Oakland Athletics Top Prospects 2024

Oakland Athletics top prospects for dynasty fantasy baseball, including Mason Miller, Tyler Soderstrom, Denzel Clarke, Lawrence Butler, and more.

Welcome to our team prospect rankings. Over the next two months, I will be pumping out team top prospect rankings and evaluations for dynasty baseball. These reports are generated from live looks, film study, and advanced data analysis to bring you in-depth fantasy scouting reports on every player you need to know, with today’s being the Oakland Athletics Top Prospects.

Not all 30 players in each writeup will be dynasty relevant, but many will, and if you play in a deep league, certainly most of the names will be worth knowing.

You can check out our previous Top Prospect Rankings:

Each player has a detailed write-up. The top 10 rankings and writeups are free for all, but the rest of the top prospects are for paid subs. Get an edge in your dynasty leagues and get in on some of these players first! Let’s get to it: our Oakland Athletics top prospects.

1. Mason Miller, RHP, 25, 6’5”/200

After an impressive Arizona Fall League in 2022, Miller burst onto the scenes in 2023, moving from Double-A to the Majors. Pitching only 19.1 innings in the Minors, Miller posted a 1.86 ERA across seven starts, striking out 50 percent of the batters he faced. Miller pitched 33.1 innings in the Majors, with a 3.78 ERA and 38 strikeouts to 16 walks. 

Injuries have been a significant factor in Miller’s career, with 2021 being the most innings he has thrown at 98.2. The Athletics have said that Miller will likely be in the bullpen in 2024, but that does not rule out him starting in the long term.

On the mound, Miller has a fastball-heavy approach, with the pitch sitting over 98 mph with 18 inches of IVB on average and nearly eight inches of run. The fastball does miss bats at a higher clip than most, as many hitters swing under it when it is located well up in the zone. 

Miller throws a slider and cutter to fill out the rest of his arsenal, with the cutter around 94 mph and the slider near 86 mph. The cutter has a shorter break, while the slider averages nearly 40 inches of drop and nine inches of sweep. Miller occasionally throws a firm changeup but had just a five percent usage in 2023.

There are major injury and durability concerns with Miller being a starter long-term despite having some of the better stuff in baseball. He could thrive in a closer role in 2024, but it is important to remember he has a UCL sprain. There are many outcomes here, from a stud closer to a front-of-the-rotation starer.

FFG: RP or Mid-Rotation SP

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 140 IP/3.30 ERA/165 K

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Sell Unless Your League Values RP Highly

2. Tyler Soderstrom, C/1B, 22, 6’1”/200

After Soderstrom posted a strong season in Triple-A, the former first-rounder made his MLB debut down the stretch, and while it was not pretty, he gained valuable experience both behind the dish and at first base. While some may say Soderstrom’s Triple-A slash of .252/.308/.526 was a bit disappointing, numbers under the hood still looked good for the smooth-swinging lefty.

While making contact at a 74 percent clip, Soderstrom posted a zone contact rate of 83 percent, which is respectable and right in line with what he did in 2022. It was also the second straight season that Soderstromg posted an average exit velocity north of 91 mph, and his 90th percentile exit velocity jumped two mph to 107.6 mph.

Soderstrom is an aggressive hitter, swinging at over 50 percent of pitches and chasing out of the zone at a below-average clip of 33 percent. While some would write off his ability to hit, the contact rates have been average the last two years, and he spent the entire year as a 21-year-old. 

While some have been quick to write him off as a long-term catcher, Soderstrom shows decent receiving skills and an average arm behind the plate. While Shea Langeliers is a much better defensive catcher, Soderstrom still could see time behind the plate while spending the majority of games at first.

The power will be the carrying tool, and Soderstrom can be a 25 home runs bat regularly.

FFG: Power Hitting C/1B

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .270/.330/25 HR/2 SB

Variance: Medium

Buy/Sell: Buy as the Perceived Cost is Down

3. Denzel Clarke, OF, 23, 6’5”/220

Clarke is a toolsy outfielder from Canada who was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Cal State Northridge. While there have always been contact concerns, Clarke saw his overall contact rate jump from 63 percent in 2022 up to a rate above 70 percent in 2023. 

With plus power and run times, Clarke has put up solid home run rates in his pro career and has been highly efficient in stealing bases. Unfortunately, injuries have limited Clarked to just 164 games in three pro seasons, but over that time, he has hit 28 home runs and stolen 42 bases.

Suppose the swing-and-miss issues can continue to trend in the right direction. In that case, Clarke has the potential to be a solid everyday player, especially considering his defense in centerfield is quite good.

FFG: Toolsy OF

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .260/.350/25 HR/20 SB

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy

4. Luis Morales, RHP, 21, 6’3”/190

One of the more underrated arms in the minors, Morales signed with the A’s for $3 million in January 2023. It was a rare bonus for a pitcher on the international market, especially considering Morales was 20 years old.

He began the Minor League season in the Dominican Summer League but worked his way up to High-A by season’s end, posting a 2.86 ERA across 44 innings with 53 strikeouts.  

Morales consistently pumps a fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s with a nice ride up in the zone. He consistently sits 97 mph early in starts, and the velocity held throughout the shorter starts he made in 2024.

The command is inconsistent on the pitch and will need to improve, but he gets whiffs when it is located well.

While sometimes showing a sweeper and a curve, the pitches sometimes blend. Both pitches have a ton of movement and spin, to the point where Morales often does not know where it will land. He is comfortable throwing the breakers to both righties and lefties. 

His changeup shows a nice fade and has the potential to be an average pitch. Morales's strike-throwing was below average in his debut and showed below-average location. But the stuff is legit across the board, with the fastball and breaking balls grading out as plus. 

FFG: SP4-5

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 150 IP/3.75 ERA/175 K

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy

5. Lawrence Butler, 3B/OF, 23, 6’3”/210

Drafted back in 2018 out of Westlake High School in Georgia, Butler has worked his way through the Athletics system and came out of the pandemic in 2021 looking like a different player. Butler made a major jump in 2023, seeing his contact rate jump from 66 percent to 76 percent. 

Armed with tools across the board, Butler has plus power and speed, Butler hit 19 home runs and stole 21 bases in 2023 but the exit velocities suggest there is more juice in the tank as he posted a 90 mph average exit velocity in the minors with a 106 mph 90th percentile exit velocity. 

Butler was successful on 21 of 23 stolen base attempts, showing good instincts. If the hit tool improvements from 2023 stick heading into 2024, Butler could be a highly intriguing player who brings solid power and speed. Having the ability to stick in center, Butler seems more likely to move to a corner outfield spot where his skill set could lead to him being a solid, middle-of-the-order bat.

FFG: Power/Speed OF

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .275/.350/25 HR/15 SB

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy

6. Myles Naylor, 3B, 18, 6’2”/195

You probably recognize the last name, and it is true Myles is the younger brother of Josh and Bo Naylor. Growing up in the shadow of two brothers who were both drafted in the first round, Naylor had the pressure of performance but also the privilege of learning from and training with them.

Myles Naylor is 6’2”/195 lb and is highly athletic, posting strong run times while also showing the ability to post high-end exit velocities for his age.

As a prep bat out of Ontario, Naylor was the 2023 Canadian prep player of the year, according to Prep Baseball Report. While having a strong frame, Naylor generates a ton of torque and solid bat speed, which helps him hit the ball hard. In 2022, at a PBR scout day, he registered a 96 mph average exit velocity and a 101 max, which both ranked at the top of his draft class. 

At Perfect Game’s National Showcase, Naylor posted a 6.72 60-yard dash, which was 95th percentile for his class. If the hit tool develops, Naylor can develop into a solid player across the board.

FFG: Power Hitting SS

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .270/.340/25 HR/10 SB

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy

7. Steven Echavarria, RHP, 18, 6’1”/180

The Athletics drafted Echavarria in the third round of the 2023 draft but gave him a $3 million bonus, first-round caliber money, and the biggest over-slot deal in the 2023 draft. Echavarria was still 17 on draft day, but already showing a big fastball in the mid-90s, topping out at 97. His frame even leaves room for some projection and the chance to add another tick or two to the fastball.

The slider is a high-spinning pitch in the low-to-mid 80s with sweeping tendencies. He throws both a changeup and a curve on occasion but will likely need to develop one of those pitches further.

Echavarria throws strikes at a high flip and repeats his mechanics well. His signing bonus is more indicative of his future value than the third-round price tag. A healthy season in 2024 could see his stock take off.

FFG: SP4-5

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 150 IP/3.50 ERA/160 K

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy

8. Jacob Wilson, SS, 21, 6’3”/190

One of the more polarizing players in the 2023 draft, Wilson landed in Oakland with the sixth overall pick. Known for his elite contact ability and smooth glove at shortstop, many questioned the contact quality. 

In 2023, at Grand Canyon University, Wilson made contact on 95 percent of pitches and 98 percent of pitches in-zone, which is pretty much unheard of. But it came with just an 84 mph average exit velocity with metal and a 100 mph 90th percentile exit velocity. 

The contact skills carried right into a professional ball as Wilson posted a contact rate north of 90 percent. His frame does suggest that more power could be part of his game long-term, but Wilson will need to prove that power is more than 30 grade at present in 2024. 

It would not be surprising to see Wilson move through the system quickly and even contend for batting titles one day in the Majors.

FFG: Batting Title Contender

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .325/.390/12 HR/10 SB

Variance: Low

Buy/Sell: Depends on the Cost

9. Darell Hernaiz, MI, 22, 5’11”/190

Hernaiz is one of the best pure hitters in the Athletics system, which is full of high-upside bats. While Hernaiz does not fit the high upside category, his bat is safe and he has a solid chance to make the Majors and be a consistent contributor.

Making contact on 79 percent of pitches in 2023 with a zone contact rate of 89 percent, Hernaiz shows a solid feel to hit with better-than-average chase rates. You might expect poor exit velocities given that Hernaiz only hit nine home runs in 2023, but his 90th percentile was actually above 105 mph, which is well above average. 

Hernaiz has less-than-ideal launch angles, hitting the ball on the ground often. He could get more power if he could lift, but even with that, he had 45 extra-base hits in 2023.

Being able to play multiple positions in the infield, Hernaiez might be best suited in a utility role in Oakland.

FFG: UTL INF

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .300/.360/15 HR/10 SB

Variance: Low

Buy/Sell: Buy in Deep Leagues

10. Royber Salinas, RHP, 22, 6’3”/205

Salinas has electric stuff but has already struggled with command and throwing enough strikes, but made strides in 2023. With an electric arsenal and the fact that Salinas was added to the 40-man roster this offseason, he seems poised to get a crack at Oakland’s Opening Day roster with a strong spring training performance. 

Having a plus fastball, Salinas used to sit near 98 consistently, but the command was sometimes shaky. Sitting closer to 95 mph in 2023 allowed him to command the pitch better while still allowing it to play up with strong traits. 

Salinas throws both a slider and curveball, which get a ton of whiffs and chase, with the slider sitting in the mid-80s with sweep. The curveball shows more vertical drop, sitting in the upper-70s, getting hitters to chase out of the zone often. 

Command will be a big sticking point, but progress was made in 2023. If he can keep the walk rate in check in the 10-11 percent range, which is still high, he could be a starter. If he fails as a starter, Salinas has the stuff to be a high-leverage bullpen arm.

FFG: SP5/High-Leverage RP

90th Percentile Peak Outcome: 130 IP/4.00 ERA/150 K

Variance: High

Buy/Sell: Buy

Get the rest of the Athletics top prospect list and writeups by subbing below and get an edge in your dynasty leagues. You will also gain access to a ton of awesome features to help you win.