A’s Prospects vs. Padres Prospects Spring Breakout Game Thread

A peak into the future

The Spring Breakout is here! Our very own young crop of A’s prospects join together to face off the San Diego Padres own team of top prospects for a fun little peak into the future of both of these franchises.

Taking the ball for the start of today’s game will be right-hander Luis Morales. Generally considered a top-5 prospect in the system, Morales will get an excellent opportunity to introduce himself to A’s fans today. Morales spent last season in Single-A so we likely won’t see him in The Show this year, but the hope is that he can harness his raw stuff and become a potential front-line starter down the line. This is the beginning of a huge year for his career.

The team’s lineup will feature some big names that A’s fans should know by now:

That lineup is full of players that should be making an impact for the team as the rebuild finally bears fruit. The biggest name in that lineup is definitely first baseman Nick Kurtz, ranked as the second-best prospect in the organization behind A’s starting shortstop Jacob Wilson. Obviously Wilson is with the big league club now so he’s not taking part in this contest, so Kurtz is the biggest name in the lineup.

Kurtz isn’t the only major prospect playing in today’s Spring Breakout. Outfielders Colby Thomas and Denzel Clarke also rank among the organization’s very best prospects at #3 and #6, respectively. Both players have come up through the system together and, like today’s game, could play next to each other in the outfield for the next A’s playoff team. Other prospects in the starting lineup include Max Muncy (#7 prospect), Tommy White (#8), Henry Bolte (#9), Josh Kuroda-Grauer (#11), and Daniel Susac (#12). Hopefully these young guys can do some damage against their counterparts in the Padres’ farm system.

Speaking of the Friars, here’s how their lineup will look today:

San Diego will be sending out right-hander Braden Nett for today’s start. Nett ranks as the Padres’ #9 prospect. The big name to watch on the Padres side of things though is their leadoff man in today’s game, shortstop Leo De Vries. Their overall top farmhand, De Vries ranks as the #18 prospect in all of baseball so he’ll be the highest-ranked player in today’s game, even ahead of Nick Kurtz who ranks 38th.

This is exciting! Spring is about getting ready for the regular season but today’s Spring Breakout should be extra fun. Tune in!