Athletics 2025 Community Prospect List: Zhuang wins #15 spot

And pretty handily too

We’re getting near the end folks. Winning the vote for the 15th spot is right-handed pitcher Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang. Zhuang originally joined the organization back in 2021, signing as a free agent coming from Taiwan when he was already 21. Now 24, Zhuang has flashed a great repertoire that helped him rise three levels last year all the way to Double-A. The downside for Zhuang has been he’s had trouble staying healthy, missing all of 2023 due to a reported shoulder injury. He managed to avoid the injury bug last year as the club was careful with him coming off a major injury. While he’s been a starter so far during his ascent up the minor league ladder, he could wind up as a bullpen arm if he can’t manage to stay healthy. This upcoming year could a big one for the right-handed prospect, with the prospect of pitching for the Athletics a real possibility. Zhuang will likely start the year back at Double-A after pitching just 22 frames for Midland.

2024 stats (A, A+, AA): 2.09 ERA, 86 IP, 84 K, 12 BB, 5 HR, 2.96 FIP

Our new candidate is an arm we’ve already seen in the Green & Gold. Right-handed reliever Grant Holman joins after pitching 15 frames for the big league club last year. The Cal alumni began last year in Double-A and didn’t allow a single run in 17 games before a promotion to Triple-A where he kept up his quality relieving. The rookie’s stas weren’t as eye-popping in the majors as they were in the minor leagues but he held his own with a 4.02 ERA down the stretch. He’ll likely be an option for the A’s bullpen at the very least as a depth option but possesses higher upside than that.

The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:

• Please only vote for one. The player with the most votes at the end of voting will win the ranked spot. The remaining four players move on to the next ballot where they are joined by a new nominee.
• If a prospect is traded, his name will be crossed out, and all other players will be moved up a space. If a prospect is acquired, a special vote will be put up to determine where that player should rank.
• If you wish to nominate a prospect for the next round, clearly comment, “Nomination: (player)” and fellow readers will upvote your comment.

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A’s fans top prospects, ranked:

1. Jacob Wilson, SS

2. Nick Kurtz, 1B

3. Luis Morales, RHP

4. Denzel Clarke, OF

5. Max Muncy, SS

6. Colby Thomas, OF

7. Mason Barnett, RHP

8. Jack Perkins, RHP

9. Henry Bolte, OF

10. Steven Echavarria, RHP

11. Tommy White, 3B

12. JT Ginn, RHP

13. Gunnar Hoglund, RHP

14. Gage Jump, LHP

15. Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang

The voting continues now! Here’s a quick rundown on each one — the scouting grades (on a 20-to-80 scale) and scouting reports come from MLB Pipeline (last updated mid-2024).

Nominees on the current ballot:

Grant Holman, RHP

Expected level: MLB | Age 24

2024 stats (AA/AAA): 0.55 ERA, 48 ²⁄₃ IP, 54 K, 22 BB, 1 HR, 3.13 FIP

2024 stats (MLB): 4.02 ERA, 15 ²⁄₃ IP, 16 K, 9 BB, 1 HR, 3.87 FIP

MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Cutter: 50 | Splitter: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Much of Holman’s step forward this season has come simply as a result of being healthy and getting regular reps. He’s always had pretty electric stuff and has finally gotten the opportunity to harness it. It starts with a fastball that sits around 95 mph with excellent life, which misses a good amount of bats. He backs it up with sharp low-80s slider that can also be an out pitch at times, and he still employs a splitter as his changeup, though he doesn’t use it as often as a short reliever.

Holman has long had a bulldog mentality on the bump and likes to attack hitters, something that serves him well in the back end of the bullpen. He also doesn’t have to worry about pinpoint command and the hope is it gives him a better chance of staying on the mound. The 2021 Draft has already produced several big leaguers and prospects — including current A’s closer Mason Miller — and it’s not hard to see Holman joining Miller in a setup type role in the near future.

Daniel Susac, C

Expected level: Double-A | Age 25

2024 stats (AA): 370 PA, .257/.300/.434, 19 doubles, 12 HR, 50 RBI, 16 BB, 96 K, 7 SB

MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

There is some athleticism to the 6-foot-4 Susac, who was a standout dual-threat quarterback in high school. His stylish swing comes with good bat-to-ball skills and an ability to drive the ball to all fields. There is some legit raw power that was touted as an amateur that the A’s hope to see emerge as he continues his transition to pro ball.

Susac’s defensive prowess was part of the package that made him such a highly ranked catcher in his Draft class. His overall catching skills, particularly his receiving, improved as his first full season went along. Lauded for his strong arm and natural leadership characteristics, he will look to continue his impact on both sides of the diamond as he progresses through the system.

Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, SS

Expected level: Double-A | Age 22

2024 stats (A,A+,AAA): 108 PA, .324/.421/.343, 2 doubles, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 12 BB, 9 K, 5 SB

MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Compact, strong and athletic, Kuroda-Grauer does a lot of things well from the right side of the plate. He almost never strikes out and seldom swings and misses, combining his contact skills with an advanced approach that points toward becoming at least an above-average hitter in the future. Utilizing an upright stance and a simple swing, he works counts and makes good swing decisions. There hasn’t been a ton of pop yet, but there is some belief he could grow into 15-homer power in the future.

While he’s not a burner, Kuroda-Grauer does run well and can steal some bases. Because of his above-average hands and actions to go along with a good internal clock, he has the chance to stick at shortstop, even though he has an arm that is just average. He could be a plus defender at second base should a move be necessary, but it’s those bat-to-ball attributes the A’s will be banking to carry him to the big leagues.

Brady Basso, LHP

Expected level: AAA | Age 27

2024 stats (AA,AAA): 4.55 ERA, 93 IP, 109 K, 25 BB, 18 HR, 4.79 FIP

2024 stats (MLB): 4.03 ERA, 22 1⁄3 IP, 19 K, 5 BB, 3 HR, 3.88 FIP

MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

There was a point earlier in his career when Basso was hitting 98 mph with his fastball. Nowadays, he tops out around 94 with the heater to go along with a wipeout curveball in the mid-70s, cutter in the mid-80s that generates ground balls and swing-and-miss and a changeup that continues to improve. That gives him a solid lefty starter mix.

Basso is mechanically sound on the mound with good control, which is evident by his low walk totals. Now on the 40-man roster, he will look to stay healthy and potentially earn a chance to appear in the A’s starting rotation at some point this season.

Rodney Green, OF

Expected level: A | Age 21

2024 stats (A): 108 PA, .289/.368/.464, 2 doubles, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 13 BB, 30 K, 9 SB

MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

Green possesses an exciting power-speed combination, but enthusiasm is dampened by his propensity to swing-and-miss. There’s a ton of raw pop for him to tap into, and while he started turning on pitches and hitting balls out to his pull side as a sophomore, the left-handed hitter might be at his best when he lets the ball travel and he drives it the opposite way, something he did last fall. There was hope that was a sign of an improved hit tool, but his strikeout rate hovered around 28 percent in 2024. His unorthodox mechanics at the plate — he doesn’t use his lower half – have continued to hamper him.

Green is an easily plus runner, the kind of long strider who is even better underway. That helps him cover a lot of ground and could give him a chance to play center field, though some scouts think he might be better suited to left, and he’s worked hard to build his arm strength from well below average in high school to average now. There’s still a lot of ceiling here, but the lack of consistent contact will be a hurdle to overcome.

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