Top infield prospect has look of superstar
MESA, Ariz. — When one American League scout who follows Oakland regularly watches the A’s top positionplayer prospect, he sees something special about Franklin Barreto.
“I hate to throw it out there, because it’s a lot to put on a kid, but Barreto is an Jose Altuve-type guy,” said the scout, who was at the A’s first six Cactus League games. “I know there are 28 other teams out there who would take him — and the other team has Altuve.
“He’s not even close to his prime yet. He could hit in the middle of the lineup, he plays with a lot of energy and he’s going to be productive. Barreto is a franchise-type player to me.”
Barreto and Altuve are both small infielders from Venezuela who are known for their hitting. While Barreto is on the shorter side, he isn’t quite
MESA, ARIZ. — With the rest of Oakland’s pitching staff struggling, the A’s best starter through the first week and a half of the spring is No. 1 prospect A.J. Puk.
The 6-foot-7 left-hander turned in another strong outing Saturday in Oakland’s 10-4 loss to San Diego, and manager Bob Melvin said Puk’s fastball registered 97 mph; according to scouts who were at Puk’s appearance last Sunday, he was throwing 90-93 mph his first time out.
The only run Puk allowed Saturday was unearned, thanks to a passed ball by Bruce Maxwell. “He’s been really impressive,” Melvin said. “He’s the one guy who’s been putting up zeros for us.”
The A’s are unlikely to bring Puk up before June; he has not pitched above the Double-A level. With a lackluster competition so far for the final three spots in the rotation, though, Puk will be a major temptation if he continues to dominate Cactus League competition; opponents are 1 for 16 against him and he has allowed one hit and a walk while striking out four.
Kendall Graveman is assured a rotation spot — he’s the projected Opening Day starter — but Saturday he allowed four hits, two walks and four runs.
Graveman usually throws the day before every start, but he said with an off-day Thursday, he’d experimented with not throwing at all, knowing that there are five extra days off built into the regular season this year.
“I wanted to see how that worked out,” he said. “But for me, personally, I’m going to need to throw on those off-days. That’s just an overall feel thing, it’s not an excuse.” Chapman back Sunday: Matt Chapman, who missed the first week and half of the spring with right hand soreness, will make his Cactus League debut Sunday against the Padres in Peoria, Melvin said.
The third baseman took batting practice with the team, and afterward, he said, “Playing
mañana, rumor has it.” Chapman had a cortisone shot for a bruised sesamoid bone on Feb. 22. Briefly: Reliever Ryan Dull, who has not thrown in a week because of shoulder tightness, will play catch Sunday. He is unlikely to appear in a game until mid-to-late March . ... Jorge Mateo, the promising shortstop/ center fielder obtained in the Sonny Gray deal with the Yankees, ran the bases and he said everything went well. He could be cleared to play in a game within the next day or two after being held out with a left knee ligament strain . ... Minor-league starter Logan Shore no longer has any trapezius discomfort, Melvin said, but there is no date set for him to resume throwing.