MARCH 6, 2023•MLB.COM
Here are the Athletics' 2023 Top 30 prospectsThe 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...
Seth Brown - Quiet start to springBrown 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.
ImpactBrown 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 SundaySmith, 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.
ImpactSmith 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 springSears has allowed five earned runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings while recording six strikeouts across his first two Cactus League starts.
ImpactThe 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 injuryLaureano 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.
ImpactLaureano 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 AthleticsOakland’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 nowThe Oakland Athletics are calling Las Vegas home ... for this weekend.
MARCH 6, 2023•STARTRIBUNE.COM
