Cal Stevenson could be on the outside looking in for the Oakland A’s to start the 2023 season.
Depending on various moves, the A’s outfield could be set heading into next year. Seth Brown could have a role on the grass, especially if the A’s want to give Dermis Garcia more time at first. Conner Capel showed that he deserves a long look next year. Ramon Laureano could be traded, but it is more likely that the A’s will hope that he can rebuild his value next season to maximize any returns. The enigma that is Cristian Pache will get plenty of opportunities as well given his stature as a former top prospect and excellent defense.
Cal Stevenson could be minor league depth piece
That quartet would leave Stevenson battling a slew of other candidates for the A’s fifth outfield spot. Skye Bolt is likely to get a long look for that role as he had seemingly been destined for a bench spot last year before his injuries.
Bolt and Stevenson are essentially the same type of player. Both get on base, have a bit of speed, and should have some pop at the major league level. They can both play all three outfield positions as needed. The only real difference is that Bolt is a switch hitter and Stevenson is a lefty.
Both players are also the same type of player that teams have in the upper levels of the minors. They can do a bit of everything, but do not have a specific standout trait. Their minor league performances may be perfectly fine, and yet do not translate to the majors.
In that case, Stevenson could hold an advantage. He is younger than Bolt and has not gotten as much of a look at the major league level. The A’s may want to see if he can be more than a Quad-A player, even if that means he is a fourth outfielder at best. But that time might not come immediately in 2023.
Cal Stevenson is the type of player that every team has in their upper minors. With the Oakland A’s, that might mean a chance later in 2023.