Oakland Athletics option group of players to minor league affiliates
The Oakland Athletics have made their first round of spring training cuts
By Tim Smart
The Oakland Athletics have made their first round of roster cuts in spring training, sending a group of players to various minor league levels.
Most notably, the A's sent the recently acquired Osvaldo Bido to Triple-A. Bido struggled in his first couple spring appearances, showing a lack of velocity and movement on his pitches and had trouble getting outs.
Bido will be joined in Las Vegas by fellow pitchers Hogan Harris and Adrian Martinez, neither of whom have been standout players in Arizona. This group were all long-shots to make the opening day roster in the first place and will get the chance to sharpen their skills in the minors before being considered as injury replacements during the season.
A larger group of players were reassigned to minor league camp. Easton Lucas, Jack Perkins, Stevie Emanuels, and Jacob Wilson were among the group that had looked good in spring but were unrealistic options to start the year in Oakland.
A'S MOVES: LHP Hogan Harris & RHPs Osvaldo Bido & Adrian Martinez optioned to LV, Lucas, Sullivan, Tomioka, Otanez, Perkins, Robles, Correa, Emanuels, Rosario, Bowman, Lugbauer, Susac & Wilson reassigned to minor league camp…https://t.co/joKXkyUAPy
— Athletics Farm (@AthleticsFarm) March 3, 2024
Wilson, who was the Athletics' first-round pick last year, was impressive in limited time in the Cactus League. There are high expectations for the young shortstop and if he keeps hitting and playing good defense, there's a chance he gets a look as a late season callup in 2024.
Perkins, the young righty out of Indiana University, looked sharp in the AFL earlier in the offseason and has the potential to be an impact arm for the A's. He has a mid-90's fastball with a sharp cutter that have gotten plenty of whiffs in college and the minor leagues.
Susac, a first-round pick in 2022 and top prospect, was an unlikely bet to make the opening day roster but looked good in his 3 appearances. He drew 2 walks in just 4 plate appearances and knocked a sharply hit single as well.
Susac should head back to Double-A to start the year. He finished the year there in 2023, playing 13 games for the Rock Hounds, hitting .280 with strong defense. He'll need to keep improving the plate discipline to make a serious push for the majors.
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