Elephant Rumblings: Three Athletics make Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects list

MLB news roundup

Happy Friday, Athletics Nation!

A youth movement is clearly underway within the Athletics organization, and three of the team’s top prospects made the latest Baseball America Top 100 Prospects list. Jason Burke at SI.com profiled the promising trio.

Unsurprisingly, the A’s much heralded No. 1 and No. 2 prospects made the rankings. But the latter, first baseman Nick Kurtz, placed higher on the Baseball America list at No. 34 than shortstop Jacob Wilson, who is the A’s top prospect per MLB Pipeline. Wilson is listed at No. 38 in these latest rankings. Both were top first round draft picks for the A’s.

Wilson made his MLB debut last year and is likely to be the A’s Opening Day shortstop, while Kurtz is joining the Spring Training squad as a non-roster invitee along with the majority of the A’s top ten prospects.

The third A’s prospect to make Baseball America’s Top 100 is 23-year-old outfielder Colby Thomas. This may surprise some, since Thomas is currently ranked No. 7 among A’s prospects by MLB Pipeline, but the young slugger leapfrogged four fellow prospects on the Pipeline Top 10 to land at No. 86 on the BA list.

Burke notes that Thomas’s 31 homers and 15 stolen bases in 2024 clearly made an impression and could help him get to Sacramento later in 2025 if he can sharpen up his plate discipline a bit to complement the power and speed. The 2022 third round pick out of Mercer University will also join the A’s in Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.

Have a wonderful weekend, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• A’s Land Three Top 100 Prospects
• Should The A’s Bring Back Alex Wood?

MLB News & Interest:

• MLB institutes two rules changes for 2025, closing loopholes on shift violations, base running ($)
• Who left Ichiro off Hall of Fame ballot? You should know (but not for reason you think) ($)
• Braves Sign Jurickson Profar
• Dodgers Sign Tanner Scott
• Report: Astros Still Not Ruling Out Alex Bregman Reunion
• Twins Among Teams With Interest In Dylan Cease
• Latest On Blue Jays, Pete Alonso
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

Jack gives Brent props on his tweet game.

Pratt’s a Baller!