Oakland A’s: Three under the radar prospects to watch
For a team such as the Oakland A’s, a strong farm system is a key part of their success. Their prospects are their lifeblood, as necessary as oxygen is to breathing. Having those top prospects can make a dramatic difference in the fortunes of the team.
However, the A’s farm system is not what it was. With top prospects such as Sean Murphy and Jesus Luzardo having graduated, the A’s system has fallen down the rankings. This does not mean that they are devoid of talent; the problem is that their top tier talent is a bit away from contributing at the major league level, or, in the case of A.J. Puk, of questionable health.
Three under the radar prospects for the Oakland A’s
Those top prospects do not always develop as expected. Sometimes, those can’t miss players do, in fact, miss. Sometimes, those unheralded prospects that do not show up on any top 100 lists are the ones that break out.
Let’s take a look at three under the radar prospects on the Oakland A’s to watch for the coming year.
James Kaprielian
In terms of appearance, James Kaprielian is exactly what a top pitching prospect would be. He stands 6’3″ tall, weighing 225 pounds. A former first round pick, he has a solid four pitch arsenal with excellent command. Kaprielian is what a top prospect is supposed to be.
And for a time, Kaprielian was just that. He was a consensus top 100 prospect prior to the 2017 season, a pitcher that was expected to move quickly through the Yankees system. However, injuries derailed that progress, and he was included as part of the package that brought Sonny Gray to the Bronx.
At 27 years old, Kaprielian is older for a prospect. Yet, he is likely ticketed for Triple-A due to a logjam in the rotation and his health issues. Should be pitch well, Kaprielian may be able to force his way back to the majors, especially if the A’s rotation has injury woes of their own.
It has been years since James Kaprielian was considered a can’t miss prospect in his own right. If he is going to be a late bloomer for the Oakland A’s, it will have to be this season.
Lazaro Armenteros
Once upon a time, Lazaro Armenteros was considered one of the top prospects in international free agency, a young outfielder who was considered an exciting but raw prospect. His power and speed were there, but scouts had questions about whether or not he would hit enough for those other tools to manifest.
Five years after he signed with the Oakland A’s, those questions persist. Armenteros has impressive power if he can make contact, and his speed is certainly there. The problem is that he cannot hit a breaking ball, even if the pitcher tells him one is coming.
Those contact issues were on full display in 2019. Armenteros set a California League record for strikeouts in a season with his 227 whiffs, which is not the sort of record anyone wants to set as a batter. He did manage to hit 17 homers and steal 22 bases in his 538 plate appearances, but his inability to make contact drastically reduced his impact.
His ability, or inability, to hit breaking pitches will determine his future. Armenteros possesses the type of arm that makes Johnny Damon seem as though he had a howitzer attached to his shoulder, which could force him to a designated hitter role. He would need to hit first.
The upcoming season will go a long way to determining Lazaro Armenteros’ future. If he still cannot hit breaking pitches, his time in the Oakland A’s system may be drawing to a close.
Brayan Buelvas
It is difficult to project Brayan Buelvas as he has yet to appear above rookie ball, but his scouting report and tools make him a prospect to watch on the Oakland A’s.
However, it is natural to look at those statistics and wonder. Buelvas produced a .282/.372/.450 batting line in 274 plate appearances in Rookie Ball in 2019, hitting 15 doubles while stealing 16 bases. He showed a bit of pop and intriguing speed, making him someone worth keeping an eye on.
His scouting report is similar to his production that year. While he does not have one specific area that would cause anyone to stop and watch, Buelvas is expected to be above average in every aspect of the game. He could be a 20 homer, 20 stolen base player with a knack for hitting line drives all over the park should he develop as expected.
But that is going to take time. Buelvas will turn 19 years old during the season and is years away from making an impact on the Oakland A’s. However, he is the type of player that will be worth watching in the box scores, as he could move through the system quickly should his all around game develop faster than anticipated.
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Brayan Buelvas may not have the tools that would make him appear to be a future superstar, but he could rocket up the prospect rankings in 2021.