Here are the A's 2024 Top 30 prospects
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One downside to seeing multiple top A’s prospects graduate to the big leagues last season was its effect on the club’s farm system.
The A’s graduated eight players (Tyler Soderstrom, Ken Waldichuk, Zack Gelof, Kyle Muller, Esteury Ruiz, Jordan Diaz, Freddy Tarnok and Lawrence Butler) who began 2023 among the top half of this list. Those players are all now expected to play major roles for Oakland this upcoming season.
While the A’s system has reshuffled a bit, there are still some exciting prospects who are close to breaking through at the Major League level.
It begins with shortstop Jacob Wilson, the A’s No. 1 prospect, who is featured in MLB Pipeline’s new Top 100 Prospects list for 2024 as the No. 68 prospect in baseball. Selected sixth overall in last year’s MLB Draft, Wilson impressed in his stint with High-A Lansing last season, hitting .318 with an .833 OPS and 10 extra-base hits while striking out just 10 times in 99 plate appearances, and could be on a fast track to the Majors.
Other prospects such as shortstop Darell Hernaiz (No. 5) and right-handers Mason Miller (No. 2) and Joe Boyle (No. 10) are expected to make an impact on the big league club, perhaps as early as Opening Day.
Here’s a look at the A's top prospects:
1. Jacob Wilson, SS (MLB No. 68)
2. Mason Miller, RHP
3. Luis Morales, RHP
4. Denzel Clarke, OF
5. Darell Hernaiz, SS
Complete Top 30 list »
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2023 preseason list to the 2024 preseason list:
Jump: Darell Hernaiz (2023: 18 | 2024: 5)
The A’s knew what they were getting in Hernaiz as a hitter when they acquired him from the Orioles last offseason in the Cole Irvin deal, but what really impressed them was his improvements on defense throughout the season, leading them to believe he is fully capable of playing shortstop or third base in the Majors.
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Fall: J.T. Ginn, RHP (2023: 17 | 2024: NR)
The key prospect acquired from the Mets in the 2022 Chris Bassitt deal, Ginn has struggled in his adjustment to a new organization. He posted a 7.43 ERA in eight Minor League games over an injury-shortened ‘23 campaign. The A’s still believe his power sinker-slider combo is good enough to one day emerge as a Major League starter, so he’ll look to bounce back and perhaps raise his stock again this year.
Top 30s
NLE: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH
ALE: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TOR
NLC: CIN | CHC | MIL | PIT | STL
ALC: CWS | CLE | DET | KC | MIN
NLW: AZ | COL | LAD | SD | SF
ALW: HOU | LAA | OAK | SEA | TEX
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools – 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 65 -- Jacob Wilson
Power: 55 -- Henry Bolte (Myles Naylor, Colby Thomas)
Run: 65 -- Henry Bolte (Cooper Bowman)
Arm: 60 -- Daniel Susac (Ryan Lasko)
Defense: 60 -- Ryan Lasko
Fastball: 80 -- Joe Boyle
Curveball: 55 -- Brady Basso (Tyler Baum)
Slider: 55 -- Mason Miller (Luis Morales, Steven Echavarria, Joe Boyle, Royber Salinas, Ryan Cusick)
Changeup: 60 -- Tyler Baum
Control: 60 --Gunnar Hoglund
How they were built
Draft: 19 | International: 2 | Trade: 8 | Rule 5: 1
Breakdown by ETA
2024: 16 | 2025: 7 | 2026: 3 | 2027: 4
Breakdown by position
C: 2 | 1B: 2 | 2B: 1 | 3B: 2 | SS: 4 | OF: 5 | LHP: 1 | RHP: 13