Happy Friday everybody!
Spring Training is truly underway. Next week will be the first full week of practice leading up to the first preseason games a week from today.
In the early days of camp, teams often limit their starters to a few innings every other day to avoid injury or burnout before the 162-game marathon begins. Fans heading to the first few games at Hohokam expecting to see Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker and Jacob Wilson may instead find a lineup featuring Michael Stefanic, Cade Marlowe and other non-roster players.
Yet, that is the magic of spring training and a great way for a player to make a strong first impression on his new team’s coaching staff. Every spring training game features multiple lineup changes halfway through the game, ensuring everyone from starters to top minor-league prospects to lesser-known players has the opportunity to make an impact.
This spring, much of the spotlight will be on the A’s stellar young offensive core, along with three of the organization’s top prospects: shortstop Leo De Vries and left-handed starting pitchers Gage Jump and Jamie Arnold.
All three are among the 31 non-roster invitees in camp this year. They will have the chance to show why the A’s think so highly of them. Additionally, these next few weeks serve as a showcase for the likes of Stefanic and other non-roster players to vie for organizational roster spots, most likely with the A’s Triple-A affiliate Las Vegas Aviators.
Last spring, Justin Sterner entered camp relatively unknown and earned a spot in the Opening Day bullpen after tossing 12 scoreless innings. With the A’s bullpen one of the weakest and most in-flux aspects of the team, there is an opportunity for a non-roster reliever to follow in Sterner’s footsteps. Veteran Nick Anderson is in camp after struggling last season with the Colorado Rockies, while GustavoRodriguez recorded a 2.27 ERA last year with the Aviators.
What are you looking forward to as spring training ramps up? Which players will be the surprises and disappointments of A’s camp?
A’s Coverage
- A’s Trade Mitch Spence to KC Royals in exchangefor minor leaguepitcher
- Darrell Hernaiz to play for Team PR in WBC
- Are The Final Two Rotation Spots Really Up For Grabs?
- Story Lines To Watch As Spring Training Unfolds
- A’s Sign Starter Aaron Civale
- Athletics Community Prospect List: Barnett Finds His Spot At #11
- Athletics add developmental leaguer in trade with Yankees
- Little Signings Everywhere
- A’s Non-Roster Invites to Keep an Eye On
- What to know as A’s head to spring camp with high hopes for ‘26
- A’s Claim Andy Ibanez, Add Scott Barlow In Busy Roster Shuffle
- Extensions For Everyone! (Except Kurtz)
- Managers & Top Front Office Executives On Expiring Contracts
- De Vries (No. 4 overall) leads Athletics trio on Top 100 Prospects list
MLB News and Interest
- What is the hamate and why are so many players injuring theirs?
- Orioles To Sign Chris Bassitt
- Liam Hendriks agrees to Minor League deal with Twins
- Phillies Release Nick Castellanos
- Kiké Hernández announces he’s back with Dodgers
- Veteran lefty Quintana will bring experience to Rockies’ rotation
- Spring Training Hats Drop
- Paul Sewald reunites with D-backs on 1-year deal
- Manfred optimistic about MLB players participating in ’28 Olympics
- MLB owners vote in favor of enforcing rule to curb pitch stealing
- Pirates to sign Marcell Ozuna
- Today in Baseball History
Best of X:
What do you think of this? What kind of content should the A’s put out to engage fans?
AJ Causey’s stuff looks nasty, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him coming out of the bullpen for the A’s this season.
A’s players happy to be back together at spring training.