A’s top pitching prospect could start 2019 in Vegas

Over the past six seasons, 51s fans have grown accustomed to seeing top Mets prospects.

Jacob degrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo are among those who once called Cashman Field home in recent years.

But now it’s the Athletics who will be bringing their Triple-a operations to town, so it’s time to learn about some of the prospects who might swing by over the next few seasons.

The Athletics were ranked No. 7 in Mlbpipeline’s top 10 farm systems to begin the season.

They’ve dropped some, but still possess a farm system stronger than the Mets, and many of their top prospects are at higher levels, so some solid players should be making their way to Las Vegas soon.

In fact, their top prospect, Jesus Luzardo, might possibly start the season in with the soon-to-be-re

A’s

christened-51s next year as he rises fast through the system.

Luzardo, a 20-year-old southpaw, ended last season with four Triple-a starts. He posted a 2.88 ERA in 109⅓ innings last season across three separate levels.

“Our (Double-a) Midland team had a really great group this year led by Jesus Luzardo who ended up making a couple starts in Nashville. He’s clearly our No.1 prospect,” A’s general manager David Forst said. “Jesus will probably be a candidate to be with us at some point early next year, so it’s hard to say how much if any time he would spend in Vegas.”

Luzardo is the No. 12 prospect, per Mlbpipeline. Fellow starter A.J. Puk, the team’s top pick in the 2016 draft — he went No. 6 overall — is No. 38 overall.

Puk, the team’s No. 2 prospect, was a high-profile college pick but underwent Tommy John surgery in April, wiping out his season.

Forst said Puk would “hopefully … be back from Tommy John surgery to play in Las Vegas.”

Catcher Sean Murphy, the team’s No. 3 prospect and No. 51 overall, is also someone to expect in Las Vegas, Forst said.

Shortstop/outfielder Jorge Mateo, who lit up the 51s to the tune of 8-for-12 for three games in July, is the team’s No. 7 prospect and spent all of this season in Triple-a.

The team’s No. 10 prospect, Sheldon