Franklin Barreto Comes Out Swinging This Year

MESA, Ariz.—Spring training has been an oasis of hope for a beleaguered Athletics franchise that has spent the last two years near the bottom of the standings.

Not far away is a time when the organization envisions a lineup that includes shortstop Franklin Barreto, third baseman Matt Chapman and Ryon Healy, the 2016 rookie standout who could play first base or DH.

The system’s top prospect, Barreto excelled at big league camp by going 13-for-27 (.481) with seven strikeouts in 16 games.

“His focus, his attention, his maturity and his work ethic have kind of come together,” farm director Keith Lieppman said. “The (Arizona) Fall League really helped him grow (by) being around the top players in the game. He’s starting to see the light that he is going to be one of those top-tier players.”

The 21-year-old Barreto, who has developed into a solid defensive shortstop, could see the most time at second base or even center field in Oakland because of the presence of Marcus Semien and Jed Lowry.

This season will provide a challenge for Barreto, who came to the A’s after the 2014 season as the main piece in the Josh Donaldson trade with the Blue Jays. He signed with Toronto out of Venezuela in 2012.

Barreto started slowly in each of his first two season with Oakland. He reported to camp out of shape in 2015 and then in 2016 hit .236 in the first half at Double-A Midland. He rebounded to hit .340/.392/.498 in the second half, which concluded at Triple-A Nashville, where he hit .421 with six extra-base hits in five games in the Pacific Coast League playoffs.

“His work ethic is excellent,” Lieppman said. “He’s the first guy out for infield drills, then he goes over and works with Darren Bush on hitting.”

A righthanded batter and line-drive hitter, Barreto has gap power with enough punch to muscle a few home runs. He led off 54 games for Midland last season, and that may be where he slots into the A’s lineup of the future.

Oakland plans to move Barreto back and forth from shortstop to second, so he will be prepared at both positions.

A’s ACORNS

• Lieppman said that 17-year-old Cuban outfielder Lazaro Armenteros must return to the Dominican Republic because of visa restrictions. He will begin in the Dominican Summer League but could return for the Rookie-level Arizona League.

• Outfielder Jaycob Brugman went down with a leg injury and will begin the season in extended spring training.

— Casey Tefertiller is a writer based in Oakland