Rounding up Day 3 of the MLB Draft for the Oakland Athletics

Some high-upside players joining the organization

Days 1 & 2 of the Draft yielded a whole new crop of young players into the organization. That injection of youth continued this afternoon on the final day of this year’s draft cycle as Round 11 through 20 took place, affording the Athletics to inject even more youth and promise into the minor league ranks. And because of draft position, the team was consistently picking in the top of the rounds. Take the wins where you can get them.

11th Round, No. 316: RHP Kyle Robinson, Texas Tech

Age/Height/Weight: 20 years old, 6’ 6”, 210 lbs

MLB Pipeline Ranking: 182

The Athletics got the ball rolling here on Day 3 of the draft, taking the right-handed Robinson with the first pick of the day. A former reliever who entered the rotation this past season, Robinson doesn’t have the best velocity but reportedly has an above-average change up that looks like it can fool major-league hitters already. He could stand to add some heat to his fastball but otherwise profiles as a reliever in the long run.

12th Round, No. 346: SS Ali Camarillo, Texas A&M

Age/Height/Weight: 21 years old, 6’ 1”, 180 lbs

After taking a shortstop in the fourth round, the team dipped back into the shortstop pool and selected the defensive-minded Camarillo for their 12th round pick. The righty swinger will never hit for much power but has quick hands and good baseball instincts that profiles as a light-hitting defense-first shortstop. If he can keep up the contact rate then he could become an everyday shortstop or quality utility infielder.

13th Round, No. 376: LHP Riley Huge, Winthrop University

Age/Height/Weight: 22 years old, 6’ 3”, 240 lbs

Huge is a tall left-hander who took some time to adjust to college but found his form in his final year of college. As a starting pitcher for Winthrop the lefty showed plenty of swing-and-miss potential but looks more likely to transition to the bullpen as a professional. That’s where he likely profiles best, as a hard-throwing late-game lefty.

14th Round, No. 406: LHP Ryan Magdic, University of Missouri

Age/Height/Weight: 24 years old, 6’ 5”, 240 lbs

Magdic only just switched to pitching full time last season. Formerly a first baseman and right fielder, Magdic got his first full taste of pitching this past year making 14 appearances and collecting 37 strikeouts in 35 innings. The lefty is known for his strong fastball but also sports an interesting slurve pitch that still needs some work. If all breaks right he could be a power lefty out of the bullpen down the line.

15th Round, No. 436: RHP Blake Hammond, Santa Clara University

Age/Height/Weight: 21 years old, 6’ 3”, 195 lbs

Another pitcher, the right-handed Hammond looks like your typical high-powered relief prospect. Hammond just finished his third season in college and looked unhittable at times, racking up strikeouts at an above-average rate

16th Round, No. 466: RHP Connor Spencer, University of Mississippi

Age/Height/Weight: 23 years old, 6’ 2”, 220 lbs

Spencer only just wrapped up his second season for Ole Miss, taking a leading role for the Rebels bullpen and securing seven saves in 18 appearances. The club is really racking up the relief prospects at this stage of the Draft as Spencer looks like another middle relief option down the road.

17th Round, No. 496: RHP, Aiden Layton, Seton Hill University

Age/Height/Weight: 22 years old, 6’ 2”, 180 lbs

Oakland dipped back into the starting rotation prospects by taking the right-handed Layton to add to the minor league ranks. Layton really took off in his fourth and final collegiate season, starting 15 games and sporting a nice 3.15 ERA for the Griffins. It’s a quality pick for as late as it is at this point in the draft.

18th Round, No. 526: LHP Tucker Novotny, University of Minnesota

Age/Height/Weight: 21 years old, 6’ 6”, 220 lbs

The left-handed Novotny is another prospect whose future is still to be determined. He started almost exclusively during the past year in Minnesota but didn’t have great bottom line results. Still, he has a fastball that routinely sits around the low-90’s and can hit both sides of the plate when needed. This might be a project but one worth the effort on.

19th Round, No. 556: SS Gunnar Gouldsmith, Cal State Sacramento

Age/Height/Weight: 23 years old, 5’ 8”, 170 lbs

The switch-hitting Gouldsmith is another contact-oriented batter who plays well in the field. Another shortstop prospect who won’t hit for much power, Gouldsmith has a quality approach at the plate who knows how to avoid the strikeout while getting his walks. Some extra seasoning in the lower minors and Gouldsmith could become a promising shortstop prospect or otherwise super utility player. Can never have enough of those young athletic players.

20th Round, No. 586: LHP Dylan Volantis, Westlake High School

Age/Height/Weight: 22 years old, 6’ 6”, 200 lbs

Volantis wraps up the draft for the Athletics, being the only high schooler that the team decided to take here on Day 3. Volantis has some decent upside but seems more likely to postpone his professional career and join the USC Trojans. Still, Volantis is a player that they’ll either be able to sign here and now or otherwise keep an eye on down the road, either next year or farther.

And that wraps up the class of 2024! A whole new and needed injection of youth into the farm system is always nice. Oakland got their fair share of quality prospects from Days 1 & 2 and they kept up the smart drafting here in Day 3. It’ll take years to truly judge this draft class but in the moment after the clock hit zero it feels like this one might have been one of Oakland’s better drafts.

Time will tell!