Oakland Athletics: 5 Prospects Who Could Add Some Much-Needed Power

Brandon Moss has been a welcome surprise to the A's offense.
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Brandon Moss, though far from a "prospect," has been a welcome surprise to the Oakland A's offense in the past two weeks.

The 28-year-old has hit six home runs and 11 RBI in just 11 games with the club, most of those starts.

What follows are five more A's prospects who could be called up from the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats at some point this season to give the A's lineup a boost.

No. 5 Chris Carter

Carter has been in the A's farm system for the past few years.
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It's the same old song and dance with Chris Carter almost every year. He comes up at the end of each season, when the A's are out of contention, and will have marginal success.

He currently leads the Sacramento River Cats with 50 RBI, but he's not doing anything Brandon Inge or Brandon Moss aren't currently doing.

He'd be worth at least a brief call-up. There isn't much to lose with him.

No. 4 Brandon Hicks

Hicks was in the Braves farm system for the past few seasons.
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Brandon Hicks was claimed off of waivers by the A's in March.

He played a few games for the Braves last year, but didn't bat over .100 and only drove in one run. He has 10 home runs and 38 RBI for the River Cats in 61 games.

With Brandon Inge and holding down the third base spot in Oakland, don't expect him anytime soon, but he may be worth a shot in the lineup someday.

No. 3 Michael Taylor

Taylor has made sporadic appearances in A's lineups the past few years.
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Michael Taylor leads the River Cats with 19 doubles.

He has seen time with Oakland this year and it's time to stick him in the lineup for a decent string of games if a spot opens up in an already-crowded A's outfield.

If he does show up and can't produce, it may be time for a trade.

No. 2 Derek Norris

Norris may soon replace Kurt Suzuki.
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Derek Norris could realistically be in Oakland really soon because he's a catcher.

As good as Kurt Suzuki may be behind the plate, he's having the worst season of his career. He has zero homers and only 16 RBI almost halfway through the season.

Norris is batting .273 with eight home runs and 36 RBI in 54 games.

Norris could get a shot in July if the A's somehow get over the .500 mark.

No. 1 Grant Green

Green, listed as an outfielder on the River Cats website, played shortstop in the Futures' game last year.
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Grant Green was an A's first-round draft pick in 2009 and he's doing pretty well in Sacramento, batting .294 in 61 games with eight home runs and 38 RBI.

He played in the 2011 Futures' game last year and has done nothing but improve at every level of baseball he has played.

Will that continue in the majors? With his resume, he at least deserves a shot.