BREAKING: A’s Land Power Bat, Intriguing Arm with Second and Third Picks

The Oakland A’s selected Nick Kurtz with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, and according to the team’s Director of Scouting, Eric Kubota, they got the player they had ranked No. 1. Additionally, the A’s selected LSU third baseman Tommy White and LSU left-hander Gage Jump with the 40th and 73rd overall picks, respectively, despite MLB Pipeline ranking them at No. 20 and No. 62 in their pre-draft rankings.

These selections provide the A’s with three promising prospects, and with the first pick in each subsequent round, they have a chance to strengthen a farm system that has been among the weakest in recent years.

Tommy White, known as “Tommy Tanks,” had an impressive season, hitting .330 with a .401 OBP and 24 home runs in 66 games. Although he lacks Kurtz’s plate discipline, he boasts a plus hit tool (graded at 55) and solid power (graded at 60). Securing him at 40th overall could prove to be a significant steal for the A’s. The main question surrounding White is his defense, which is graded slightly below average at 40. However, Kubota is optimistic about White’s potential to remain at third base, citing his improvement over the past year.

Gage Jump is an intriguing pick due to his limited collegiate pitching experience. After starting his college career at UCLA and undergoing Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for the 2023 season, he transferred to LSU and began the 2024 season on a pitch count. Despite these challenges, Jump posted a 6-2 record with a 3.47 ERA, 101 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 83 innings, earning SEC All-Tournament Team honors in 2024. Pipeline rates him as a 50 overall player, with his fastball, curveball, and slider each graded at 55, while his changeup and control are graded at 50.

Kubota addressed concerns about the injury history of all three players, stating that the team has thoroughly vetted each selection’s medicals and feels comfortable with their choices. Regarding Jump’s limited innings in college, Kubota noted that fewer innings could be seen as a positive, potentially reducing wear and tear on his arm.

The A’s acknowledge the risks involved with their selections but are confident in the potential rewards. When asked if the draft lottery rules, which prevent a team from picking in the top ten for a third consecutive year, influenced their strategy, Kubota responded that their focus remains on making the best possible choices this year based on their draft board, without considering the implications for next year’s draft.