We’re turning our attention to the Athletics, a system that has quietly reshaped its farm through a mix of trades, international signings, and recent draft picks. Over the past few years, the A’s found success developing position players including Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, Brent Rooker, among others. The same level of success has not yet extended to the pitching side, but that trend could soon change.
With the 2025 additions of arms like Jamie Arnold, Braden Nett, and Henry Baez, the Athletics now have a diverse group of young pitchers that can come up and compliment their hitting core.
Let’s dive into the Athletics’ top prospects below.
Leo De Vries
Leo De Vries was the top international signee of the 2024 class, earning a $4.2 million bonus from the San Diego Padres. He quickly climbed prospect rankings before being traded to the Athletics in the Mason Miller deal, where he immediately became the centerpiece of the farm system.
A switch-hitting shortstop from the Dominican Republic, De Vries joins a very small group of prospects who have reached Double-A at age 18 including Bryce Harper, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Jackson Chourio.
Since joining the Athletics, De Vries has produced at every level. In 2025, he posted an ISO at or above .250 across High-A and Double-A while facing competition that was, on average, four to six years older. He finished the season slashing .255/.355/.451 with 15 home runs and 11 stolen bases, showing a promising blend of power and speed. Reports of plus bat speed and impressive exit velocities have followed him since his amateur days. The power is already evident in his highlight-reel home runs and should continue to improve as he matures physically.
According to our Prospect Barrel Rate Tool, De Vries recorded a 10.2% barrel rate in Double-A this season, showcasing the level of game power he can already produce.
For De Vries to reach his ceiling as a top-tier shortstop, his hit tool will need to be at least average. Encouragingly, he has improved both his contact rate and swinging-strike rate at each level. With his bat speed, approach adjustments, and performance relative to age, he projects to carry an average to above-average hit tool in the majors.
Tool Comparison
Using our internal tool grades, De Vries profiles similarly to a mix of established MLB shortstops in terms of balance across hit, power, discipline, and speed grades.
De Vries currently grades in the 50–55 range across most tools, with a ceiling similar to Gunnar Henderson as he matures. His athleticism and switch-hitting skill set also draw comparisons to Francisco Lindor, though De Vries shows more power at a younger age.
Fantasy Outlook
De Vries is a premium dynasty prospect with All-Star upside. His age-relative production, raw power, and shortstop profile place him among the best prospects of the past decade. At his peak he projects as a 25+ home run hitter with a .260 to .280 batting average and balanced five-category potential. While not a burner on the basepaths, he should be capable of stealing double-digit bases. Expect De Vries to begin 2026 in Double-A with the goal to have him eligible for a 2027 ROTY award.
Gage Jump
Gage Jump was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of LSU. Since joining the organization, Jump has quickly emerged as one of Oakland’s most exciting young arms, blending deception and power stuff from the left side.
Jump may not have a prototypical workhorse frame at 6-foot, 200 pounds, but he still generates high-end velocity. Working from an over-the-top arm slot, he drops deep into his back leg to create strong velocity and ride on his fastball. He does an excellent job keeping his front side closed and hides the ball until release, making it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball. The deception adds to his pitch effectiveness and helps his entire arsenal play up.
His fastball is a true plus pitch, sitting in the mid-90s and topping out at 99–100 mph. It looks to have little to no horizontal tail and is a likely a plus IVB fastball. His slider and curveball are two other potential plus pitches to compliment his fastball. His curveball has a mix of good vertical and horizontal movement while the slider sits in the mid-80s seems with different shapes at times.
Across High-A and Double-A in 2025, Jump posted a 3.28 ERA with 131 strikeouts in 112.1 innings, holding opponents to a .213 batting average while maintaining a 7% walk rate. His combination of velocity, command gains, and mound poise has made him one of the most advanced arms in Oakland’s system.
Comparison
With his arm angle, fastball life, and advanced breaking stuff, Jump draws comparisons to Robbie Ray. Both stay closed early in their deliveries and create natural deception by hiding the ball through release. While Jump’s slider velocity is lower than Ray’s 87–88 mph average, it still projects as a plus offering.
Fantasy Outlook
From a fantasy perspective, Jump fits the mold of a high-strikeout lefty with impact potential. His fastball velocity, breaking ball depth, and deception suggest a pitcher capable of above-average strikeout rates with solid ratios once fully developed. His trajectory and likely 2026 ETA make him a sneaky dynasty target in deeper formats. If his curveball and slider continue to sharpen and his changeup becomes a reliable fourth option, Jump could grow into a top-of-the-rotation arm for a franchise currently seeking high-upside starters.
Henry Bolte
Henry Bolte was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Palo Alto High School for a $2 million bonus. Standing 6-foot-3 with a lean frame and twitchy movements, he quickly became one of the most toolsy outfielders in Oakland’s system.
In 114 games across Double-A and Triple-A, Bolte slashed .284/.385/.427 while stealing 44 bases and hitting nine home runs. At Triple-A, his 11.3% walk rate and 24.9% chase rate showcased improved zone discipline, though his 32.6% strikeout rate raises legitimate hit tool concerns. Even with the contact issues, Bolte’s production earned him a Futures Game appearance and the honor of being named Athletics 2025 Minor League Player of the Year.
Bolte has an explosive swing with great torque that should help him maximize his power, though the aggressiveness in his swing can lead to swing and miss. Watching his video brings to mind former Brewers prospect Joey Wiemer. Both possess plus raw power and speed, but their limitations with contact have dictated how far their profiles carry. Bolte’s elite speed and athleticism should allow him to stay in center field and handle all three outfield spots when needed.
Tool Comparisons
Using our internal tool grade, Bolte profiles similarly to a mix of power-speed players who impact the game in multiple ways.
Bolte’s range of outcomes depends heavily on how his hit tool develops. His ceiling resembles Luis Robert Jr., a player capable of great peaks but who has struggled with year-to-year consistency with his floor being that of a part-time or platoon player.
Fantasy Outlook
In dynasty leagues, Bolte is a boom-or-bust prospect. He offers multi-category upside with power and speed but remains a risk due to contact concerns. If he can trim the strikeouts and maintain his plate discipline, he could develop into an exciting everyday contributor. If not, his role may settle into a platoon or part-time player. Expect Bolte to spend most of 2026 in Triple-A and be on the call-up radar if injuries or performance struggles open a spot in Oakland’s outfield.
Braden Nett
Originally signed by the Padres as an undrafted free agent out of community college, Braden Nett was acquired by the Athletics in the Mason Miller trade. Listed at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Nett has a projectable frame and an athletic arm action that continues to trend in the right direction.
His fastball and curveball are both plus offerings, forming the foundation of his arsenal. The fastball touches the high 90s while the curveball is a high-spin breaker with sharp vertical depth. Together they form a legitimate two-pitch mix capable of missing bats at any level. Nett also mixes in a slider and cutter, both of which project as future major-league pitches. His changeup is used sparingly but flashes as a usable pitch when he commands it effectively. Once Triple-A pitch data becomes available we should get a clear picture idea about his pitch shapes.
In 2025, Nett logged a career-high 105.2 innings, putting him in position to handle a full starter’s workload in 2026. With another year of development, Nett could be on track to make a late-season debut in 2026 if the Athletics need reinforcements down the stretch in the rotation or the bullpen.
Fantasy Outlook
From a fantasy standpoint, Nett has the ceiling of mid-rotation starter and floor of a reliever and needs to prove he can handle a season’s workload. The fastball-curveball pairing already plays at a major-league level out of the bullpen. Refinement of the slider-cutter combination gives him a wider arsenal to succeed as a starter. If his changeup gains consistency and command continue to improve, Nett could grow into one of the more valuable young arms in the As’ system. Fantasy managers should monitor him throughout 2026, as he has the potential to emerge as a late season streaming option.
Wei-En Lin
Wei-En Lin is an under-the-radar arm in the Athletics organization. The Taiwanese right-hander combines advanced pitchability and a refined three-pitch mix built around one of the best changeups in the system. At just 19 years old and listed at 6-foot-1, 179 pounds, Lin has a loose and repeatable delivery that should allow him to add velocity as he matures.
Lin’s pitch mix features a fastball, changeup, and curveball, with the changeup standing out as his best offering. It features strong velocity separation from the fastball and heavy arm-side fade, allowing him to miss barrels and neutralize right-handers.
His fastball sits 91–93 mph with late arm-side life, and there is room for added velocity as his strength develops. His curveball has moderate depth and shape, serving as a usable third pitch to change eye levels, though it is not currently projected as a plus pitch.
The fastball-changeup pairing gives Lin a solid foundation and helps him generate weak contact even without premium velocity. His smooth mechanics and command help him fill the strike zone consistently. For Lin to take another step forward and become fantasy-relevant, he will need either a velocity bump or a sharper breaking ball to better handle left-handed hitters and generate more swing and miss.
Fantasy Outlook
From a fantasy perspective, Lin profiles as a command-first starter with back-end rotation potential. The fastball-changeup combination is advanced enough to carry him up the minors. If the fastball velocity ticks up or the curveball gains more bite, Lin could rise quickly on organizational rankings. For now, he remains a developmental arm who can be monitored but left off fantasy rosters.
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