Oakland A's: Top 10 Best Organizational Prospects
Every season since Billy Beane took over as the Oakland general manager, the A's farm system has been ripe with talent ready to step in and take over for a departing major leaguer, whether it be via free agency or trade.
The current A's roster is comprised of all veteran starters, and a veteran pitching staff with the exception of Tyson Ross, currently filling in for the injured Dallas Braden.
The Stockton Ports, Midland Rockhounds and Sacramento Rivercats rosters are where you can find the future of the Oakland A's playing in the beginning stages of their professional careers.
A's fans were given a taste of the future with highly touted prospect Chris Carter last season, and will likely see a few of the top ten prospects at some point this season if players get injured, or when rosters expand in September to add depth for a stretch drive towards the playoffs.
Mark Ellis, Coco Crisp, Josh Willingham, David DeJesus, Hideki Matsui and Conor Jackson are all free agents at the end of the 2011 season, opening up several spots for some of these prospects to earn a spot on the 2012 roster and become staples in the A's lineup for several years.
Brandon McClintock covers the Oakland Athletics and Major League Baseball for BleacherReport.com. You can follow him on Twitter:ย ย @BMcClintock_BR.
Honorable Mention
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Michael Ynoa, RHP
Michael Ynoa was the first of the A's high profile international signings. Ynoa is a hard throwing right-hander who is still just 19 years old.
He has recovered well from Tommy John surgery and is expected to start throwing off a mound again by July.
His professional career is truly just beginning, but he still projects to have a big future in the Oakland A's rotation in future years.
Stephen Parker, 3B
Stephen Parker was the A's fifth round draft pick in the 2009 amateur draft.
Parker has steady hands at the hot corner, but needs to work on his range a bit more. He has an effortless, compact swing that produces good gap-power and is projected to translate well from the minors to the Major League level.
Parker is currently playing in Double-A, Midland, where he is off to a good start, batting .297 with four home runs and 19 RBI.
Parker will likely be moved up to Triple-A, Sacramento, before the end of the 2011 season and could reach Oakland in the late part of the 2012 season.
Fautino De Los Santos, RHP
Fautino De Los Santos was acquired by the A's as part of the Nick Swisher trade from the Chicago White Sox, along with Gio Gonzalez and Ryan Sweeney.
De Los Santos has been converted to a middle-relief role after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
He is currently playing in Triple-A Sacramento and could be called up to Oakland to fill-in in the event of an injury, or as a late season call-up.
Renato Nunez, 3B
Renato Nunez was the top Venezuelan third base prospect on the International market last season. He signed with the A's in June of 2010, continuing the team's aggressive approach to international free agency.
Nunez is still just 17-years old, and won't start his American professional career until next season. In the mean time, he continues to workout and play for the A's Dominican Summer League team.
Vicmal De La Cruz, OF
Vicmal De La Cruz was the A's other top international signing last season out of the Dominican Republic.
De La Cruz is also just 17-years old and is also a member of the A's Dominican Summer League team.
10.) Michael Taylor: Outfield
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Michael Taylor's stalk has fallen drastically since coming to the A's in a trade for Brett Wallace.
Taylor, still just 25-years old, had been ranked as high as third in some rankings of the A's top prospects, but his failure to continue hitting for power in the A's minor league system has baffled scouts and the A's front office.
Taylor still possesses the size and tools to succeed at the Major League level, and the A's are hopeful that he will put together a strong season in Sacramento and be ready to take hold of one of their vacant outfield spots in 2012.
Taylor has yet to start his season for the Rivercats due to injury. If all goes well for Taylor, he could be a midseason call-up, or at worst see some time in September when rosters expand.
9.) Ian Krol: LHP
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Ian Krol, the A's seventh-round draft pick in the 2009 amateur draft, has yet to make an appearance with the Stockton Ports in 2011.
Krol, just 19-years old (turns 20 on May 9) had a combined record of 10-4 with a 2.80 ERA last season in his first full professional season of minor league baseball.
The Athletics would like to see Krol work his way through Single-A and into Double-A before the completion of the 2011 season.
Krol could work his way into the A's rotation plans by 2013 if he continues to develop with the same progress he experienced in his first minor league season.
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8.) Yordy Cabrera: Third Base
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Yordy Cabrera was the Athletics' second-round draft pick in the 2010 draft.
Cabrera was drafted as a third baseman, but can also play shortstop, where he is currently playing for the Class-A Burlington Bees.
Cabrera, 21-years old, has good power and should finish the season playing for the Stockton Ports.
He is currently batting .264 with a homer and five RBI in his first full season of professional ball.
Cabrera could eventually compete with another A's prospect, Stephen Parker, for the Oakland third base job.
7.) Aaron Shipman: Outfield
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Aaron Shipman, 19 years old, was the A's third-round draft pick in the 2010 amateur draft.
Shipman was one of the top high school outfielders in last year's draft.
At the plate, he has a solid gap-to-gap approach. His power is good enough that he can turn on a pitcherโs mistake, however he is not projected as a power hitting outfielder.
His raw speed is his best tool, and heโs been clocked as high as 6.3 seconds in the 60. That helps him cover plenty of ground in center field, where he projects as a solid defender, with good arm strength.
Shipman will start the 2011 season in low-A ball, but hopes to finish the season with the Stockton Ports.
6.) Max Stassi: Catcher
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Max Stassi is considered to be the A's catcher of the future.
The 20-year-old was the A's fourth round pick in the 2009 draft.
He is currently off to a slow start with the Stockton Ports. He is batting .225 in his first 18 games, although he does have two homers and 12 RBI.
Stassi has power with the bat, but the strength that has the A's most excited is his cerebral approach to the game. He understands the position better than most catching prospects, knows how to handle a pitching staff and calls a good game.
He also happens to have a solid arm with a quick release, and has modeled his game after one of his role models, Ivan Rodriguez.
Stassi, already similar physically to Rodriguez, will be a welcome addition to the A's lineup in the future if he is able to put together a similar career to Rodriguez's Hall of Fame worthy career.
5.) Jemile Weeks: Second Base
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Jemile Weeks was the A's first-round pick in the 2008 draft. His development has been slowed by injuries which have prevented him from playing an entire professional season yet.
Weeks, the younger brother of Brewer's second baseman Rickie Weeks, is projected to be the A's future second baseman.
He is viewed as a top of the order catalyst type player with good range and hands defensively.
Weeks is off to a hot-start in Triple-A this season, hitting .333 with a pair of homers and 10 RBI for the Rivercats.
Weeks will likely be the A's second baseman in 2012 unless the team signs Mark Ellis to an extension; he could find himself in Oakland sooner than that if Ellis gets injured or goes into a prolonged to slump.
4.) Adrian Cardenas: Second Base
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Adrian Cardenas, acquired by the A's in the trade that sent Joe Blanton to Philadelphia, is still just 23 years old. In fact, Cardenas is actually younger than his competitor for the A's future second base job, Jemile Weeks.
Cardenas is showing his versatility this season in Sacramento, receiving playing time at second base, third base and even the outfield.
It is likely that Cardenas would be the first Rivercat called up by Oakland if the need minor league reinforcements arises.
He is off to a blazing start in Sacramento this season, batting .348 with 11 RBI in the team's first 22 games.
3.) Chris Carter: Outfield / Designated Hitter
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Chris Carter didn't exactly make the most of his opportunities with the A's last season. He batted just .186 with three homers in his limited time in the big leagues in 2010, although he did have a much better showing in his second call-up of the season.
Carter came to the A's in the Dan Haren trade, and is the teams top power-hitting prospect. He projects as the team's eventual designated hitter, although they are hesitant to waste his athleticism by limiting to only the offensive side of the game.
Carter is capable of playing first base and the outfield as well as DH.
Carter was off to a slow start in Sacramento to begin the year, batting just .173 before injuring his thumb.
Hopefully when he returns from the injury he can turn his season around and be a late season call-up, aiming for a starting role in 2012.
2.) Michael Choice: Outfield
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Michael Choice, the A's first-round pick in the 2010 draft, made a huge impression on his future teammates and coaches with his positive showing in his first spring training.
He showed the poise of a veteran, had you not known he was entering his first full year of professional ball, it would be hard to know this wasn't his time facing Major League talent.
Choice started the season at Single-A, Stockton. He is expected to spend most of 2011 with the team's Class-A affiliate and hopefully work his way up to Double-A, Midland, by the end of the season.
Choice could contend for a starting position in the outfield as early as next season, however it is more likely that the A's would like to give him a full season of Triple-A experience before summoning him to Oakland.
Choice projects to be a star in the Majors for many seasons in an Oakland uniform.
1.) Grant Green: Shortstop
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Grant Green, the team's first-round pick in the 2009 draft, ranks as the team's top prospect entering the 2011 season.
Green is the A's eventual heir to Cliff Pennington, who is just keeping the position warm for Green, at short stop.
He had an excellent first season with Stockton in 2010, batting .318 with 20 homers and 87 RBI.
He started this season at Double-A, Midland, where he is currently batting .265 with a pair of homers.
Green has a solid approach at the plate, and is considered a spray-hitter who should hit for a high average at all levels. He has average power, and is considered an average fielder at the moment.
If Green improves his range at shortstop and continues to develop as a hitter, he should develop into an All-Star for the A's during his time in the Green and Gold.
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