Some Under The Radar Players Worth Watching For In 2025

In some cases, the “names to watch” are obvious — Lawrence Butler, Tyler Soderstrom, Luis Severino, and Jeffrey Springs highlight key pieces to any success the A’s might have in 2025. Max Muncy, Denzel Clarke and Nick Kurtz could get a call up sometime this season but if they do they won’t be sneaking up on anybody.

In other cases it’s clear that while talented and interesting, some names offer hope for contributions more down the road than now — eyes will be kept on Henry Bolte, Luis Morales, and Tommy White but with no expectation of seeing them in the big leagues this year.

And then there are guys you don’t hear a whole lot about, but who could be surprise factors for the 2025 A’s. That’s the focus of today’s musings...

Elvis Alvarado (RP)

Alvarado is seldom mentioned when projecting the “first 13” who might break camp with the A’s and his name is often buried some on depth charts. But the A’s clearly like him and have recently cited him as someone they “feel they can fix”.

What needs fixing is Alvarado’s control, as the big time stuff is there (99 MPH fastball) but he walked 38 batters in his 48.1 IP at AAA last season. He also allowed just 33 hits and struck out a whopping 71.

Now perhaps when coaches say they can cure what ills Alvarado they mean that they are in “the best shapes of their lives”. It is, after all, spring training when optimism tends to win out over realism.

A’s coaches couldn’t cure Joe Boyle, but perhaps they see a mechanical fix or minor tweak that could pay dividends with Alvarado. His spring debut yesterday was a success, a scoreless inning with 2 strikeouts — and no walks.

As we know, a team rifles through many relievers throughout the course of a season so if he’s throwing the ball well you know Alvarado will get a chance sooner rather than later. He could be a pleasant surprise.

Gunnar Hoglund (SP)

Over time Hoglund has become a bit of an after-thought as “one of the pieces in the failed Matt Chapman deal”. That’s because the TJS survivor lacked the pre-TJS velocity that made him twice a 1st round selection and put up stats that were “fine” but suggested his ceiling was that of a back-end SP.

Hoglund has taken the Cactus League by storm, however, hitting as high as 97 MPH and sitting consistently at 93-94 MPH with results that suggest he might be back to his old form. So far he has thrown 3 hitless innings with 1 BB and 5 Ks, looking dominant in the process.

I’m not sure the 5th spot in the rotation is really up for grabs, with Mitch Spence looking solid and JT Ginn and Joey Estes at least starting the spring ahead of Hoglund on the depth chart. But it’s fair to say that if it were “anybody’s to grab” Hoglund could make a case that he is the best choice.

Even if he starts the season at AAA you would expect him to be in the “next man up” category to be called upon with the first or second need. And if the stuff continues to look like it has in ST, Hoglund could be a big piece in any success the 2025 A’s have.

Logan Davidson (INF)

This one might be a stretch in that Davidson’s fall from grace in the organization has seen him removed from the 40-man roster. That’s often an indicator of where you sit on the organizational depth chart.

However, some circumstances might be lining the stars up for Davidson to make his move as a “late bloomer” at age 27. It starts with pedigree: this is a former 1st round pick (2019) the A’s obviously liked a lot and believed in at one time. JJ Bleday, also 27, is a great example of a 1st round pick who took some time to put it all together and earn big league time.

Certainly Davidson is coming off of a solid season at AAA though he was, of course, old for his league: nonetheless he batted .300/.366/.535 and it’s worth noting he actually hit much better on the road (.353/.423/.653).

More to the point, Davidson could make a pretty good case for being the A’s best hitter — or at least most surprisingly good hitter — so far in the Cactus League. It’s not just that he is 6 for 16 with 2 doubles and a triple, he has hit balls consistently hard. You can take issue with the fact that he has yet to draw a walk, but you can’t argue with the contact he is making.

Also, Davidson has positional versatility having logged time all around the infield. This could become relevant should an injury force the A’s to pivot from Plan A at any infield position, or if Zack Gelof’s struggles continue or if Geo Urshela disappoints.

Even if an injury or performance based change brings Darell Hernaiz or Max Schuemann to the forefront it could open up a utility spot on the infield for which Davidson would be qualified. So don’t count him out just yet.

Honorable Mention: Ken Waldichuk (SP)

You tend to lose focus on TJS survivors as their rehab is long and generally quiet. But Waldichuk has begun throwing with the hope of returning mid-season and when he succumbed to injury in 2023 he had put up some impressive outings (3 of his last 5 anyway) that served reminder of his promise and upside.

Teams go through starting pitchers these days faster than ever before, and it’s likely that whenever Waldichuk is ready to pitch again in the big leagues his availability will be welcome.

In contrast to some of his peers, Waldichuk has more than just “#4-#5 SP” upside — or at least he did pre-TJS. So he could be a pleasant surprise in 2025 going from “forgotten man” to “live arm added” perhaps at just the time the A’s have such a need.

That’s my list. Yours? Any “dark horses” you want the community to think about before they take MLB by storm in 2025?