BP Oakland Athletics top 11

by The Congo Hammer on Jan 8, 2026 1:47 PM EST

KG's new list is out:

Five-Star Prospects
1. Michael Choice, OF
Four-Star Prospects
2. Jarrod Parker, RHP
3. A.J. Cole, RHP
4. Brad Peacock, RHP
5. Sonny Gray, RHP
6. Derek Norris, C
7. Grant Green, OF
Three-Star Prospects
8. Chris Carter, 1B
9. Collin Cowgill, OF
10. Raul Alcantara, RHP
11. Max Stassi, C

Nine More
12. Michael Taylor, OF: He made some improvements in 2011, but the A's showed "confidence" in Taylor by acquiring Reddick and re-signing Crisp.
13. Josh Donaldson, C: He doesn’t have any star-level tools, but he has improved defensively and has always had solid power.
14. Yordy Cabrera, SS: He had an ugly full-season debut in 2011, but the seven-figure tools are still there.
15. Bobby Crocker, OF: This 2011 fourth-round pick is a big-time athlete with speed and power potential.
16. Aaron Shipman, OF: He could explode with some hitting refinements due to his speed and advanced approach.
17. Vicmal De La Cruz, OF: De La Cruz was beat up in the Dominican Summer League. His speed and bat are his best tools.
18. Ian Krol, LHP: He lost 2011 due to injury, but his instructional league showing has officials optimistic for a bounceback.
19. Miles Head, 1B/3B: Head came over in the Andrew Bailey trade. There is nothing pretty about what he does, but his power is significant.
20. Jermaine Mitchell, OF: He finally had his breakout season, but he is also 27 now.

I've argued for a while that Choice deserves more respect as a clear top-50 prospect for his combination of power and tools, and I'm glad to see KG on the bandwagon (though I'm not surprised).

However, I'm very surprised to see that he does not consider Parker to be a top 50 prospect, as well as not seeing Milone on the list at all, especially when Krol is still on somehow. At least he wasn't as stubborn in dropping Carter down on the list.

The ranking of Taylor near Cowgill, which I think is pretty spot on, makes the Reddick trade and Crisp signing look better, since it's pretty clear that while they can earn a full-time role, they don't deserve to be handed one.

What do you think of the list?

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Read More: Michael Choice (CF - OAK), Jarrod Parker (P - OAK), Michael Taylor (RF - OAK), Brad Peacock (P - OAK), Derek Norris (C - OAK), Oakland Athletics

Comments

Interesting

I am not sure what separates Choice from Parker, Cole, or Peacock. I have them all very similarly ranked (and Gray not far behind).
I have Choice at 56 overall, so just outside of the top 50, but I could see the argument for him at the end of a top 50.

by cookiedabookie on Jan 8, 2026 2:55 PM EST reply actions

Five stars for Choice seems bizarre

I don’t like it at all. Norris and Green as four-star prospects also seems a touch optimistic. In general it feels like Goldstein is playing favorites with his sabermetric darling organizations again.

All of that said, the A’s farm is still looking pretty solid post-trade. Cole and Peacock are great additions. Looks like a strong future rotation for Oakland if even half their guys meet their potential.

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by OremLK on Jan 9, 2026 9:22 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed on the Choice and Green rankings

both are a bit optimistic in my opinion. Norris doesn’t seem unusual to me though, a good defender at C with patience and power is a pretty valuable player. That said, I feel like KG ignored all concerns with guys like Choice and Green and really dinged Parker/Peacock/Cole.

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by gatling on Jan 9, 2026 11:34 AM EST up reply actions

Renanto Nunez?

Where is Renanto Nunez on this list?

by aemrich on Jan 8, 2026 3:15 PM EST reply actions

If Vicmal's at 17

Then Nunez is rightfully off the list.

by stranahanahan on Jan 8, 2026 4:04 PM EST up reply actions

His 2011 season indicated that he has no relevant baseball skills

At this point he’s an athlete who might as well be a badminton player. Even in a bad system, that’s clearly not worth a top 20 spot.

"We don't want our people to be preoccupied with seminude, crazy men jumping up and down who are chasing an inflated object," said Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus, head of operations for the Hizbul Islam insurgent group.

by PaulThomas on Jan 8, 2026 6:51 PM EST up reply actions

Surely that's hyperbole

I mean, I agree it was not a good season by any means, but to say he has no relevant baseball skills? His wRC+ was 101, and he was 17.

by stranahanahan on Jan 9, 2026 1:48 AM EST up reply actions

We are using advance metrics in the DSL now too???

XandyMan Coming for you!!!!1

by DominicanDandy on Jan 9, 2026 1:54 AM EST up reply actions

still not why why guys like jermaine mitchell and josh donaldson are on these lists

yes they’re technically prospects, but they’re both old for their leagues, especially mitchell

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by guessatomo on Jan 8, 2026 9:44 PM EST reply actions

not sure why**

Hello, i am inigo montoya, you took my stadium, prepare to die

by guessatomo on Jan 8, 2026 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

Norris a 4-star?

I like that he has power, walks and has a strong arm but IDK about 4-stars.

XandyMan Coming for you!!!!1

by DominicanDandy on Jan 9, 2026 1:55 AM EST reply actions

Solid defensive catcher

with offensive potential? What’s not to like? I mean, I don’t think anyone would argue for him as a high 4 star, and he’d probably be on the low end, but that’s fairly valuable.

A cubs fan said to me they thought Norris was Carlos Pena offensively (a fair Norris offensive comp). I argued that Carlos Pena at catcher is fairly valuable.

by toonsterwu on Jan 9, 2026 3:55 PM EST up reply actions

The worry with Norris is that he won't hit .200 in the majors

No matter how good you are in other facets of your game, it is hard to stick in the majors as a position player if you can’t hit above that line. Although, if there is any organization which might allow it, it would be the A’s, I suppose.

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by OremLK on Jan 9, 2026 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

I’d say if there’s a position where you could perhaps get away with a sub-Mendoza line batting average, catcher would probably be it, provided you are solid defensively. If he shows discipline and power, I think that enhances his chances to get away with it.

by toonsterwu on Jan 9, 2026 7:42 PM EST up reply actions

Agree about Milone

I don’t see how anyone could put up the stats he put up last year - in the minors and in the majors - and not get top 20 recognition here. Just beyond me.

The wind is in the buffalo.

by journeymen on Jan 9, 2026 9:40 AM EST reply actions

Concur

He’d probably be 6th

by Matt0330 on Jan 9, 2026 11:04 AM EST up reply actions

KG is a self confessed velocity whore

by nixa37 on Jan 9, 2026 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

a quote from KG on Milone

“Fringy, fringy stuff”

He seems to hint that the velocity is not the only problem, but perhaps that his secondary pitches are also lacking… I hope the best for him, as an underdog, but he does remind me a bit of Jeremy Sowers…a bit more control than him as a prospect, but even lower velocity.

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by The Congo Hammer on Jan 9, 2026 8:03 PM EST up reply actions