A.J. Puk Makes Rapid Improvement

Best Player: 1B/OF Matt Olson

Ever since Olson hit 37 home runs at high Class A Stockton in 2014, the Athletics have been curious to see what type of player would emerge when he matured. That maturation came fast this year, when Olson emerged by batting .272/.367/.568 with 23 homers in 79 games at Triple-A Nashville.

Olson continued to mash after a big league callup, totaling more than 40 homers between the two stops. He made far more consistent contact this year while maintaining his trademark high walk rate—but this year he became more intent on hitting.

“He always had a selective approach, but that brought a little passiveness,” farm director Keith Lieppman said. “This year he became a little more aggressive.”

Olson adopted a new timing device this season, where he begins by stretching his arms across the plate before snapping back to the hitting position.

Best Pitcher: LHP A.J. Puk

The sixth overall pick last year out of Florida, Puk improved so much this season that he edged righthander Heath Fillmeyer, who ranked fifth in the Texas League in ERA, for this honor.

Puk began the year at Stockton and advanced to Double-A Midland and went 6-10, 4.03 in 27 games (24 starts). He struck out 184—to rank third in the minors—in 125 innings while walking 48.

“The amount of improvement that he has made from last year to the end of Double-A . . . is really impressive,” Lieppman said. “His confidence has soared. The stuff is electric. You see that arm, that size and that angle, you realize you have a really good major league pitcher in the making.”

The 6-foot-7 Puk hits 97 mph with his fastball, and he throws a late-biting curve. He also uses a slider/cutter the A’s think could be a swing-and-miss pitch when he develops consistency.

Keep An Eye On: OF B.J. Boyd

A’s coaches have been high on Boyd since the organization drafted him in the fourth round out of high school in 2012. This year the 24-year-old broke through to hit .323/.366/.428 with five home runs and 16 steals in 130 games as Midland’s leadoff hitter.

“He got to play the game of a leadoff hitter,” Lieppman said. “He used all fields and was able to keep the ball out of the air. (The lefthanded batter) learned to beat the shift. He bunted. He played the game that matched up to the player that he is. Before, he tried to be a swinger and a home-run guy.”

Boyd has worked intensely with coach Rickey Henderson to develop his basestealing skills, but that is a work in progress.