LATEST REPORT: Two Bright Outfield Prospects Developing For Oakland Athletics
In a couple of years, the Oakland Athletics, wherever they may be based, are likely to showcase two promising outfielders currently honing their skills in Lansing, Michigan.
Henry Bolte and Bryan Buelvas possess remarkable speed, are developing their power, and exhibit an infectious enthusiasm for the game. Their potential could illuminate the Las Vegas Strip in the near future, as the A’s plan to relocate there following a rumored stint in Sacramento while awaiting the construction of a new stadium amid the dazzling casinos.
However, both Buelvas and Bolte are works in progress. They need to refine their ability to recognize pitches at the plate, although their defensive prowess and baserunning skills are already advanced. Encouragingly, there are indications at the High A level this year that progress is underway.
After 19 games, each player has tallied exactly 17 hits, 3 home runs, and is a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts. Buelvas notably achieved his home runs in three consecutive games. Bolte boasts a batting average of .239 with 15 runs and 13 RBIs, while Buelvas stands at .243 with 18 runs and 12 RBIs.
Long-time Lansing radio announcer Jesse Goldberg-Strasser remarked, “Watching these guys every day can be very enjoyable and sometimes frustrating. You marvel at their talent. They are young and inconsistent, but you see little glimpses of good things, sometimes brilliant things. That’s fun.”
Bolte, a San Francisco native, received a $2 million signing bonus as a second-round pick in 2012 from Palo Alto High School, where he belted 13 homers as a senior.
In the previous season at Stockton, he posted a .257 batting average with 14 home runs and 32 steals. Bolte has a knack for turning singles into doubles and doubles into triples with his exceptional speed, while also utilizing his swiftness to prevent extra-base hits by opponents. He is projected to evolve into a versatile center-fielder.
His initial homer this season was a shot to the opposite field, as was his second. The third soared well beyond 400 feet to center field.
Standing at 6-3 and weighing 195 pounds at the age of 20, the Athletics anticipate Bolte will further develop his strength and power at the plate. However, more crucially, he must enhance his ability to make consistent contact.
Colombia Has More Than Coffee
Coffee aficionados enjoy the rich, smooth taste of Colombian blend in their favorite beverage. Similarly, Oakland scouts were impressed by the polished talent displayed by Buelvas, reminiscent of that smooth Colombian blend, prompting the A’s to offer him a $100,000 contract when he was just 16 in 2018.
Now 22, Buelvas has shown glimpses of brilliance, particularly in his defensive prowess, as evidenced by a recent play. However, his offensive performance has been inconsistent. Despite occasional impressive moments, such as a home run he hit in 2023 for Stockton, he has struggled to maintain consistency at the plate. Yet, he began to show promise during his time in Stockton, batting .290 with 9 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 54 games last summer.
Other Prospects Getting Straight A’s
Oakland’s farm system isn’t brimming with talent, but there are promising players expected to make an impact in the coming years. Infielders Jacob Wilson, Max Muncy, Myles Naylor, and Brett Harris, alongside outfielder Denzel Clarke and catcher Daniel Susac, are all anticipated to contribute, according to MLB Pipeline’s top 10 prospects for the organization.
Additionally, right-handed pitchers Luis Morales, Joe Boyle, Joey Estes, and Steven Echevarria are highly regarded. Mitch Spence, initially ranked 25th in the system at the start of the season, has shown promise since being acquired from the New York Yankees via the Rule 5 draft. As a 25-year-old rookie, he’s posted a 2-1 record with a 3.38 ERA in seven impressive relief appearances for Oakland.
Historic Oakland Outfielders
In the mid-1960s, while still based in Kansas City, the Athletics selected two highly promising outfielders in the draft. By the time the team relocated to Oakland in 1968, both players had become established stars.
Before 1965, players were typically signed as free agents, with the most talented prospects usually joining the teams offering the highest salaries. However, the introduction of the MLB Draft that year changed this landscape. With the first pick in the draft, awarded based on their poor 57-105 record in 1964, the Athletics selected Rick Monday from Arizona State University.
The following year, after finishing with a 59-103 record, they had the second pick. Fortunately, the New York Mets chose high school catcher Steven Chilcott, allowing the A’s to select Reggie Jackson from Arizona State University, widely regarded as the best collegiate player at the time. While Chilcott never reached the major leagues, Jackson went on to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In their inaugural year in Oakland, the A’s posted an 82-80 record. Monday earned a spot on the All-Star team, batting .274 with 14 stolen bases and displaying exceptional defense in center field. Meanwhile, Jackson hit 29 home runs, stole 14 bases, and drove in 74 runs as a right fielder with a powerful arm.
The A’s continued to improve, with Jackson hitting 47 homers and driving in 118 runs while stealing 13 bases in 1969, and Monday contributing a .271 batting average with 12 homers and 12 steals.
By 1972, Monday had been traded to the Chicago Cubs for star pitcher Ken Holtzman, while Jackson was consistently hitting home runs. The A’s went on to win three consecutive World Series titles in 1972, 1973, and 1974.