As minor-league notes: 54 prospects headed to fall instructional league camp

From Sept. 14-Oct. 4, the A’s will host their annual fall instructional league camp. As of now, they have 54 prospects set to participate in the camp, which is often one of the most foundational times in young players’ careers, as they are given more one-on-one instruction during the three weeks than they can get during a regular season.

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There will be games throughout the camp, although most of the A’s games will be intrasquad affairs, as they plan to suit up a Green team and a Gold team. They may play one game a week against another instructional league club from a complex on the eastern side of the Phoenix metro area. As always, the camp will take place at the A’s minor-league complex in Mesa.

The roster below is as of Aug. 25 and is subject to change.

A's 2022 Instructional League roster

Below are a few notes on the roster:

• The youngest player on the current camp roster is right-hander Jefferson Jean, who won’t turn 18 until Jan. 29. Jean, who signed earlier this year, is a 6-foot-3 right-hander who is already tickling triple digits with his fastball. The 17-year-old threw only 7 1/3 innings in the Dominican Summer League with four runs allowed (all coming in the same outing), nine strikeouts and four walks.

• The youngest position player on the roster is infielder German Ortiz, who turned 18 on Aug. 2. Ortiz signed with the A’s on July 12, 2021. In two seasons in the DSL, he’s posted a .387 OBP and has 47 walks in 67 games. This season, Ortiz had a 40:45 BB:K and stole six bases in six chances. He hit .249/.388/.316 overall in 54 games.

• Catcher Angel Rivera and outfielder Moises Gallardo are also making their stateside debuts at instructs. Rivera, 19, led the DSL team in batting with a .347 BA and a 1.025 OPS, while Gallardo was the A’s DSL All-Star representative. He had six home runs and a .788 OPS.

• With the exception of injured third-round pick Colby Thomas (shoulder surgery), the A’s entire 2022 draft class is set to attend the camp. That includes compensation round B pick Clark Elliott, who strained a hamstring in his first pro game and hasn’t played since.

• Australian two-way player Bjay Cooke had a strong professional debut at the plate, hitting .256/.396/.513 with two doubles and four triples, as well as six walks, in 48 plate appearances in the Arizona Complex League. He logged time at shortstop, left field and right field in those 12 games. He didn’t make his professional pitching debut during the regular season, but he will get plenty of work on the bump this fall, as he will focus solely on pitching during instructs.

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• After posting a .498 OPS in 218 plate appearances to start the season with Low-A Stockton, Robert Puason moved down to Rookie ball, where he showed some improvements at the plate (.260/.319/.362 in 141 plate appearances), although it was still a disappointing season overall. Puason will continue to work on his hitting during instructs and will also get some reps in the outfield after committing 26 errors in 92 games at second and short this season. The position switch isn’t permanent, but the A’s want to get a look at Puason in the outfield to see if his speed and arm strength would translate well there.

• Instructional league will give the A’s player development staff more time to work with spring training pitching acquisitions J.T. Ginn, Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes, who only had a few weeks with A’s coaches this spring in a camp setting before the start of the regular season. Gunnar Hoglund got more time with the coaching staff while completing his Tommy John rehab, but the hope is that he will be able to log some innings heading into next season. Hoglund has been sidelined with elbow stiffness since his Stockton debut on Aug. 6. He’s thrown eight innings total this season.

• Veterans Nolan Long and Trey Supak will be in camp as they continue their rehabs from injury. Supak missed virtually all of the last two seasons after having Tommy John surgery last spring, while Long had been out since last June after undergoing shoulder surgery. Both are eligible for minor-league free agency but their inclusion on the roster is a sign they will return to the A’s next season. The 6-foot-10 Long has made nine appearances and has allowed six earned runs in seven innings this season, while Supak made one appearance in Arizona, throwing two innings.

Diaz makes the jump, keeps on hitting

Four days after his 22nd birthday, Jordan Díaz was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas. It was the first time since his pro debut season in 2017 that he had moved up a level during a season (that year, he went from the DSL to the AZL). So far, Triple A hasn’t presented much of a challenge for the talented right-handed hitter. In 10 games, he’s batting .378 with 10 RBIs and six extra-base hits.

In a career-high 104 games, Díaz is batting .325/.364/.514 on the season with 16 home runs and 30 doubles despite being one of the youngest players in the upper levels of the minor leagues. He’s only walked 22 times, but he’s struck out just 68 times. His 138 hits are second-most in all of the minor leagues, and he hit .319 in 94 Double-A games before his promotion.

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Díaz still needs to find a permanent defensive position. He’s been tried at first and third most frequently and has made a few appearances in left field and, most recently, second base. He hasn’t stood out at any of those positions, but with his bat nearing major-league ready, defense will be a big focus for the rest of this season and next spring.

Thomas, Miller make long-awaited debuts; Cusick, Butler return

As the minor-league season enters its final weeks, the A’s system overall is getting healthier. Several top prospects who have been injured for much of the season made their returns in the past two weeks.

On the injured list for most of the season after undergoing offseason Achilles surgery, Cody Thomas made his much-awaited Las Vegas debut this week. The center fielder, who was added to the 40-man roster last November, has four hits in his first 13 at-bats, with three of them going for extra bases. On Friday he homered and on Saturday he hit a base-clearing triple with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to complete a wild seven-run, ninth-inning comeback for the Aviators.

THAT WAS TOTALLY WICKED pic.twitter.com/vqGihKZvg4

— Las Vegas Aviators (@AviatorsLV) August 28, 2022

Mason Miller, the A’s 2021 third-round pick, had been sidelined since spring training with a strained right scapula. He struck out five of the six batters he faced in his rehab start in Arizona on Aug. 23 and then struck out four in two innings of one-run ball in his High-A Lansing debut on Sunday. He hit 102 mph on the radar gun in that rehab start in Arizona and flashed some impressive breaking pitches in his Lugnuts outing.

Mason Miller's velocity is what it is (you know, 100+ mph, that sort of thing).

Check out this breaking stuff. pic.twitter.com/RRQrKr8spj

— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) August 28, 2022

Ryan Cusick missed two months with an oblique strain, but he returned to the Double-A Midland rotation on Aug. 17. In two outings since his return, Cusick has allowed two runs in five innings with three strikeouts and three walks.

After a brief rehab stint in Arizona, Lawrence Butler returned to the Lansing roster last week. He picked up right where he left off with the Lugnuts, collecting four hits (including two doubles) and three walks in seven at-bats in his first two games before going 0-for-4 on Sunday. Butler missed seven weeks after sustaining a forearm injury on July 4. The dynamic 22-year-old first baseman/outfielder is batting .260/.351/.439 with eight home runs and 11 stolen bases in 73 games for Lansing this season.

Right-hander Jose Dicochea, a 2019 eighth-round pick, also returned this month after a full year of recovery from Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in Arizona before allowing two runs in 1 1/3 innings in his 2022 Stockton debut.

Who’s hot

Ken Waldichuk, LHP, Las Vegas: In the same week A’s rookie starters held the Yankees to four runs over 19 1/3 innings, Waldichuk — a former Yankees farmhand — made a case to join those rookies in the A’s rotation. The left-hander struck out nine in five innings against a Sugar Land offense that otherwise had its way with Las Vegas pitchers for most of the week. Waldichuk walked one and allowed one earned run. Since joining the A’s at the trade deadline, he has a 3.38 ERA and a 21:3 K:BB in 18 2/3 innings.

Seventh heaven.

No. 3 @Athletics prospect Ken Waldichuk struck out nine — including seven consecutive — batters for the @AviatorsLV: https://t.co/9KGwdDUkPj pic.twitter.com/UtruH1OtTY

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 25, 2022

Junior Perez, OF, Stockton: Perez’s second-half surge has continued apace. The 21-year-old outfielder is batting .281/.456/.438 in 21 games in August. He’s also stolen nine bases this month and has homered three times. Since July 1, Perez has a 40:37 K:BB and .291 BA with a .437 OBP, 14 stolen bases and six home runs in 45 games. For the season, his OPS is up to .785, nearly 100 points higher than it was on July 1.

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Chase Calabuig, OF, Midland: Now that Díaz is in Las Vegas, Calabuig is Midland’s leading hitter with a .318 average. He is putting together by far the best season of his career, with a .318/.400/.451 slash line through 97 games. Calabuig, 26, has three straight multi-hit games and five multi-hit games in his last seven played. His six home runs this season are a career-best.

Zack Gelof, IF, Midland: It took Gelof a little while to get going after returning from an extended absence following a left shoulder injury, but the power come back with a vengeance in August. He’s homered six times in 21 games this month and has a season-best .512 SLG. In 294 at-bats this season, Gelof has 12 home runs and a .282/.361/.459 slash line.

Brett Harris, IF, Midland: Harris has shared time with Gelof at second and third base in Midland and has been nearly as impressive as his 2021 draft mate. Harris is batting .313/.384/.406 this month and .287/.377/.473 with 15 home runs in 98 games for the season. He’s also swiped 10 bags in 14 chances. The 24-year-old has struck out just 75 times in 429 plate appearances.

Denzel Clarke, OF, Lansing: Before landing on the COVID-IL on Aug. 25, Clarke was putting together arguably his best month of the season. In 19 games in August, Clarke had a .264/.391/.569 line with five home runs and eight stolen bases. The IL stint may prevent him from reaching the 20/20 plateau, however. He has 15 home runs and 26 stolen bases this season.

Tyler Soderstrom, C/1B, Midland: Soderstrom got off to a slow start in Double A, but the 20-year-old has picked it up of late, with 12 hits in his last 38 at-bats (.316 BA). In 109 games in his age-20 season, Soderstrom has a .258/.320/.484 line with 22 home runs and 84 RBIs.

"Welcome to Rocky Town!"@Athletics prospect Tyler Soderstrom goes oppo for his first home dinger with the @RockHounds. pic.twitter.com/z1g18OYa2U

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 17, 2022

Kyle Virbitsky, RHP, Lansing: The 2021 17th-round pick leads all A’s minor-league pitchers in strikeouts this season, and he added to his total in a big way on Saturday when he struck out 11 in six innings against Wisconsin. Virbitsky allowed five earned runs in five innings in a start on Aug. 20, but has otherwise given up just seven runs in 22 2/3 innings in his other four starts with Lansing. This was his second double-digit strikeout game of the season. He has 130 in 114 1/3 total innings between Stockton and Lansing this season.

Daniel Susac, C, Stockton: The A’s 2022 top pick is hitting well after a bit of a slow start with the Ports. He’s hit safely in seven of his last nine games and is 14-for-35 during that stretch with four doubles. Overall, he’s batting .288/.364/.424 in 16 games with Stockton.

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J.T. Ginn, RHP, Midland: Ginn threw a full five innings on Thursday for the first time since returning from a forearm strain that cost him two months. He held San Antonio to two runs and struck out four while walking two. Ginn has been solid since his return to the Midland rotation, posting a 3.71 ERA in 17 innings with a 15:3 K:BB.

Kyle McCann, C, Midland: McCann has homered five times in August and has 19 on the season. The left-handed batter has an .851 OPS for the season and is actually hitting lefties (.969 OPS) better than he is hitting righties (.832 OPS). He’s tied for seventh in the league in homers and 11th in the league in OPS.

Joey Estes, RHP, Lansing: Estes threw six innings of one-hit, shutout baseball on Thursday in his best start of the season. He struck out six and walked one. In August, the 20-year-old right-hander has a 3.00 ERA in 21 innings.

Joey Estes, straight dealing. pic.twitter.com/RsaPCujpPC

— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) August 26, 2022

Jorge Juan, RHP, Lansing: Brewers top prospect Jackson Chourio got him for a three-run homer on Sunday, but Juan has been solid for the Lugnuts over his last four outings. In 11 1/3 innings, the hard-throwing right-hander has allowed six runs with 15 strikeouts and four walks.

Beau Taylor, C, Las Vegas: Taylor has been a hit since returning to the A’s organization and joining Las Vegas earlier this month. In 14 games, he’s batting .288/.403/.500 with a 14:9 K:BB and two home runs.

David Leal, LHP, Midland: Leal’s August got off to a bad start when he allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings, but since then, he’s allowed just seven runs in 20 innings. Leal has gone seven innings in two of his last three starts and has gone at least six innings in seven of his last eight starts. He has a 4.29 ERA in 119 2/3 innings this season and has walked just 15 batters.

Calvin Coker, RHP, Lansing: Coker hadn’t pitched since midway through the 2019 season when he was activated off the injured list on June 10. After striking out 16 in 15 2/3 innings for Stockton, he made one scoreless appearance in Midland and then settled into the Lansing bullpen. So far this month, the sidearmer has allowed three runs in 12 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts and four walks. For the season, he has a 1.67 ERA and a 29:6 K:BB in 32 1/3 innings.

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Shane McGuire, C/1B, Lansing: Since his Aug. 2 promotion to Lansing, McGuire has been an on-base machine, walking 20 times in 23 games and posting a .434 OBP in 99 plate appearances. The 2021 ninth-round pick hasn’t shown a lot of over-the-fence power this season, but he’s walked 59 times in 73 games between Stockton and Lansing and has a .419 OBP for the season. His K:BB with Lansing is 13:20 and he has seven extra-base hits in 99 plate appearances.

Lazaro Armenteros, OF, Lansing: Since being activated off the IL on Aug. 2, Armenteros has hit .286/.361/.429 with two home runs. He’s also been very active on the base paths, swiping 10 bases in 12 opportunities. Armenteros is still striking out too much (33 in 63 at-bats this month), but his overall numbers in 56 games with the Lugnuts are much improved over last season — .261/.376/.479 with 10 homers and 13 stolen bases.

T.J. Czyz, RHP, ACL A’s/Lansing: The A’s 2022 12th-round pick is off to a fast start to his pro career. In four appearances — two in Rookie ball and two in Lansing — Czyz has allowed three hits, two walks and no runs in 4 2/3 innings. He’s struck out nine.

Affiliate updates

Triple-A Las Vegas: (61-62 overall; 7 games back of first place)

Double-A Midland: (28-22 second half; 59-60 overall — tied for first place)

High-A Lansing: (25-29 second half; 50-70 overall — eliminated from postseason contention)

Low-A Stockton: (17-37 second half; 42-78 overall — eliminated from postseason contention)

ACL A’s: (20-34 — season over)

DSL A’s: (26-32 — season over)

(Photo of Daniel Susac: Tracy Proffitt / Four Seam Images via AP)

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