MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

The All-Star Break is upon us and the A’s have some momentum by being winners of three of their last four series.

Shortstop Jacob Wilson returned for the final two games of the series versus the Blue Jays and will play in Tuesday’s game.

Wilson was sidelined with a wrist injury when Braves rookie Didier Fuentes retaliated for a Lawrence Butler inside-the-park home run by hitting him with a 97 mph fastball.

Joining Wilson in Atlanta is DH Brent Rooker, who made a Home Run Derby appearance Monday evening.

Rooker tied eventual winner Cal Raleigh 17-17 in the opening round but lost on longest home run distance 470.62-470.54.

Being the unofficial midpoint of the season, grading the Athletics by position gives fans an idea of which players are playing well, who isn’t, and who may be moved before the July 31st trade deadline.

Position Players-

Catcher:
Shea Langeliers (.226, 12 doubles, 12 hr’s, 31 rbi’s)
Due to injuries Langeliers split time with rookie Willie MacIver, Jhonny Pereda, and later traded the Reds cash for Austin Wynns.

As a position, they hit over .250 with 21 doubles, 19 home runs, and had 48 rbi’s.

While Wynns threw out five of the seven who tried to steal bases,
the others allowed 68 of 78 base runners to reach safely.
Grade: B-

First Base:
Nick Kurtz (.257, 38 runs, 9 doubles, 17 hr’s, 44 rbi’s)
Not having Kurtz swinging the bat on opening day has to have manager Mark Kotsay kicking himself.
Kurtz’ hits the break with home runs in four-of-six games and six-of-seven series.

He is a fine defender with only four errors in 2025.

Grade: A-

Second Base:
Luis Urias (.239, 22 runs, 14 extra base hits)
Urias was just activated off the 10-day IL and is expected to retain the starting spot.

In 2024, Zack Gelof was an extra bases (xbh) hitting machine but hit an abysmal .080 while Urias was down and Gelof may be a possible trade piece.

Grade: C-

Shortstop:
Jacob Wilson (.332, 44 runs, 26 xbh’s, 42 rbi’s)
Voted by fans as the first AL rookie shortstop to start an All-Star Game says it all as he is second in MLB in batting average and hits (113).

Having only 28 strikeouts in 340 ab’s reinforces Wilson is one of baseballs top contact hitters.

Grade: A+

Third Base:
Miguel Andujar (.287, 19 runs, 11 xbh’s)
Andujar shared games with rookie Max Muncy and Gio Urshela as he was on IL and as a trio they have over 35 xbh’s with 59 RBI’s.

Muncy hits for power, has hits in 11 of his last 14 games, and may be a trade piece if the A’s are selling.

Grade: B-

Designated Hitter:
Brent Rooker (.279, 60 runs, 22 doubles, 2 triples, 20 hr’s, 54 rbi’s)

American League All-Star DH Rooker has hit safely in 17 of his last 21 games and is projected to surpass most of his amazing 2024 stats.

Grade: A

Right Field:
Lawrence Butler (.251, 55 runs, 39 xbh’s, 40 rbi’s, 41 walks)
Butler is becoming a solid leadoff for the A’s and is among AL leaders in doubles (5th) and runs (9th) and has successfully stolen bases in 16 of 20 attempts.

While more selective now, Butler is 3rd across MLB in strikeouts with 133.

Grade: B+

Center Field:
Denzel Clarke is an MLB 4x Electric Play of the Week winner and has seemingly taken JJ Bleday’s job of leading the outfield.
His .210 batting average has to come up and he has entered the break with hits in seven of the last nine games.

Bleday couldn’t duplicate his 2024 season of 43 doubles (8th in MLB), 4 triples, and 20 home runs and was demoted to AAA Las Vegas.

He may be possible trade bait.

Grade: C-

Left Field:
Tyler Soderstrom (.262, 50 runs, 14 doubles, 18 hr’s, 56 rbi’s)
Soderstrom has batted over .400 with homers in four of his last seven games to reach the break on fire and has only two errors since moving to LF.

Grade: B+

Manager:
Mark Kotsay (41-57)
The bats are doing fine, and multiple rookies are breaking through but poor managerial decisions has inflated era’s and destroyed the season of most of the pitching staff.

Kotsay must start putting his pitchers in a position that they can succeed in.

Grade: D

Starters:
The A’s remain the worst pitching staff in baseball and Jeffrey Springs is the only starter with a winning record (8-6) or an era under 4.00 (3.93).

Athletics #1 starter Luis Severino is likely to be traded as his 2-11 record is abysmal and he can’t stop blaming Sutter Health Park.
He leads the American League in hits allowed and earned runs given up but is 2-2, 3.04 away from home which may attract a playoff team.

Grade: F

Relievers:
While most have inflated era’s from being left on the mound too long during rough outings, many had solid July appearances and the five day break may reset some arms.

Closer Mason Miller (19 saves) has given up but one solo home run in his last 11 appearances and has begun to exceed 104 mph on his fastball.

Grade: D-

Overall: C-