Athletics’ 2025 Community Prospect List: Who is the top prospect in the organization?

It’s time for you to vote!

It’s that time of year again. Who is the #1 prospect in the Athletics’ organization? We have a few main players to choose from and we are ready to find out who A’s fans believe is the true top prospect in the pipeline. There is no time to waste! Let’s get started on the 2025 Community Prospect List!

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.

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We will start out with five nominees vying for the top spot in our rankings. The main candidates during this first round includes just one pitcher, a right-hander who is entering his third season of pro ball; one shortstop that has made his major league debut already; a first baseman who only just joined the organization last year and will likely start the year at Double-A; a third baseman who looks likely to find his long-term home at another position in the infield; and to round it all up a speedy outfielder that has a high-floor but could also turn into a star center fielder if things break right.

Among the first nominees are the Athletics’ most recent two first-round draft picks, two recent second-round draft picks (are we finally improving in the scouting department?) and an international signee who joined just over two years ago. The single signee is also the only pitcher among the top prospects as the clubs’ recent drafts have focused on offensive players in early rounds, hence why four of the top five nominees are hitters.

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:

Jacob Wilson, SS

Expected level: MLB | Age 22

2024 stats (AA/AAA): 208 PA, .401/,446/.606, 39 doubles, 8 HR, 52 RBI, 20 BB, 26 K, 6 SB

2024 stats (MLB): 92 PA, .250/.314/.315, 2 doubles, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 8 BB, 10 K, 0 SB

MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 70 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Wilson’s knack for contact is otherworldly, and he left Grand Canyon with an absurd 4.4 percent strikeout rate (2.3 percent in 2023). That carried over to his pro debut, when he struck out in just 9.9 percent of his plate appearances. There has been some concern over the lack of impact and lower exit velocities, but the A’s are not worried and feel that as he adds strength and learns he can use his incredible eye to work better counts, he’ll naturally drive the ball more as he swings at more heart pitches.

While he’s an average runner, Wilson’s hands, actions, instincts and IQ, not to mention his above-average arm, all point to a long-term future at shortstop. He has an extremely high floor because of his contact skills and steady defensive presence, and a step forward with offensive impact could move him to another level.

Nick Kurtz, 1B

Expected level: Double-A | Age 21

2024 stats (A/AA): 50 PA, .368/.520/.763, 2 doubles, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 12 BB, 10 K, 1 SB

MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 65 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 | Field: 60 | Overall: 55

Kurtz’s signature tool is his well-above-average power to all fields, the product of outstanding bat speed, strength and a left-handed stroke designed to drive balls in the air. More than just a slugger, he’s a complete hitter with no discernible weakness who crushes left-handers and right-handers, and all types of pitches. He controls the strike zone, covers the entire plate and hits the ball with authority all over the ballpark.

Kurtz also plays a quality first base and has average arm strength. The only blemishes on his game are his below-average speed, which doesn’t really matter given his position and offensive upside, and an injury history that includes a broken rib that knocked him out of the end of the 2023 College World Series. If he’s as good as scouts believe he is, he could turn into Jim Thome with defensive value.

Luis Morales, RHP

Expected level: Double-A | Age 22

2024 stats (A+): 4.22 ERA, 81 IP, 84 K, 36 BB, 8 HR, 4.06 FIP

MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

Morales’ whip-like delivery produces an electric fastball that sits around 94-97 mph and can reach up to 99. His four-pitch mix also includes a slider, a changeup and a curveball, all of which appeared to be quality secondary pitches as he rapidly ascended through the Minors in his debut season.

Adding about 10 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame in preparation for his first full season as a pro, Morales will see his durability tested as he looks to navigate the rigors of pitching. While his command was solid upon joining the A’s, he has struggled with controlling his pitches in the past. If he can keep that control steady, he has a chance to make another significant jump through the system in 2024, with enough potential to evolve into a frontline starter in the future.

Tommy White, 3B

Expected level: A+ | Age 21

2019 stats (A): 107 PA, .224/.303/.299, 2 doubles, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 9 BB, 21 K, 0 SB

MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 30 | Arm: 50 | Field: 40 | Overall: 50

White generates huge right-handed power to all fields with strength, bat speed and an uncanny ability to barrel balls. Known more for his slugging, he’s underrated as a hitter who makes repeated contact with impressive exit velocities. Though he’s overly aggressive and regularly expands his strike zone, he rarely swings and misses.

As a well-below-average runner with average arm strength, White provides limited value on the bases and in the field. Mostly a DH as a freshman, he primarily played third base after that and likely will wind up at first base in pro ball. He lacks range and is erratic at the hot corner, though he earns praise for gritting through the 2023 season and filling a team need despite his bad shoulder.

Henry Bolte, OF

Expected level: Double-A | Age 21

2024 stats (A+): 318 PA, .278/.393/.519, 19 doubles, 11 HR, 52 RBI, 41 BB, 101 K, 28 SB

2024 stats (AA): 227 PA, .252/.332/.396, 13 doubles, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 20 BB, 88 K, 18 SB

MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

The eye-popping raw power Bolte showed during batting practice at the Oakland Coliseum shortly after signing his pro contract has quickly appeared in the Minors. As with most young players, his overall offensive approach is still being refined. There is still some swing-and-miss he needs to cut down on, particularly on offspeed stuff out of the zone, though he did show signs of improvement as his first full year went along.

Bolte’s near-elite speed was on display as he swiped 32 bags. The run tool also helps on defense, which along with a strong arm, makes him a solid defender at all three outfield spots. The five-tool skillset gives him a very high ceiling as he looks to continue advancing levels.

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Programming Note: Each CPL vote will run for around 48 hours, so don’t delay making your selections!