I’ve always struggled to find 20 legitimate players to include in the A’s list. But, this year, it was easier. Are all of them guaranteed to be in the Major Leagues? No, but there’s no denying that the system is better.
Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson lead the list and are entirely different players. Kurtz could be a power-hitting first baseman with high OBP skills, and Wilson is a light-hitting middle infielder who could hit .300. Both are great defenders and could become fixtures in Oakland by the end of the 2025 season.
Colby Thomas jumped up this season and showed power and speed (31 home runs and 15 stolen bases) but also struck out 30% of the time in Double-A. Luis Morales is the top-ranked pitcher and can touch 100 MPH with his fastball.
There is also plenty of depth in the system, more than I’ve seen in years.
Prospect Snapshot
- Top Prospect: Nick Kurtz
- Biggest Mover: Colby Thomas
- Biggest Disappointment: Darrel Hernaiz – I thought he would be better, but he didn’t hit in his time in Oakland.
- Emerging Prospect: Gage Jump
