Franklin Barreto And The Other Oakland A’s Making Noise In Spring Training

Spring Training doesn’t mean much to the veterans and established stars. The Oakland A’s established core, players like Marcus Semien, Matt Chapman and Matt Olson, they’re just getting warmed up for the long season – maybe working on a thing or two, but mostly breaking in their 2020 gloves. Oakland, however, has quite a lot of depth among position players who have been around replacement level for their careers, but have shown flashes of something more. Some of them are making the case for a regular role in 2020.

That list starts with Franklin Barreto. Most players spend their careers commuting from where they play their home games to other cities, but Barreto seems to spend just as much time shuttling between leagues. A quick glance at the stat line shows why: he has rocked minor league pitching (.295/.374/.552 in 98 triple-A games last year) and been helpless in the majors (.189/.220/.378 in 80 career games – even worse last season). He just turned 24, and it’s far too early to give up on him now, but this feels like a make-or-break year for Barreto and this organization. While we shouldn’t go bananas over his 33 Spring Training at-bats, they have been encouraging. Barreto has hit .333 with four doubles and a pair of triples. With second base there for the taking, Barreto may finally get a sustained chance to establish himself.

He does have some competition, however. Tony Kemp, acquired from the Cubs over the offseason (one of the few additions they made this winter), has been playing in the outfield this Spring, but he can also cover at second, and he too has been putting up some nice numbers. His 10 for 29 hitting line puts his average at .345 and he’s had a double and home run among those ten hits.

We’re not even done with outfielders with keystone experience having good Spring Trainings. Chad Pinder, who had a promising bat before it turned into a broken twig last season, has equaled Kemp’s production in two fewer at-bats with two more doubles. Even Vimael Machin, a 26-year-old lefty who can play all over the infield, has no real power, but he walks like he’s a patient slugger, and could hang around as a utility guy. He’s hit .310 (9 for 29) with two doubles this Spring. He probably needs an injury to have a real role this season, but he can be helpful in the right spot.

We have focused on potential second basemen, but there is one more Oakland A who has had a fantastic Spring: Seth Brown. Marc Canha and Ramon Laureano will be regulars in the outfield, but Stephen Piscotty needs to reestablish itself to claim the last spot. Brown has a chance to at least be the fourth outfielder and could taking a starting spot if his Spring Training is any indication. So far, he has a dozen hits in 35 at-bats, and over half of those hits are for extra-bases.

The A’s have some elite talent, but they also have lots of options to fill out the roster. These hitters are fighting for an increased role, and in an admittedly small sample size, they are showing what they’re capable of.