Athletics Community Prospect List: Echavarria Takes #9 Spot
In an effort to streamline the nomination process, I'll initiate the voting by posting 'NOMINATIONS' in the comments. Feel free to respond with your picks and upvote the player you'd like to see on the next nominee list.
Right-handed pitcher Steven Echavarria has secured the ninth spot on our annual CPL. Despite facing some challenges during his second full season as a professional pitcher in the lower farm system, Echavarria showcased his impressive repertoire on multiple occasions. As a high-school draftee, he has a lot of room for improvement, particularly in control, but his youthfulness for the level he's at offers potential for significant progress this season. The Athletics clearly hold him in high regard.
Right-hander Mason Barnett takes the next open nominee spot. Once considered the centerpiece of the trade with the Royals, Barnett was a standout pitching prospect last year. However, his performance dropped after a disappointing year at Triple-A and some system additions. Despite this, he profiles as a back-end starter who could be a viable option for the Athletics this season. Barnett has already made his MLB debut with five starts in September and is expected to be a key player for manager Mark Kotsay this summer. While his position in the rotation is uncertain, the team is committed to giving him a chance.
The voting process is straightforward. Please read the following guidelines before participating:
- Vote for only one player. The player with the most votes at the end will secure the top spot. The remaining four players will advance to the next ballot, joined by a new nominee.
- In the comments section, below the official voting, the community will nominate players for the next round. Use the format 'Nomination: Player Name'.
- If a prospect is traded, their name will be crossed out, and all other players will move up a spot. If a prospect is acquired, a special vote will determine their ranking.
A's fans, here's your top prospects, ranked:
- Leo De Vries, SS
- Jamie Arnold, LHP
- Gage Jump, LHP
- Wei-En Lin, LHP
- Braden Nett, RHP
- Henry Bolte, OF
- Johenssy Colome, SS
- Edgar Montero, SS
- Steven Echavarria, RHP
The voting continues! Who will round out the top ten players in the farm system? Here's a quick overview of each nominee, including their scouting grades (on a 20-to-80 scale) and scouting reports from MLB Pipeline:
Current Nominees:
Tommy White, 3B
- Expected Level: Double-A
- Age: 22
- 2025 Stats: 395 PA, .275/.334/.439, 23 doubles, 0 triples, 12 HR, 51 RBI, 29 BB, 54 K, 3 SB
MLB Pipeline Grades and Scouting Report:
- Hit: 50
- Power: 60
- Run: 30
- Arm: 50
- Field: 40
- Overall: 45
White possesses legitimate right-handed power and can hit the ball long distances to all fields due to his strength and bat speed. While he might be known for his home run totals, he's a better overall hitter than often recognized, consistently finding the barrel and limiting strikeouts. His contact ability could lead to him expanding his strike zone, but he doesn't swing and miss frequently.
White's path to the big leagues will be paved by his bat. He's a well-below-average runner and likely lacks the range and tools to stick at third base, where he struggled as a sophomore and junior. He's likely headed to first base long-term, which could create an abundance of serious offensive talent for the Athletics, considering first-rounder Nick Kurtz.
Shotaro Morii, SS/RHP
- Expected Level: Low-A
- Age: 19
- 2025 Stats: 188 PA, .258/.399/.384, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 36 BB, 47 K, 4 SB
MLB Pipeline Grades and Scouting Report:
- Hitter Grades: Hit: 50, Power: 50, Run: 55, Arm: 60, Field: 50, Overall: 40
- Pitcher Grades: Fastball: 55, Slider: 40, Curveball: 45, Splitter: 50, Control: 45, Overall: 40
Morii possesses a smooth left-handed swing with excellent balance, and his power is impressive, having hit 45 home runs as a high schooler. He's considered an advanced hitter with good barrel control. On the mound, his fastball has reached 95 mph and typically sits around 92-93. He also features a splitter with nasty movement, a true 12-to-6 curveball, and a tighter slider with solid bite and depth, though some fine-tuning is needed.
Morii's high-octane throwing arm is well-suited for shortstop, but some evaluators envision him moving to third base as he fills out his 6-foot-1 frame. While scouts see his long-term future in the batter's box, the Athletics are excited to provide him with opportunities to succeed as a two-way player, highlighting his impressive physical traits and desire to become one of Japan's next great players.
Devin Taylor, OF
- Expected Level: High-A
- Age: 22
- 2025 Stats: 188 PA, .264/.388/.481, 5 doubles, 0 triples, 6 HR, 18 RBI, 21 BB, 37 K, 2 SB
MLB Pipeline Grades and Scouting Report:
- Hit: 55
- Power: 60
- Run: 45
- Arm: 45
- Field: 45
- Overall: 45
Taylor has the potential to become a plus hitter, excelling in both average and power while controlling the strike zone. As a left-handed hitter with plenty of bat speed and strength, he hits the ball extremely hard and generates power to all fields. He's been working on cutting down on chases this spring, making consistent contact and handling breaking pitches with ease.
Taylor's value will primarily come from his offensive production. His speed, arm strength, and defensive instincts are considered fringy, limiting him to corner outfield spots in professional ball.
Mason Barnett, RHP
- Expected Level: Triple-A/Majors
- Age: 25
- 2025 Stats: Triple-A: 6.13 ERA, 23 starts (25 appearances), 119 IP, 124 K, 65 BB, 17 HR, 5.53 FIP; Majors: 6.85 ERA, 5 starts, 22 1/3 IP, 18 K, 11 BB, 3 HR, 4.88 FIP
MLB Pipeline Grades and Scouting Report:
- Fastball: 55
- Curveball: 50
- Slider: 55
- Changeup: 55
- Control: 50
- Overall: 45
Barnett's pitching repertoire is led by his fastball. While it may not reach the 99 mph it once did, he can still rev it up to about 96 mph, sitting around 94. His mid-80s slider has evolved into a sweeper with good bite, becoming a strong secondary pitch. He also utilizes a mid-80s changeup, particularly effective against left-handed batters.
Standing at 6-foot-218 pounds, Barnett is displaying the traits of a 'bulldog' on the mound, aggressively going after opposing hitters. He's shown significant improvement in his overall strike-throwing ability with his refined three-quarters arm slot, which was sometimes long in the past. If these improvements persist at the next level, the Athletics view him as a long-term starter and believe he could make his way to the big leagues in 2025.
Cole Miller, RHP
- Expected Level: Single-A
- Age: 20
- 2025 Stats: 1.90 ERA, 12 starts (15 appearances), 52 IP, 45 K, 11 BB, 1 HR, 3.38 FIP
MLB Pipeline Grades and Scouting Report:
- Fastball: 55
- Slider: 50
- Changeup: 50
- Control: 45
- Overall: 40
The Athletics were working on mechanical adjustments with Miller before his injury. His electric fastball reached 96 mph in high school and displayed excellent movement down in the zone. The mid-80s slider is a hard breaker and showed signs of improvement. His low-80s changeup showed potential as an average third pitch.
There was significant excitement within the organization for Miller's professional debut. His three-pitch mix and large 6-foot-6 frame suggest the potential of a workhorse-type starting pitcher in the big leagues. The Athletics were also impressed by his competitiveness on the mound during scouting.
Programming Note: Each CPL vote will run for approximately 48 hours, so don't delay in casting your vote!
