MESA, Ariz. – The A’s have drawn attention over the past year or so for trading away many of their top prospects.
One position where they aren’t lacking for talent up and down the organization is third base, and that’s quite a contrast to just a few years ago. From the time Eric Chavez played his last full season with the A’s in 2006 until Josh Donaldson emerged as an All-Star in 2013, the position essentially was a black hole for the team at both the major league and minor league levels.
Do the names Kevin Kouzmanoff, Jack Hannahan, Adam Kennedy and Jeff Baisley ring a bell? Those are just a few of the names the A’s cycled through in search of a long-term answer at third.
Times have changed. Two of the A’s top four prospects as ranked by Baseball America are third basemen – Matt Chapman and Renato Nunez – and others also are impressing at the position. At the major league level, the A’s are confident that Brett Lawrie can capably fill Donaldson’s shoes if he stays healthy. But they also feel good about the future at the hot corner.
“I can’t say it’s something we’ve focused on to bring in,” assistant general manager David Forst said. “(But) there were years for us that it wasn’t an easy spot to fill. After Chavvy left, it took a long time to get to the point where we had Josh playing there every day. It’s nice to know there’s some support there.”
Chapman, Oakland’s first-round pick last June (25th overall) out of Cal State Fullerton, will start at Single-A Stockton this season when he recovers from a knee injury. Chapman sprained the Lateral Collateral Ligament in his left knee during a workout in late February and will be sidelined a few more weeks, but the injury isn’t considered a long-term concern.
Chapman, 21, has such a strong arm at third that he actually helped Team USA on the mound in 2013, and A’s scouting director Eric Kubota predicted Chapman can be an “elite defender” after he was drafted. He hit just .237 in 50 games last year with low Single-A Beloit after he signed, but the A’s think he’ll raise that average and develop power.
“Great kid, pro makeup, a gamer,” A’s special assistant Grady Fuson said. “He’s special defensively, and he’s got the raw power. There’s just things hitting(wise) that have to be tweaked to make sure that power plays out.”
A’s manager Bob Melvin has gotten an up-close look at Nunez over the past two spring camps and likes the poise he sees in the 20-year-old Venezuelan. After hitting .279 and clubbing 29 homers last season with Single-A Stockton, Nunez will get a stiffer challenge with Double-A Midland, as Texas League ballparks aren’t as welcoming for hitters as those in the California League. But Nunez tattoed the left field scoreboard at Hohokam Stadium in an early-spring batting practice session, wowing Melvin and others with his power.
The question with Nunez is his defense. But although there’s thought that a move to first base could be in his future, Forst said the A’s will give him an opportunity to develop at third.
“He’s really worked hard, and that’s essentially what you want to see from a young player,” Forst said. “If he’s committed to working at it and getting better, you want to give him every chance over there to succeed.”
But the A’s system is deep enough at third that there will be shuffling. Nunez will get some DH at-bats for Midland because the A’s also want to give Ryon Healy more looks at third. Fuson calls the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Healy the most improved third baseman in the system. Like fellow farm hand Max Muncy, Healy has spent much of his time at first base and is trying to master third.
The A’s like to have their young position players be as versatile as possible, and that’s especially true with the third base surplus, Forst said.
“It is a good spot to have some extras."
