Elephant Rumblings: Help From The Farm Coming?

MLB news roundup

Welcome to Tuesday, Athletics Nation!

The club has been in free fall for the past couple of months after a better-than expected April saw the Athletics hover around the .500 mark. Once the calendar turned and the starting pitching depth fell apart the club started looking more like the squad people thought they would be this year. As of today they enter at a disappointing 34-58 with just six games left in the first half before the All-Star game.

As fans might remember at this same point last year, the club was in even dire straights, standing at an even worse 25-66 and on track for one of the worst seasons in history. Since April the team is 11-49 and desperately needs this upcoming break. The club isn’t great this year but at least there’s been improvement.

That might be because of the moves the club made last season at this point. After the All-Star Break the club finally brought up top prospects Tyler Soderstrom and Zack Gelof for the first time. While Gelof rose to the moment and performed well in the second half, Soderstrom struggled and would eventually return to Triple-A, though he’d return before the end of the season. They weren’t the only players as former pitching prospect Freddy Tarnok was also brought up to the big league team for the first time as well as outfielders Lawrence Butler and Cody Thomas.

That shift from the Jace Petersons, Tony Kemps and Ramon Laureanos of the team to the rookies sent the squad into an extreme youth movement. That sort of massive change of direction might not be in the cards this break but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a 2024 version of Gelof ready to join the big league team.

That player of course is #1 prospect Jacob Wilson. The 1st-rounder from just last season has skyrocketed through the Oakland system, reaching the final level of the minors in just two seasons. All eyes are on the team for when they finally bring him up. While current shortstop Max Shuemann has done admirably in place of the injured Darell Hernaiz, Wilson could bring a whole lot to the lineup. Would the A’s rush him after just 15 games in Triple-A? The club promoted Butler after only 22 contests for the Aviators last year.

And beyond Wilson, another former 1st-rounder has been performing decently in Triple-A as well. Max Muncy only just got started on his rehab assignment but he’d looked comfortable in Vegas. And then we can’t forget about Hernaiz, who came into the year with some hope for a breakout. Or maybe someone like starting pitcher Royber Salinas, who has spent all season in the Las Vegas rotation. Whoever it is, now is not the time for the A’s to be stashing players in the minor leagues. The season is lost but maybe the A’s can find a promising building block to go with the current young core over these final few months.

Have a good week everyone!

A’s Coverage:

• Eyeball Scout Weighs In On Spence, Gelof
• Denied back-to-back All-Star nods, Rooker aiming to finish first-half strong
• Should the A’s trade Brent Rooker?
• Sign goes rival at Athletics game

MLB News & Interest:

• Witt Jr, Ozuna join Home Run Derby field
• ex-Dodger Raul Mondesi sentences to six years in jail in D.R.
• “Growing belief” Marlins will trade Jazz Chisholm
• Angels activate Anthony Rendon; Trout progressing
• Angels designate Miguel Sano for assignment
• Braves select Eddie Rosario
• Reds prospect Hinds homers in MLB debut
• From biggest whiff to can’t miss: How Charlie Condon became a 1:1 candidate for the draft
• Giants hold public memorial for Willie Mays
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Former 2nd-rounder doing well in Double-A:

A bit on the older side for the level but still a solid week for an Oakland prospect:

A happy belated to an incredible source of A’s news!

Here’s a montage of Miller’s 40 strikeouts during his 19 ¹⁄₃ scoreless streak:

Still some time left to snag a ticket…