The amount of question marks surrounding the Athletics entering Spring Training have dwindled in recent years, with the foundation of a talented offensive core that includes Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler now in place for the foreseeable future. Still, a few spots are up for grabs, particularly on the pitching side, with potential candidates extending outside their options on the current 40-man roster.
The A’s have announced 31 players who will be joining the team in big league camp as non-roster invitees. Here is a look at the non-roster players invited to A’s camp:
PITCHERS
Right-handers: Nick Anderson, JJ Goss, Geoff Hartlieb, Nick Hernandez, Kenya Huggins (A's No. 22 prospect), Brooks Kriske, Joel Kuhnel, Kade Morris (No. 14), Gustavo Rodriguez, Wander Suero, Yunior Tur
Left-handers: Jamie Arnold (No. 2), Ben Bowden, Gage Jump (No. 3), Matt Krook, Wei-En Lin (No. 19), Domingo Robles
The A’s are stocking up on pitchers with Major League experience this spring. Anderson, Kriske, Kuhnel and Suero have all pitched across several big league seasons with varying levels of success, making them potential candidates to land a job in an A’s bullpen that figures to have at least a couple of spots up for grabs entering camp. Goss is an intriguing righty who regularly ranked as a top prospect in the Rays' farm system from the time he was drafted 36th overall in 2019 up until ‘23. The 25-year-old Texas native spent last season at Double-A Montgomery, where he posted a 3.38 ERA in 33 relief appearances. Arnold, Jump, Lin and Morris each rank among the A’s Top 30 Prospects list, and all four will get a good look in camp as starters who are candidates to make their Major League debut as early as this season.
POSITION PLAYERS
De Vries (A’s No. 1/MLB No. 4 prospect) will take part in his first Spring Training with the A’s after joining the club as a centerpiece of a blockbuster deal that sent Mason Miller to the Padres at the Trade Deadline. The 19-year-old shortstop is already seemingly on a fast track to the Majors, having earned a promotion to Double-A Midland last season after just 15 games in the A’s organization at High-A Lansing and helping the Rockhounds get to the Texas League Championship Series by batting .281 with a .910 OPS in 21 games. Kuroda-Grauer and White are both top prospects held in high regard within the organization. Meneses is a career .274 hitter with 29 homers, 61 doubles and 165 RBIs in parts of three Major League seasons with the Nationals from 2022-24 before spending last season in the Mets’ Minor League system. Stefanic has excelled at each level of the Minors as a career .323 hitter with an .849 OPS, but those numbers have yet to translate in his limited big league opportunities from 2022-25 with the Angels and Blue Jays.
The A’s strong outfield depth trickles down to the Minors, where Bolte stands out as the top outfield prospect in the system. He combined to hit .284 with an .812 OPS, nine home runs, 20 doubles, six triples, 44 stolen bases and 56 RBIs in 114 games between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas last season. Lasko is another top prospect who has shined defensively with a plus arm and good closing speed in the outfield since the day he was drafted, but his improvements at the plate have put him on the big league radar, particular his display with Triple-A Las Vegas to help the Aviators reach the Triple-A National Championship.
Catchers: Bryan Lavastida, Shane McGuire, Brian Serven, Chad Wallach
Wallach and Serven are veterans who bring valuable Major League experience. Lavastida made his way to the A’s organization midway through last season after spending his first seven seasons as a professional in the Guardians and Astros’ systems and hit .348 with a .966 OPS in 23 games with the Aviators last year.