Oakland Athletics: Franklin Barreto Impressive In Debut
By Joey Lopez
Franklin Barreto made his debut on Saturday and was largely impressive in the A’s win over the White Sox.
The Oakland Athletics have finally welcomed Franklin Barreto to the big leagues. The youth movement that has been picking up steam in the Bay Area seems to have reached its boiling point.
Barreto, who was acquired in the Josh Donaldson trade, finally made his debut in an A’s uniform on Saturday. In his first game with the A’s, Barreto went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs.
When the A’s traded Donaldson and shocked pretty much everyone in baseball, Barreto was regarded as a key piece in the deal. The trade did not look great for the A’s, though, especially after Donaldson had an explosive first year in Toronto.
With Barreto finally in Oakland, the A’s are hoping those perceptions about the trade will soon shift. His debut was definitely a great first impression and offered a great source of excitement for the team.
Oakland Athletics
Barreto comes to the A’s after experience some success in Triple-A. While his numbers were not explosive, the highly regarded prospect hit .281/.326/.428 with 8 HR and 32 RBI.
His arrival likely means that Jed Lowrie will be the next Athletic dealt before the trade deadline next month. The A’s have shifted away from their veteran players this month with both Trevor Plouffe and Stephen Vogt exiting the Bay Area.
Once Matt Chapman and Marcus Semien make their return from the disabled-list, the A’s will likely try to ship Lowrie to a contending team. Following his expected departure, the A’s will feature a very young infield that consists of Chapman, Semien, Barreto and Ryon Healy.
Excitement In Oakland
Despite getting swept by the Astros in their four game series in Oakland, the A’s are getting more excitement from their younger players. The youth movement has taken full effect and it seems to have reached its boiling point.
Expect plenty of more trades in the coming weeks, especially if the A’s fall further in the standings. The youngsters will likely face a few struggles this year, but the A’s are hoping their energy and excitement will lead to better results on the field.