Oakland A’s: Three biggest surprises thus far
No one expected that the Oakland A’s would be in this spot after two and a half weeks. A team that had been gutted due to the avarice of ownership and appeared destined for one of the top picks in the 2023 MLB Draft is still above .500. While the fans are refusing to head to the ballpark and line John Fisher’s pockets any further, the A’s themselves have been entertaining and fun to watch.
Naturally, there have been plenty of surprises for the A’s thus far. No one really knew what to make of this roster at the start of the year, and while this is an extremely small sample size, it is still interesting to see which players may have taken a major step forward in 2022.
Three biggest surprises on Oakland A’s
Which players have been the biggest surprises for the Oakland A’s thus far in 2022? Let’s take a look at three players who have stepped forward so far.
Paul Blackburn
For years, Paul Blackburn has been Triple-A depth for the Oakland A’s. He was that player that would come up from the occasional start or three due to injury, sent back to Triple-A where he could continue to exist as an “in case of emergency” arm.
That appeared to be his ceiling. While Blackburn would have occasional flashes, he never did enough to inspire the confidence that he would ever be more than that sort of a depth piece. His 5.74 ERA and 1.486 WHiP in 138 innings over parts of five years. He had a spot in the A’s Opening Day rotation mainly because there were not many other options.
But sometimes all a player needs is a chance. That may well be the case with Blackburn as he is suddenly looking as though he could be a part of the A’s future. He has allowed just three runs on 11 hits and a walk over his 15 innings, striking out 14 batters.
Yes, it is an extremely small sample size. Blackburn could easily implode in his next few starts and look like the pitcher he had been. However, he has given the A’s reason to hope that he has taken a step forward and can be a solid middle of the rotation arm going forward as they look for pieces to build around.
Stephen Piscotty
It was questionable as to how much of a role Stephen Piscotty would have with the Oakland A’s in 2022. While they would love to part ways with his contract, he needed to be on the diamond and show that he can be a viable piece in the lineup.
It has still been difficult to pencil Piscotty in daily. Between a bout of COVID this year and his ongoing wrist issues, playing time has been difficult to come by over the years. The hope had been that wrist surgery at the end of last year would alleviate those problems and allow him to get back to being the player he was.
There is hope that is happening. While Piscotty has just 25 plate appearances thus far, he has been the best hitter on the A’s. He has a double and a homer amongst his six hits, drawing three walks and even stealing a base. Piscotty is hitting the ball harder than he has since his rookie season, leaving it possible that he can return to form.
If that is the case, the A’s may actually be able to find a taker for Piscotty at the trade deadline. Teams are always looking for depth in their lineup, and if they can find a solid bat at a relative bargain, they are going to jump at the chance. Piscotty could be the player if the A’s start to slide back in the pack by the deadline.
The Oakland A’s were hoping that Stephen Piscotty could return to form in 2022. It may be a small sample size, but so far, he has.
Dany Jimenez
There is no question that the Oakland A’s have been enticed by Dany Jimenez. He had been a Rule V Draft pick of theirs previously, and they pounced quickly when he became a minor league free agent.
It is easy to see why. His high octane fastball and ability to generate strikeouts made him seem to be the type of arm that could slot into a key bullpen role in the late innings. The problem was Jimenez could not harness his stuff as his command was shaky at best.
That has changed this season. Jimenez is still generating strikeouts, striking out nine batters in his seven innings of work. Most importantly, he has only issued two walks in that time frame, showing improved command compared to previous years.
Those improvements have led to Jimenez being used in high leverage spots. With Lou Trivino on the COVID list, Jimenez has taken over as the A’s closer, notching three saves already on the year. As Trivino was not exactly a lockdown option in the ninth, and there have been questions about whether or not he would continue in that role anyway, Jimenez may have found his place.
Next. The new face of the A's. dark
The Oakland A’s have had plenty of surprises this season. Dany Jimenez taking over as their closer may be one of the biggest ones.