MidValleySports.Com

Tim Byrnes

After an amazing season for the Game of Baseball, where the Los Angeles Dodgers won their ninth World Series, the 2026 Draft Lottery was conducted on Tuesday, with teams hoping for high picks to acquire exciting, young talent.

The Chicago White Sox won the first overall pick over the Tampa Bay Rays, and while the Athletics had the fifth-best odds, they received the eighth pick.

So what do the Athletics look for in this draft? Where are the needs?
The Athletics are a franchise in transition, spending their first of three seasons in West Sacramento, following a rather contentious exit from Oakland; their home for 57 seasons. A stunning new stadium is being constructed in Las Vegas with an expectation that it will be ready for the start of the 2028 season.

In the views of many, the Athletics have many pieces in place for a successful team. All-Stars shortstop Jacob Wilson and DH Brent Rooker bring high batting average and bigtime power to the lineup. 

Rookie Wilson batted .311 and was among American League Leaders in hitting, before he was hit in retaliation for a home run by the previous hitter. Rooker had an outstanding season, hitting 40 doubles, three triples, and 30 home runs while appearing in all 162 games. He signed a 5-yr/$60 million contract in January.

Rookie home run machine Nick Kurtz stunned so many with his power display, few noticed he plays a superior first base. Along with his record four home run night, Kurtz hit 26 doubles, two triples, and 36 total home runs in just 117 games while batting .290, good for 20th in the American League.

Lawrence Butler was signed in March to a 7-yr/$65.5 million contract, to play center field, but will likely move to right field with the emergence of Denzel Clarke. Clarke won the 2025 Capital One/MLB Premier Play of the Year when he climbed the center field wall and robbed Angels 1B Nolan Schanuel of a home run on June 9th. Clarke won Play of the Week 4x (including 3 consecutive weeks) in merely two months before injury, and was competing against himself for the award.

Catcher Shea Langeliers had a great season at the plate, with 32 doubles and 31 home runs but only threw out 18-of-97 base stealers. His bat and management of the pitching staff ensures his job security.

With these players solid in their positions, it leaves only second and third base as question marks, and they have young talent like Zack Gelof, and Darell Hernaiz to tentatively cover second base while Max Muncy, and Brett Harris are possibilities at third base. The A’s will likely shore up those positions through free agency rather than concentrate on a position player with this pick in mind.

With options to cover those positions, starting pitching has to be a priority for this #8 pick. The Athletics were 27th in ERA (4.70), 28th in walks (570) and home runs (222) given up.

The Athletics #1 starter, Luis Severino (8-11, 4.54) signed a 3-yr/$67 million contract in December 2024, with an option for 2027, but he has made it clear he hates pitching in Sutter Health Park and it is my expectation a playoff team will take him off the A’s hands by the trade deadline next season.

Jeffrey Springs (11-11, 4.11), Jacob Lopez (7-7, 4.08), and Luis Morales (4-3, 3.14) are the likely #2-4 pitchers in the rotation and this is where the needs begin for the Athletics. The innings-eater, JP Sears is gone, and while Jack Perkins won three of his four starts, including his last three of the year, he is built to be our next closer.

So, in the columns ahead, we will look at top pitching prospects that may be available at #8 on draft day. Among those who are among the listed Top 20 Prospects (courtesy of Locked On A’s Podcast) are RHP’s Cameron Flukey, Liam Peterson, Jackson Flora, and Gabe Gaeckle.

Left-handed pitchers Gio Rojas and Carson Boleman are highly praised and would be nice fits for the Athletics.

In depth analysis coming up in next week’s column.