Hello! Welcome to another edition of the A’s beat newsletter. The Athletics are enjoying a resurgence of their pitching depth throughout the Minor League system. At the Major League level, prospects such as (A’s No. 14 prospect) Gunnar Hoglund and J.T. Ginn have already been regular contributors in the starting rotation, as has Grant Holman in the bullpen. At Triple-A Las Vegas, top-10 A’s prospects Mason Barnett (No. 3) and Jack Perkins (No. 9) are part of the Aviators’ rotation and only one call away. That pitching talent trickles down beyond the upper levels. Here’s a look at two pitching prospects who appear to be laying the foundation for a rapid rise in 2025: |
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High-A Lansing: Gage Jump (A’s No. 13 prospect) Jump is being promoted to Double-A Midland, a source confirmed to MLB.com on Monday. The move is well-deserved given the dominant start to his first professional season. Through six games (five starts) at High-A, Jump went 4-1 and posted a 2.32 ERA with 45 strikeouts and five walks across 31 innings. The 22-year-old lefty, who was a Competitive Balance Round B pick (73rd overall) by the A’s in the 2024 MLB Draft out of LSU, has made a strong impression in a short amount of time. During his start against West Michigan on May 7, Jump recorded an immaculate inning en route to twirling eight innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts and no walks. “The velocity of his fastball and the ability to move that up and down in the zone is tremendous,” Lansing manager Darryl Kennedy said during a pregame show with broadcaster Jesse Goldberg-Strassler over the weekend. “You throw in his breaking pitches, sliders, sweepers, curveballs, they have a lot of depth to them as well. So, you look at it as a hitter, ‘Alright, he’s throwing 95, I’ve got to gear up for that.’ Then he starts breaking off the breaking balls and you can’t lay off them because they’re so late-breaking. It’s definitely a special arm.” |
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Double-A Midland: RHP Luis Morales (A’s No. 4 prospect) Morales impressed manager Mark Kotsay in Spring Training when he was called up from Minor League camp on Feb. 25 against the Giants, firing several fastballs that touched 97 mph and showing off a nasty slider that is developing into a quality second pitch. “It was smooth,” Kotsay said of Morales’ electric fastball. “It came out really easy. The slider looked good. He had a lot of poise. A lot of Cubans who come over, they’ve pitched in games over there, so this is nothing different. But you could tell he was very excited about the outing. It was fun to watch.” Morales has carried that momentum into the regular season. Across seven starts in his first season at Double-A, the 22-year-old holds a 2.97 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 14 walks in 36 1/3 innings. |
His most recent outing for Midland on Sunday might have been his finest yet as a professional. Facing Corpus Christi, Morales tossed seven innings of one-run ball and racked up 11 strikeouts. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Morales gives A’s assistant general manager and director of player personnel Billy Owens flashbacks of another Cuban righty who carved out a legacy with the Yankees in Orlando “El Duque” Hernández. “Luis carries that El Duque Cuban moxie and machismo,” Owens said. “His fastball reaches 99 mph and is complemented with an advanced changeup and solid slider. It’s been fun to see Morales take his repertoire up a level to start 2025.” |
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Which animal symbol did Connie Mack adopt to represent the A's after rival manager John McGraw claimed the AL club was a team no one would want? A. Red Herring B. White Elephant C. Brown Rattlesnake D. Green Lizard |
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After a rough stretch for Brady Basso, who sustained a left shoulder strain early in Spring Training that lingered into the regular season, the A’s No. 19 prospect is finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Rehabbing with the club in West Sacramento, Basso is scheduled to throw a bullpen session later this week, marking his first since the A’s shut him down from throwing in early April. The 27-year-old left-hander impressed the A’s in his short big league stint last season by posting a 4.03 ERA in a swingman role, and a similar role could await him once he’s ready to return. “He’s made a lot of progress,” Kotsay said. “He’s got a lot of carry behind the baseball, which is a great sign. This young man, we had plans for him to be part of this club coming out of Spring Training. Injuries set him back, but he’s made a lot of progress and it’s a good sign that he’ll start his bullpen progression.” Basso will have to throw a few bullpens before starting a rehab assignment, which puts him in line for a potential return likely in June. |
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