Ken Waldichuk could debut for Oakland A’s soon
Oakland A’s fans are wondering how long it will be until Ken Waldichuk makes his major league debut. It may not take much longer.
Waldichuk was easily the headline in the A’s return for Frankie Montas, a relatively unheralded prospect who consistently outperformed expectations to become one of the better minor league pitchers. He has become a top 100 prospect in his own right, a possible top of the rotation arm for a team in desperate need of one.
It may not be long before Ken Waldichuk gets Oakland A’s debut
Waldichuk did not have a great debut in the A’s system. He allowed three runs on five hits over 3.1 innings in his first outing for Las Vegas, striking out three batters. It certainly was not what any one would have hoped for.
But that does not change his trajectory. Waldichuk still has a plus fastball despite sitting in the lower 90s as the carry and movement have caused it to generate plenty of swings and misses. His slider has more break now, and with his fading change and decent curve, he can dominate.
He also does not have much more to prove in the minors. While Waldichuk had made his Triple-A debut this season, he pitched well in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the Yankees. The more offensively focused Pacific Coast League is going to be a major adjustment for any pitcher, no matter their prospect status.
At this point, it is a matter of finding a roster spot. Waldichuk does not need to be added to the A’s 40 man roster until this offseason to be protected from the Rule V Draft. However, as the A’s also get rid of veterans who are not going to be a part of their future, roster spots are going to open up. It may be a matter of time before Waldichuk gets his place and makes his major league debut.
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Ken Waldichuk’s time with the Oakland A’s is coming. It may even happen in the next week or two as the A’s cut the dead weight from their roster.