MLB news roundup
Welcome to Tuesday, A’s fans!
The club has decided that just 15 games with the A’s in High-A was needed for the organization’s new top prospect Leo De Vries. Baseball’s #3 ranked prospect is on his way up the minor league ladder heading to Double-A for the first time, inching closer and closer to the big leagues:
It took a lot for the San Diego Padres to acquire both Mason Miller and JP Sears, but the early returns on the trade have been spectacular when it comes to the main prize. De Vries has been everything the A’s hoped for and more, continuing his strong season by batting .268/.338/.518 with a pair of homers and 12 RBI’s for his new team. The jump from High-A to Double-A has tripped up many player’s careers but at just 18-years-old De Vries looks like he’s ready to be tested against older and tougher competition. He was especially hot this weekend and he’ll likely be in the lineup tonight for the Rockhounds, his first taste of advanced pitching.
This promotion now puts the switch-hitting infielder just two steps away from The Show. Midland has just 24 games left on their regular season schedule so De Vries doesn’t have much time left this year to force another promotion. And he could very well start next season with the Rockhounds as their starting shortstop. All the same though, a fast start at the second-highest level of the minors could earn him a quick promotion to Triple-A, and at that point it’s more or less a waiting game for his major league debut.
He’s still insanely young for the level he’s at (he’ll be the youngest player on Midland’s roster) but the club has been extremely aggressive with their top prospects in recent years and it’s seeming almost likely that we’ll see him with the big league club at some point next year, even if it’s for a quick September cup of coffee to get his feet wet. That means the club may have to make decisions about positions sooner than they expected. Current shortstop Jacob Wilson is an All-Star as a rookie but has graded as a below-average defender at one of the most important positions in baseball. If De Vries continues to develop into a plus-defender at short then the club won’t be shy about telling Wilson he needs to find himself a new home somewhere on the infield, whether that be second or third base. And who knows, it could ultimately work to Wilson’s strengths to switch to a less-demanding position.
As for the other pieces of the trade return for Miller/Sears, a quick check in. Right-hander Braden Nett has made three starts for Midland and gone 12 innings while allowing six runs, though he pitched five full frames in his two previous appearances. Fellow Midland righty Henry Baez has also made three starts, allowing eight earned runs in 12 1/3 innings. And reliever Eduarniel Nunez has already made his A’s debut, though he’s currently at Triple-A awaiting his call to return to the big league bullpen. A mixed bag, and it’s safe to say that De Vries is the one making the trade look good for the Athletics in the short-term right now.
Road trip starts today with three in Minnesota to take on the Twins. Should be a good one! Have a great day everyone!
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A’s Coverage:
- Athletics set to promote top prospect Leo De Vries
- A’s Drop Series Finale, Fall in Extras to Angels 11-5
- Inside The Numbers: “No Sample Too Small, No Take Too Irresponsible!”
- Lawrence Butler Rips MLB Umpires Over Lack Of Accountability: “I’m Fed Up”
- Rehabbing Seattle Mariner hurls bat at A’s minor league pitcher
- Latest Athletics injuries and transactions
MLB News & Interest:
- Phillies’ Zack Wheeler undergoes surgery to remove blood clot; timeline unclear
- Vlad Jr. leaves game with hamstring tightness
- Red Sox sign veteran first baseman Nathaniel Lowe
- Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte apologizes, explains absence from team
- Royals designate former Athletic Mark Canha for assignment
- Mariners set to activate Bryce Miller on Tuesday
- Blue Jays to activate Shane Bieber on Friday
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
How much longer until we see Zack Gelof back with the big league squad?
That production won him an award this week!
A worthy option for the major league award (went to Angels SS Zack Neto instead)
ICYMI:
Category: General Sports
