Athletics Prospect Has Schrock Value

OAKLAND—During his college career at South Carolina, Max Schrock could hit. When he became a pro, his hitting only improved.

“A lot of it has to do with the wood bat,” said Schrock, a second baseman, in direct contradiction to orthodox thinking. “When I got used to the wood bat, it made me a better hitter (because) I had to use the whole field.”

The results back up his claim. Schrock hit .331 in 2016, his first full season, and he knocked 177 hits to lead all minor leaguers. He split his time between four affiliates and two organizations, then participated in the Arizona Fall League.

That earned Schrok an invitation to big league camp, where he made a big impression by hitting .344 and receiving an invitation to accompany the team to Oakland for the final exhibition games against the Giants.

“Every time he got up, he had a quality at-bat,” farm director Keith Lieppman said. “He stayed all of spring training in big league camp. They recalled him almost on a daily basis to go up there. The staff up there loved having him as a guy they could go to.

“That’s probably the best thing that can happen to a minor league player, that the manager or the bench coach request you on a daily basis.”

The Athletics, despite their preference for versatile players, plan to keep the 22-year-old Schrock at second base this year at Double-A Midland.

Schrock, who played mostly second for the Gamecocks, manned shortstop in high school while dabbling at third base and in the outfield. At 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, his stature profiles best at second base.

Schrock has shown some power. He hit nine home runs last year, but he does not project to hit for traditional corner power.

The Nationals selected Schrock in the 13th round of the 2015 draft, then traded him to the A’s last August for lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski.

A’s ACORNS

• The A’s released utility player Max Muncy and first baseman Rangel Ravelo at the end of spring training. Both had performed well in the system, including last year at Triple-A Nashville.

• Nashville third baseman Matt Chapman went down early with a left wrist injury, though X-rays showed no structural damage.

— Casey Tefertiller is a writer based in Oakland