Oakland Athletics’ Affiliates Dominate, Clinch Playoff Berth
By Jason Burke
While the Oakland Athletics playoff aspirations never really got going this season, they have had plenty going on down on the farm–especially since the trade deadline. After replenishing their system starting last December with the Josh Donaldson trade, Oakland has added some talent to their affiliates that is making the steady climb to the big leagues.
In San Antonio on Thursday night, a visiting Midland Rockhounds squad claimed a 4-1 victory, their 45th of the second half, to take a seven game lead over the Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros), the first-half division winners. With the division already clinched, these two teams will face-off in the first round of the playoffs starting next week in Midland for the first two games of a best-of-five series.
Thursday night’s starter Sean Manaea, acquired from the Royals in the Ben Zobrist deal, went 6 innings, allowed four hits, and struck out a career-high 13–all swinging. Through the first five innings, Manaea had struck out the side twice and at least two batters in the other three frames, before getting just one whiff in the sixth.
Since joining Double-A Midland, Manaea is 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP and has struck out 51 over 42 2/3 innings. This could be another one of those Billy Beane steals in the long-term, while working out very well for the Royals in the short-term. Manaea’s teammate, and last year’s California League home run champion Matt Olson is riding a seven-game hit streak as the playoffs draw closer, and while his average has taken a slight dip (.262 in 2014, .245 in 2015), his on-base percentage is still ridiculously high at .384, thanks in large part to drawing over 100 walks for a second straight season.
More from MLB Prospects
- Is Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Ivan Melendez the next Pete Alonso?
- Los Angeles Dodgers prospect talk: Catching up with Hunter Feduccia
- MLBPA secures major victory for Minor League Baseball players
- Phillies: Breaking down the prospects fighting for an Opening Day spot
- What the XFL can learn from minor league baseball
The Oakland Athletics High-A affiliate Stockton Ports clinched a playoff berth last night in a 14-2 win over the Visalia Rawhide (DBacks). Another deadline acquisition, Jacob Nottingham (from the Astros in the Scott Kazmir deal), went 4-for-6 with a two-run homer in the second, three runs scored, and four RBI.
The Rawhide were the first half division winners, and will receive a bye when the playoffs begin as the San Jose Giants and Stockton Ports engage in a three-game mini-series that will commence on Wednesday in Stockton. The second and third games of the series will take place in San Jose since they won the division in the second half.
It may be a year or two before the A’s start to see more of the players they’ve acquired in recent trades at the Major League level, but from what we’ve seen early on, the returns have some serious potential. Franklin Barreto, arguably the centerpiece of the Donaldson deal, has been out for a month due to a wrist injury he sustained in July. The timetable he was given was about a month’s time, which has come and gone. It’s still unclear if he’ll be ready to play when the postseason begins next week.
At the time of the injury the 19-year-old Bareto was really starting to heat up, batting .375 with a .393 OBP, six homers and 14 RBI over 19 July games. If the Ports do get the top Oakland prospect back in action in time for the playoffs, the Ports could make some noise this California League postseason.