Athletics News Page 394 - MLB

Here are the Athletics' 2023 Top 30 prospects The A’s are hopeful that 2023 will see them take a big step forward in their current rebuild. Part of that optimism stems from a core of you...

MARCH 6, 2023 • MLB.COM

Seth Brown - Quiet start to spring Brown is hitting .214 (3-for-14) with two doubles, an RBI, a walk and a hit by pitch across 16 plate appearances over six Cactus League games.

Impact Brown has unsurprisingly racked up a pair of extra-base hits among his three knocks, extending a favorable pattern from the last two seasons in which nearly half (88) of his 175 hits in that span went for more than a single. The 30-year-old did reduce his strikeout rate to 26.3 percent in 2022 from a 29.0 percent figure the season prior, and he projects to open the 2023 campaign as the Athletics' starting left fielder.

MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Smith - Goes yard Sunday Smith, who went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 10-3 Cactus League loss to the Padres, is now hitting .353 (6-for-17) across seven Cactus League contests.

Impact Smith has hit safely in three of the last four exhibitions, and he also notably got Cactus League play off to a rousing start with a two-hit, three-RBI day against the Diamondbacks on Feb. 25. On the other hand, he has a 0:8 BB:K so far this spring after posting a 27.8 percent strikeout rate in the majors in 2022, and a 30.0 percent rate at Triple-A. The 26-year-old struggled to a .180/.216/.302 slash line across 151 plate appearances at the big-league level last year, but he's put up impressive power/speed numbers at every minor-league stop and can potentially fill in at shortstop, third base, designated hitter and the corner outfield spots.

MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

JP Sears - Scuffling in spring Sears has allowed five earned runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings while recording six strikeouts across his first two Cactus League starts.

Impact The left-hander is competing for a spot in the starting rotation after turning in a solid 6-3 record, 3.86 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 17 appearances (11 starts) as a rookie in 2022. Jack McGruder of MLB.com reports Sears has been working at refining his slider all offseason and used it very effectively against the Cubs in Thursday's start; all three runs allowed by Sears came off his fastball, while the southpaw racked up two strikeouts of Eric Hosmer and induced an inning-ending double play from Cody Bellinger with the slider.

MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ramón Laureano - Struggling since return from injury Laureano is 0-for-7 with two walks over the three Cactus League games he's played since returning from a two-game absence due to a groin injury.

Impact Laureano was held out of Wednesday's and Thursday's exhibitions after being removed from Tuesday's game against the Angels with groin tightness. His lack of success at the plate since returning leaves him with an .083 average (1-for-12) over five Cactus League games overall.

MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ex-Aviators catcher ready for starting role with Athletics Oakland’s offseason trade of budding star catcher Sean Murphy cleared the way for former Aviators standout Shea Langeliers to take over as t...

MARCH 6, 2023 • REVIEWJOURNAL.COM

Oakland A's calling Vegas home, only this weekend for now The Oakland Athletics are calling Las Vegas home ... for this weekend.

MARCH 6, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Bryce Harper to report to Phillies camp on Wednesday

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper says he will report to spring training on Wednesday as he continues recovering from elbow surgery and then determine when he can return f...

MARCH 5, 2023 • Associated Press

Rangers Headed to Las Vegas? The potential relocation of Oakland Athletics to Las Vegas would mean plenty of games for the Texas Rangers in Sin City.

MARCH 5, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Former A's great Jason Giambi favors team's move to Las Vegas LAS VEGAS — The debate about the future home of the Oakland Athletics was on full display Saturday as the A’s lost, 10-9, to the Cincinnati...

MARCH 5, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Oakland A's calling Vegas home, only this weekend for now

The Oakland Athletics are calling Las Vegas home, but only for this weekend

MARCH 4, 2023 • Associated Press

Ramón Laureano - Back in lineup Friday Laureano (groin) is starting in right field and batting third Friday versus the Royals.

Impact Laureano missed the team's last two contests after being removed from Tuesday's lineup with groin tightness, but the 28-year-old will be back on the diamond Friday. The outfielder is one of the A's most experienced players and could have a big season if he remains slotted in as the the team's third batter.

MARCH 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sears, Kaprielian progressing towards Opening Day MESA, Ariz. -- The A’s used separate mounds three miles apart to gauge the early spring progress of starting pitchers JP Sears and James Kap...

MARCH 3, 2023 • MLB.COM

James Kaprielian - No issues during sim game Kaprielian (shoulder) said he "likes the way things are coming along" after throwing a two-inning simulated game Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact The 29-year-old righty threw roughly 30 pitches and reportedly felt good afterwards. Coming off having surgery done on his throwing shoulder in November, Kaprielian says he's doing everything in his power to be ready to go for Oakland's Opening Day rotation.

MARCH 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

A's top prospect Waldichuk was a lightly recruited prep pitcher, but a former MLB All-Star saw his talent Oakland A’s pitcher Ken Waldichuk is ranked by MLB.com as the third-best LHP prospect in baseball. But in high school, there were few believ...

MARCH 2, 2023 • MERCURYNEWS.COM

Ramón Laureano - Likely sitting out Thursday Laureano (groin) went through a normal workout Wednesday, but he was held out of the Athletics' Cactus League lineup for the second straight game and is likely to remain sidelined...

Impact Laureano was a late scratch from Tuesday's game against the Angels with what was later revealed to be groin tightness. The Athletics are unsurprisingly taking a cautious approach with Laureano at this point in spring training, making it likely he doesn't return to Cactus League action until this weekend at the earliest.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

James Kaprielian - Set for sim game Kaprielian (shoulder) is set to throw a two-inning simulated game Thursday.

Impact The recovering right-hander threw a successful live batting practice Sunday as he continues to work his way back from November shoulder surgery. The simulated game is another important step in a quest to make the season-opening starting rotation, one manager Mark Kotsay still feels Kaprielian can pull off if he doesn't experience any setbacks.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Spring training roundup: Athletics, Reds tie in offensive showcase Offense wasn’t an issue but pitching was suspect as the Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds tied 14-14 on Wednesday in a game featuring 29...

MARCH 2, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Aguilar embraces leadership role with A's GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jesús Aguilar feels like he has been here before. Aguilar brought a big bat and a big presence to a young 2020 Miami team...

MARCH 2, 2023 • MLB.COM

Manny Piña - Nursing calf soreness Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Wednesday that Pina will be held out of Cactus League action until at least this weekend due to calf soreness, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco...

Impact Pina continues to go through workouts but will take at least a few days off from games. The veteran catcher is slated to serve as Shea Langeliers' backup to begin the season but could get pushed aside once to prospect Tyler Soderstrom is deemed ready for the big leagues.

MARCH 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ramón Laureano - Dealing with groin tightness Laureano's removal from Tuesday's lineup was due to left groin tightness, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact The Athletics have deemed the move precautionary, but, given the type of injury, Laureano would figure to be down for at least another day or two. He's currently slated to be Oakland's starting right fielder this season.

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ramón Laureano - Scratched from Tuesday's lineup Laureano was a late scratch from the Athletics' Cactus League lineup Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact There's no word yet on the reasoning for Laureano's removal, but the A's should provide an update before long. Conner Capel will play right field instead.

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dany Jiménez - Makes spring debut Jimenez (shoulder) struck out a batter and worked around a base hit in a scoreless inning of relief in Sunday's 11-4 win over the Brewers in Cactus League play.

Impact With Jimenez making his debut in the Athletics' second game of the spring slate, he appears to be operating at full strength during camp after a right shoulder strain shelved him for the final five weeks of the 2022 season. Before succumbing to the injury, Jimenez turned in a 3.41 ERA and 1.19 WHIP while striking out 34 over 34.1 innings. He had a brief run of fantasy relevance as Oakland's closer, bagging 11 saves in 14 chances before injuries derailed him from August onward. The Athletics' closer situation remains unsettled heading into Opening Day, and Melissa Lockard of The Athletic reported earlier in February that Jimenez is "probably the favorite get save opportunities early in the season" in light of his success as a rookie. Lockard suggests that offseason pickup Trevor May as well as Zach Jackson are other possible candidates to claim the ninth-inning role.

FEBRUARY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sam Moll - Seemingly healthy for spring Moll (shoulder) is listed as an available option out of the Oakland bullpen for Monday's Cactus League game against the Rockies, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle report...

Impact Moll appears to be healthy enough to make his spring debut Monday after a left shoulder strain kept him sidelined for the final three weeks of the 2022 campaign. Before picking up the injury, the southpaw compiled a 2.91 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 46:22 K:BB across 43.1 innings for Oakland while collecting two wins and 16 holds. He'll likely settle into a middle-relief or setup role in the Athletics bullpen to begin the 2023 season.

FEBRUARY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Zach Jackson - Looks ready for spring debut Jackson (shoulder) is listed as an available option out of the Oakland bullpen for Monday's Cactus League game against the Rockies, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle rep...

Impact Jackson closed the 2022 campaign on the injured list with a shoulder strain suffered in early September, but he avoided surgery to address the injury and appears to be back to full strength for spring training. Oakland has yet to formally name a closer for Opening Day, and Jackson should factor into the late-inning mix in some capacity after a strong showing as a rookie a season ago. Over his 54 appearances with the big club spanning 48 innings, the right-hander accrued a 3.00 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 67:33 K:BB while collecting three saves and 27 holds.

FEBRUARY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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Bryce Harper to report to Phillies camp on Wednesday

Oakland A's calling Vegas home, only this weekend for now

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Bryce Harper to report to Phillies camp on Wednesday

Oakland A's calling Vegas home, only this weekend for now