Oakland A's: 8 Prospects Who Will Make an Impact in 2012

The A's have far exceeded expectations in 2012. They are 16-15, just 4.5 games behind the Texas Rangers and occupying second place in the AL West in what many analysts tabbed as a rebuilding year for the franchise.

Oakland appears to be just as much in the hunt for a playoff seed as anybody at this point in the season, and with a farm system loaded with young talent, A's fans must be excited about what the future holds.

But even though the current A's roster has seen some mild success on the field, there are still some gaping holes that need to be filled. There are plenty of guys in the Minors who could give the A's a boost, and here's a short list of players who can make an impact in 2012.

Bruce Billings, RHP

The numbers are there for Bruce Billings this season, posting a 2.22 ERA in five Triple-A starts in Sacramento this season, so it might be time for the 26-year-old to get another shot in the Majors.

Billings was shelled in big leagues last season, allowing eight earned runs in just seven innings pitched, but appears to have progressed significantly and looks ready for another shot.

Billings would likely get a bullpen job at the next level, and should he perform like he has in the Minors, could be a regular righty out of the pen for A’s manager Bob Melvin.

Shane Peterson, LF

Simply looking at the numbers, its hard to comprehend why Peterson hasn’t got a shot at the Majors yet, much less why he’s stuck in Double-A. He’s hitting .305 with a .964 OPS with the Midland RockHounds this season.

Peterson is an ideal Beane-ball candidate, as he has been getting on base consistently with a .459 OPS.

Peterson, who can also play right field and first base, could definitely aid a struggling A’s line-up even if he produces a fraction of those numbers in the Majors.

The A’s are laden with outfield talent throughout their farm system, and Peterson will likely see a promotion as bigger names in front of him get called up. If the 24-year-old can continue to produce like he has with the Hounds, it’ll only be a matter of time before the A’s are forced to give him a look at the MLB level.

Derek Norris, C

A solid backup catcher with some pop is a complete luxury, and with Derek Norris tearing up the Pacific Coast League for the River Cats this season, it might be one of the few luxuries the A’s can afford.

The 22-year-old Norris is hitting .303 with an .856 OPS in Triple-A Sacramento, and with Kurt Suzuki’s backup Anthony Recker struggling at the plate this season, Oakland might consider calling up Norris to give their anemic lineup a boost as the team continues to chase a wild card berth.

Norris does need a bit of work defensively, however, and as a catcher hasn’t completely developed at game-calling, so he’ll need to progress a bit more before getting promoted.

Grant Green, LF/CF

Grant Green, the much-heralded first-round draft pick of the A’s in 2009, appears to be progressing smoothly through the Minors. He is having a decent season in Sacramento this year, with a .273 average and a .754 OPS through 121 at-bats with the River Cats.

There are a couple of things holding Green back from cracking the majors this season, however. The team appears interested in first seeing what Michael Taylor has to offer, calling him up on May 4 ahead of Green. It seems unlikely that Oakland will call up another outfield prospect in an already crowded outfield corps.

Green also needs to show that he is capable of getting on base more often if he wants to fit into Billy Beane’s Moneyball scheme at the next level.

A .308 OBP is significantly low for a player projected to hit in the heart of the lineup, and Green will likely remain in the Minors until he shows he can draw more walks.

Still, Green has a lot of upside as a hitter and should find his was to the Majors sooner rather than later. It might not be until rosters expand towards the end of the season, but Green will likely get a shot in 2012.

Chris Carter, 1B

Baseball America named Chris Carter the A’s top prospect in 2010.

But after an awful stint with the team at the end of 2011 and failing to make Oakland’s Opening Day roster this season, it might seem like the organization has written off Carter, now 26, as their future cornerstone at first base.

However, Carter has had a stellar season so far with Triple-A Sacramento, recording an .851 OPS with four homers and 22 RBI through 122 at-bats with the River Cats. Carter is again showing his ability to hit for average and power, as well as get on base consistently.

The A’s are desperate for anyone who can manufacture runs, and it might not be too long before Carter finds his way back to the show.

Michael Taylor, RF

Michael Taylor got the call up May 4, and it likely won’t be long before we see the 26-year-old as an everyday starter in the A’s outfield.

Taylor absolutely tore up Triple-A this season with a .357 average to go along with a .938 OPS. He finds his way on the base-paths regularly, and has some decent pop as a hitter, as Taylor slammed 16 homers with the River Cats in 2011.

He has the athleticism and tools to quickly replace either Seth Smith or Jonny Gomes in Oakland’s outfield platoon, and should he get hot early during his big league tenure in 2012, we should see a lot of Taylor throughout the course of the season.

Brad Peacock, SP

The prize of the Gio Gonzalez deal, Peacock appears to be the ideal candidate to replace the struggling Tyson Ross in Oakland’s starting rotation this season.

Peacock started a pair of games last season with the Nationals, allowing just one run in 12 innings of work in the latter stages of 2011. Peacock struggled with his control a bit, allowing six walks last season, but such is typical of rookie pitchers.

Peacock has been stellar for the River Cats this season with a solid 3.24 ERA in 33.1 innings, and appears to be more than ready for the big stage. The right-hander’s knuckle curve looks sharp, and with the A’s looking like contenders in 2012, adding an ace would certainly improve their odds as they make a push for the playoffs.

Jarrod Parker, SP

It might be cheating a bit to put Parker atop this list after ascending to the top of the rotation since his call up from AAA Sacramento on April 25.

But no first-year Athletic (other than Yoenis Cespedes) has come close to making the same impact in the bigs this season as the young ace.

Parker has been nothing short of nasty in three starts with the A’s, posting a 1.80 ERA to go along with a 1.15 WHIP and 5.40 K/9. The 23-year-old right-hander regularly hits the low 90's, and is capable of eating enough innings to be a regular top-of-the-rotation ace for many years to come.

Parker has good power pitches in his sinker and particularly nasty slider, which Billy Beane and other sabermetric statisticians favor, making Parker an extremely efficient ground ball and strikeout pitcher.

Parker won’t just make the biggest splash for the A’s this season, but likely be a household name amongst Oakland fans for years to come.