam and sinker each are available round 93-94 and, whereas neither breaks common on the scouting scale, it’s an efficient combo working off one another. His big-breaking upper-70s curve has been his simplest off-speed choice, however it could possibly sort of roll in at instances and never have the late snap down and out of the zone. Morris’ sweeper reveals inconsistent command and opposing batters can monitor it east-west, and he works in a tougher slider/cutter factor as properly. He additionally has a change which he makes use of sparingly, and it’s a bit too agency and flat to actually miss bats towards lefties. The curve and laborious slider will most likely be higher platoon-neutralizing choices for him. Morris has a bushel of fringe-average pitch choices, and throws strikes. He may be higher off specializing in refining one among his breaking balls to go together with the fastball combine, because it’s unclear if he has a bat-missing choice among the many secondaries proper now.

OFP: 50 / no. 4 starter
Variance: Medium. Morris’s Okay-rate dipped after the deadline deal, and whereas he’s by no means going to be a pitcher who blows guys away, contact suppression solely will get you to this point (the higher minors) earlier than you must discover a swing-and-miss choice.

Jesse Roche’s Fantasy Rundown:

• Top-500 Dynasty Prospects: UR
• Potential Earnings: $0-5
• Fantasy Overview: Morris has a ho-hum, deep arsenal with a borderline fastball that did not miss many bats within the decrease minors in 2024. That mentioned, his stuff does bear some similarities to …
• Reckless Fantasy Comp: Poor man’s Michael King

• 
• 10.
• Tommy White
• Pos: 3B
• Born: 2003-03-02
• B: Proper
• T: Proper
• H: 6′ 1″
• W: 228 lbs.
• Historical past: Drafted within the second spherical of the 2024 draft, LSU; signed for $3 million.
• Earlier Rank: NR
• Main League ETA: 2027