Oakland Athletics 2011 Top 20 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review

by John Sickels on Aug 16, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

I am reviewing my PRE-SEASON list of Top 20 prospects for 2011 for each organization, continuing today with the Oakland Athletics. This list was originally published December 29, 2025. We will look at the Houston Astros on Wednesday, the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, and the Cleveland Indians to finish things off Saturday.

This is a review of the 2011 Pre-Season Top 20 list. IT IS NOT A NEW LIST. THESE ARE NOT NEW GRADES

The 2012 list and new grades won't be ready until the season is over and I start writing the book.

1) Grant Green, SS, Grade B: Hitting .303/.357/.428 with 30 doubles, eight homers, 35 walks, 99 strikeouts in 446 at-bats for Double-A Midland. Converted to center field earlier this month after failing to ease doubts about his glove at shortstop.

2) Chris Carter, 1B-OF, Grade B: Hitting .252/.340/.487 with 14 homers, 29 walks, 72 strikeouts in 230 at-bats between Triple-A Sacramento and six games of injury rehab (thumb) for High-A Stockton. 4-for-30 in the majors with 14 strikeouts. I have been pro-Carter but his stock is dropping with me. Of course, that means he'll explode next year.

3) Michael Choice, OF, Grade B: .287/.381/.561 with 28 homers, 54 walks, 118 strikeouts in 401 at-bats for Stockton. Lots of power, as expected, and will draw walks, but strikeout rate is high enough to be concerning.

4) Tyson Ross, RHP, Grade B-: Has missed time with an oblique strain, a shoulder problem, and personal issues. 2.75 ERA with 24/13 K/BB in 36 major league innings, but an 8.02 ERA with 26/15 K/BB in 21 minor league innings between Sacramento and Stockton. His potential, when healthy, is obvious.

5) Fautino De Los Santos, RHP, Grade B-: 2.17 ERA with 36/16 K/BB in 29 innings between Midland and Sacramento. 2.66 ERA with 26/12 K/BB in 20 major league innings, 15 hits. Could take a larger role next year.

6) Steve Parker, 3B, Grade B-: .289/.372/.415 with nine homers, 58 walks, 100 strikeouts in 453 at-bats for Midland. Not as much power as in the Cal League last year, but still gets on base at a solid clip. Some improvement with the glove.

7) Max Stassi, C, Grade B-: .231/.331/.331 with 16 walks, 22 strikeouts in 121 at-bats for Stockton. Out since May with shoulder problems and was confined to DH role before that.

8) Ian Krol, LHP, Grade B-: Was working his way back from a spring elbow injury when he was suspended for using an anti-gay slur while tweeting. Ian Krol the Twittering Twit.

9) Michael Taylor, OF, Grade C+: .286/.376/.473 with 13 homers, 39 walks, 62 strikeouts, 10 steals in 283 at-bats for Sacramento. Better than last year but still not equivalent to what he was doing before the trade.

10) Jemile Weeks, 2B, Grade C+: .321/.417/.446 with 29 walks, 32 strikeouts, 10 steals in 184 at-bats for Sacramento. .292/.319/.403 with 10 walks, 38 strikeouts, 13 steals in 243 at-bats for Oakland. A successful debut overall and I think he'll draw more walks as he settles in.

11) Yordy Cabrera, SS, Grade C+: Hitting .242/.309/.387 with six homers, 30 walks, 92 strikeouts, 19 steals in 310 at-bats for Low-A Burlington. Defense at shortstop needs a lot of work and he faces positional switch without rapid improvement.

12) Adrian Cardenas, 2B, Grade C+: Hitting .299/.367/.407 with 43 walks, 45 strikeouts in 405 at-bats for Sacramento. I am still trying to figure out how he fits on major league roster.

13) Josh Donaldson, C, Grade C+: .260/.334/.459 with 16 homers, 40 walks, 86 strikeouts in 377 at-bats for Sacramento, 38% of runners caught but also 13 errors in 67 defensive games.

14) Eric Sogard, 2B, Grade C+: .298/.381/.410 with 40 walks, 34 strikeouts, 13 steals in 315 at-bats for Sacramento. 6-for-31 with three doubles in 11 major league games. Blocked here but I think he could help some teams.

15) Connor Hoehn, RHP, Grade C+: 6.13 ERA with 50/12 K/BB in 40 innings for Stockton, 36 hits. ERA is elevated by 10 homers, but other numbers demonstrate his potential.

16) Aaron Shipman, OF, Grade C+: .233/.358/.289 with 14 steals, 31 walks, 31 strikeouts in 159 at-bats for Vermont in the New York-Penn League. Excellent tools, especially speed, and he draws walks. No power yet.

17) Matt Thomson, RHP, Grade C+: Injured.

18) Danny Farquhar, RHP, Grade C+: Traded back to Toronto in April. Overall a 4.39 ERA with 48/21 K/BB in 53 innings between Sacramento and Las Vegas, 61 hits, 11 saves. Overrated with this grade but he can be a useful shortman for someone.

19) Chad Lewis, 3B, Grade C: Hitting .257/.295/.356 with 10 walks, 49 strikeouts in 202 at-bats for Vermont. I received flak for rating him this low, but he hasn't lived up to the high school scouting reports at this point and might end up at first base.

20) Rashun Dixon, OF, Grade C: .250/.327/.398 with 11 homers, 43 walks, 109 strikeouts in 392 at-bats with Stockton. Still has the amazing tools, but still doesn't really know what to do with them.

A lot of "blah" on this list. It is good to see what Weeks can do when healthy, and if Green is more comfortable in the outfield than at shortstop, his bat could take off next year.

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Read More: Josh Donaldson (C - OAK), Adrian Cardenas (2B - OAK), Eric Sogard (2B - OAK), Jemile Weeks (2B - OAK), Tyson Ross (P - OAK), Max Stassi (C - OAK), Grant Green (SS - OAK), Michael Taylor (RF - OAK), Danny Farquhar (P - TOR), Michael Choice (CF - OAK), Rashun Dixon (DH - OAK), Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers

Comments

still looking up just a bit, I think

For once, this organization finally has some young bats to work with. Choice has really impressed me this year, and Green keeps making small improvements and finally has his positional issues resolved.

Still holding on for dear life to my Adrian Cardenas-Frank Catalanotto comp.

by mrkupe on Aug 16, 2025 10:45 PM EDT reply actions

Carter

I still buy the bat, and like you say at the end I think he can explode next year.

What’s this about Grant Green in CF? I read it and didn’t think the idea was crazy, because he’s a pretty athletic player. Was he really that bad as a SS? Is this permanent?

Cardenas is another player I still like.

by SenorGato on Aug 16, 2025 11:13 PM EDT reply actions

green

His actions looked okay. He just didn’t show nearly the arm strength he needed for the position, and it was really handicapping his range.

by mrkupe on Aug 16, 2025 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Donaldson

has been playing many positions which has caused many of his errors and after a bad start the average is coming up.

I haven’t heard about Ross’ personal problems. Are you able to mention it or is it better left unsaid?

Choice’s K rate had been dropping before his leg injury. Now that he is back will need to keep an eye on it.

Bring back the Pac-10!!!

by calas on Aug 16, 2025 11:49 PM EDT reply actions

Man why cant Billy Beane develop a hitter overrated POS GM blah

saved you a post, KBR. Pitching is the real problem in this system right now but hopefully Gray is able to move quickly.

I disagree on Taylor. He’s hitting better than he was in AAA with the Phillies before the trade, and I really think the injuries are what caused the bad 2010. I’m optimistic and very pissed that he hasn’t been called up yet. Think he has a good year in the bigs next season. Everything I’ve heard (and the couple times I’ve gone up to see him) indicates that he’s really making solid, consistent contact.

Never been a big fan of Choice, but as calas mentioned above me his K rate was steadily decreasing. He reminds me a little a Grant Desme in terms of tools and skills. Double-A was going to be a big test for Desme before he left for the priesthood (still cant believe it) and it will be a similarly big test for Choice.

Of course, I’m still a fan of Carter and I think they need to give him the DH job next season and let him take his lumps. I’ve been adamant that he’s a guy who just needs consistent ABs to get acclimated and finally break out. No jerking him around like Melvin did this year. He’s also battled injuries, but he’s an A’s prospect so that’s a given.

Pessimistic on Green, but kupe seems to have good things to say about him. I really don’t see him being more than average at best though and the K-rate is alarming. I think the move to center is good for him, but the power, as I feared, looks to have been a Cal League mirage. We’ll see.

Still a fan of Cardenas. Just a guy I’ve always liked. I expect Cabrera to move to third and I like his upside. Also a fan of Shipman and Dixon, but Dixon is really going to have to start showing progress in 2012 for me to maintain optimism. Still an absolute toolshed.

"BA doesn't stand for Batting Average. It’s Brandon Allen, as in the percentage of a hitter’s worth compared to Brandon Allen. Ted Williams, at his best, was only 4/10th of the hitter Brandon Allen is today." - YonYonson

by hero66 on Aug 17, 2025 2:29 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

well oakland has been rebuilding for a little while and its starting to payy off.

everyone knows that oakland has the young pitching Cahill Anderson and Gonzalez nowe they just need the bats. They dont really have any gems but there farm still holds alot of talent.

by Jt Malley on Aug 17, 2025 2:45 AM EDT reply actions

i dont understand why the A's have so many injuries. it completely baffles me.

Adoptive father of 18th round draft pick and future ace, BRANDON ALLEN

by Nnamdi Asomugha on Aug 17, 2025 6:42 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Grant Green

Lack of range. Lack of arm strength. Okay.

And he hasn’t been moved to 2B because…………..????

If you want to tell me he’s “blocked” by Weeks, then you can easily trade an offensive 2B like Green for something decent.

I don’t understand this move at all. Green will never be a long-term solution in CF due to his lack of speed and arm, and he doesn’t hit with enough power to play a corner spot. 2B is the only logical end game for him, IMO.

by samjjones on Aug 17, 2025 8:38 AM EDT reply actions