The impressive A's prospect you haven't heard about

This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Several players in the A’s farm system are off to strong starts. Those who usually garner the most attention reside within the club’s Top 30 Prospects list, starting with Tyler Soderstrom and Zack Gelof at Triple-A Las Vegas. There is, however, another unranked prospect at Triple-A who is generating some buzz.

Max Schuemann does not crack Oakland’s Top 30 list. He does not carry the pedigree of a first- or early-round pick. Yet through the first two months of the Minor League season, his performance continues to stand out.

“A nice off-the-radar prospect,” A’s assistant GM and director of player personnel Billy Owens said of Schuemann. “Extremely versatile. Solid plate discipline. Impact legs and a catalyst mentality.”

Selected by the A’s in the 20th round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Eastern Michigan University, Schuemann is shining in his sixth season in the Minors and inserting himself into the conversation for a call to the Majors at some point in 2023. Over 43 games between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas, the 25-year-old is hitting .299 with an .890 OPS, four homers, 12 doubles, three triples, 24 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.

Defensively, Schuemann is showing quality traits of a valuable utility man, having played all three outfield spots, as well as shortstop, second base and third base so far this season. Some in the organization have made comparisons to former A’s super-utility man Chad Pinder. Owens likens Schuemann to another jack-of-all-trades-type utility player who now stars for the Red Sox.

“He’s kind of our version of Kiké Hernández,” Owens said. “He’s underrated. Versatile and fast with sneaky pop. Brings the energy. Definitely Kiké Hernández vibes.”