Can Skye Bolt be part of Oakland A’s future?

It seems as though the Oakland A’s have been waiting for Skye Bolt to establish himself as part of the future for years. The former fourth round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft has an intriguing skillset and has performed well in the minors, but has yet to see that production translate to the major league level.

Bolt certainly does not have much left to prove in the minors. He has produced a solid .261/.349/.445 batting line in his 2173 minor league plate appearances, hitting 63 homers and 111 doubles while stealing 52 bases. He has been an all around asset in the lineup, someone that would seem to be a burgeoning star.

Time for Skye Bolt to prove himself with Oakland A’s

That would especially seem to be the case given his performance in Triple-A last year. Bolt produced an impressive .387/.493/.650 batting line in his 199 plate appearances in Las Vegas, hitting nine homers and 12 doubles while stealing five bases. He has nothing left to prove at that level.

The same cannot be said for the majors. For all of his success in the minor league level, including last year, Bolt has fallen flat in his limited time at the major league level. He has all of six hits, including two doubles and a homer, in 71 plate appearances.

Yes, one can say that Bolt has had a limited sample size. And that is certainly the case. But he has not done much to force the A’s hand. His excellent glove in the outfield only matters so much if he cannot hit.

This may be Bolt’s final chance to prove himself. He would seem to be someone that could play his way into a starting role – his blend of power and speed, added to his excellent defense, should make him a star. Instead, Bolt is beginning to look like a Quad-A player, someone who just cannot make that final adjustment. If he is going to change that narrative, it will be this year.

Skye Bolt has nothing left to prove in the minors. It is time he shows that he can be a viable major league asset for the Oakland A’s.