White Cleat Beat
Fansided

Oakland A’s sign Kevin Cron to minor league deal

By David Hill

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 03: Infielder Kevin Cron #32 of the Arizona Diamondbacks participates in summer workouts ahead of the abbreviated MLB season at Chase Field on July 03, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 2020 season, which has been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to start later this month. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 03: Infielder Kevin Cron #32 of the Arizona Diamondbacks participates in summer workouts ahead of the abbreviated MLB season at Chase Field on July 03, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 2020 season, which has been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to start later this month. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Oakland A’s quest to bring in any possibly underrated asset continued on Monday.

According to the MiLB transactions page, the A’s signed Kevin Cron to a minor league contract. He has been assigned to the Las Vegas Aviators.

Oakland A’s taking chance on Kevin Cron

Cron had been an intriguing power bat during his time in the Diamondbacks system, hitting over 20 homers from 2015 through 2019. He had exploded in prospect rankings in that final season, posting an impressive .331/.449/.777 batting line with 38 homers in his 374 plate appearances in Reno. That led to a brief look at the major league level where he belted six homers in 78 plate appearances, giving the Diamondbacks hope that he could be an impact bat going forward.

That did not prove to be the case. Cron failed to get a hit in any of his 20 plate appearances in 2020, striking out seven times. He was released after the season, signing with the Hiroshima Carp. His move to Japan was a disappointment as he spent more time in the minors than he did in their majors, leading to a sojourn to the Korean Baseball Organization for 2022. Cron disappointed there as well, his strikeout woes overriding his power. He was released on July 8, coming back stateside to wait for an opportunity.

The A’s could be the one team that can unlock his potential. Assistant hitting coach Chris Cron is his father and may be able to find a way to get his swing back on track. If that happens, Cron could be another possible power bat, helping to rebuild a dormant offense. However, it is far more likely that he serves as a depth piece in Triple-A, someone that can cycle through the roster as needed without concern.

Next. A look at the A's upcoming arbitration class. dark

The Oakland A’s have signed Kevin Cron to a minor league deal. He has plenty of power but the A’s have to find a way to unlock his potential first.