10 Oakland Athletics Prospects To Know Beyond The Top 30 in 2024
Baseball America’s Top 30 Oakland Athletics Prospects entering 2024 are here exclusively for subscribers. The list includes updated scouting reports, BA grades and tool grade projections every player.
Inevitably, there are players every year who barely miss the cut when we narrow down the list. These players are all worth monitoring for various reasons and it’s likely some will either reach the big leagues in 2024 or enjoy breakout seasons lower in the minors.
Here are next 10 players to know in the Athletics system beyond their Top 30.
31. Lazaro Armenteros, OF
Oakland’s $3 million international signing in 2016 mostly languished in the minors prior to 2023, spending parts of four seasons in High-A and twice going unselected in the Rule 5 Draft. He tightened his approach and focus just enough to let his plus raw power and speed play more consistently with Double-A Midland in 2023. There is still considerable swing-and-miss risk—he whiffed on 41% of pitches—but the A’s saw enough improvement to add him to their 40-man roster and protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
32. Brennan Milone, 1B/2B
Milone has been productive since turning pro in 2022. He shows a discerning eye and feel for contact, although some are skeptical his approach and uphill bat path will work against better pitching, considering his middling exit velocities. Milone has been productive so far, though, and has just enough versatility defensively to be serviceable at both first and second base.
33. Drew Conover, RHP
The A’s drafted the funky righthander in the 11th round of the 2023 draft. He started at Rutgers, but has the potential to move quickly if they convert him to a relief role. He attacks hitters with a crossfire delivery and low arm slot, resulting in a mid-90s fastball paired with a sweeping low-80s breaking ball thrown with nearly 3,000 rpm of spin.
34. Tyler Baum, RHP
Baum enjoyed the most remarkable turnaround of any player in Oakland’s system in 2023. The 2018 second-round pick spent the better part of 2021 and 2022 at Oakland’s Arizona complex battling severe control issues. Baum rebuilt his delivery and performed well out of the bullpen in 2023, sitting 95 mph with one of the best changeups in the A’s system.
35. Grant Holman, RHP
Durability concerns pushed Holman to the bullpen, but the righty has been effective in that role. He pairs a mid-90s fastball with a plus, fading upper-80s changeup that hitters whiffed on more than half the time in 2023.
36. Logan Davidson, 1B/2B
The No. 29 overall pick in the 2019 draft showed a bit more impact in 2023 and reached Triple-A Las Vegas for the first time, hitting .264/.333/.375 in 61 games. The switch-hitter fares much better against righties and has average pop, but there are still concerns about the length of his swing and contact ability against premium pitching. He isn’t particularly twitchy and has been passed by other infield defenders in the system, as he spent the bulk of the season at either first or second base. The A’s left him unprotected ahead of the Rule 5 draft, but he could still reach the majors at some point as a versatile bench bat.
37. Gunnar Hoglund, RHP
The 2021 first-rounder was finally healthy enough to pitch after a series of injuries cost him almost all of 2022, which was a welcomed sign. Hoglund returned with his customary strike-throwing and three-pitch mix, but his stuff hasn’t bounced back to pre-injury levels, and his fastball averaged just 90-91 mph. He could still fit the mold of a back-of-the-rotation pitchability righty, but his margin for error is slim considering the fringe velocity and durability concerns.
38. J.T. Ginn, RHP
Ginn has thrown just 69 innings over the last two seasons while dealing with a variety of arm injuries. He showed diminished stuff and control when on the mound in 2023, walking 16 batters in 26.2 innings while his sinker settled into the low 90s. When healthy, Ginn attacks hitters with a tidy three-pitch mix, works quickly and generates plenty of grounders, but that version has rarely materialized since arriving in Oakland.
39. Clark Elliott, OF
The A’s have struggled to get Elliott on track since drafting him No. 69 overall in 2022. He missed considerable time that year with a hamstring injury. He didn’t hit for much impact in 2023, posting a .548 OPS in 67 games with High-A Lansing despite striking out just 18.7% of the time.
40. Brayan Buelvas, OF
Buelvas was a rookie ball breakout in 2019 and carried that momentum to Oakland’s alternate site in 2020. He has not replicated that success in full-season ball. Buelvas chased more power and physicality at the expense of his hitterish qualities and has yet to find the right balance. The A’s believe he has the foot speed and arm to now stick in center, but it won’t matter if he can’t put the ball in play more consistently.
