Athletics’ Community Prospect List: Kurtz rus away with #2 honors

Time for the real voting to start

Well that wasn’t close. In runaway fashion the fanbase has elected first baseman Nick Kurtz as the overwhelming #2 prospect in the organization. Kurtz barely lost out on the top spot to shortstop Jacob Wilson so it’s little surprise that he takes the top spott his round. The slugging first baseman was only just added to the organization when they selected him fourth overall in the most recent MLB Draft and he looked like a man among boys in his limited exposure to pro ball. In just 50 plate appearances the left-handed hitter hit .368/.520/.763 with 4 long balls, demonstrating his natural hitting skills while already reaching Double-A, where he is expected to start the year but may not finish there. Kurtz could soon be on the fast track to the big leagues and there’s a small chance we see him in the Green & Gold this year.

The next round begins now as the fanbase gets a chance to elect the third-best prospect in the pipeline. Now that the top two spots have been selected this next round promises to be much more up in the air who will come out on top. Could it be the right-handed Luis Morales, or even outfielder Denzel Clarke, who joins the top five nominees as a candidate. Take a nice deep dive into these prospects as it’s anyone’s game from here on out. Do we have our first surprise in store for the third round?

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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A’s fans top prospects, ranked:

1: Jacob Wilson, SS

2: Nick Kurtz, 1B

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:

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.

Mason Barnett, RHP

Expected level: AAA | Age 24

2024 stats (AA): 4.20 ERA, 133 IP, 161 K, 49 BB, 13 HR, 3.55 FIP

MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:

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

Barnett has gotten things done in the past mainly with his above-average fastball and changeup, with his heater sitting mid 90s and reaching 99 mph, though this year he sat 94 mph and topped out at 96. He started going to his mid-80s slider (which features good bite) more and he did start to get more separation velocity-wise with his upper-70s curve. He still used his changeup, sitting around 87-88 mph, effectively at times.

The 6-foot right-hander has shown an understanding of how to get himself back in counts using his breaking stuff to do so. He throws strikes but has fringe-average control, with a goal of being more precise in the zone as he faces tougher hitters. Barnett throws from a three-quarters arm slot and sometimes shows long arm action but is otherwise clean. He gets high marks for his mentality on the mound, a bulldog personality who is cerebral in how he does it, with a chance to start long-term.

Denzel Clarke, OF

Expected level: Triple-A | Age 24

2024 stats (AA): 479 PA, .269/.339/.446, 21 doubles, 13 HR, 53 RBI, 39 BB, 143 K, 36 SB

MLB Pipeline grades and scouting report:

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

It’s easy to see where Clarke gets his athleticism from. His family ties include baseball-playing cousins Josh, Bo and Myles Naylor, who was a 2023 Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick by the A’s. Clarke brings a volatility that reminds some in the organization of watching a young Bo Jackson. He has worked to improve his overall hitting mechanics, though the swing-and-miss remains high, especially when facing pitches with good spin. When he puts the ball in play, the results are impressive with power to all fields.

Clarke’s strong arm and plus speed, which also makes him a serious threat on the basepaths, enable him to handle center field well, but his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame and continued injury concerns might make right field a better long-term spot. The main focus for the A’s is to get the incredibly toolsy outfielder through a full season healthy while continuing to refine his raw tools with a full campaign of at-bats.

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