Top 5 A’s prospects: Franklin Barreto oozes athleticism

Throughout the offseason, Paste BN Sports Weekly will be profiling the top five prospects from each major league team as part of its Organizational Reports series.

This week: the Oakland Athletics.

1. Franklin Barreto, SS-2B: An athletic infielder, Barreto hits for a solid batting average (.284 in 2016) with quick hands and bat. The 20-year-old improved his walk rate and has solid range in the field but could improve defensively. He’s ready for Class AAA.

2. Matt Chapman, 3B: Chapman, 23, led the Class AA Texas League with 29 home runs as well as 147 strikeouts. He has trouble with breaking balls, and his long swing can be exploited. But he also draws a ton of walks with a keen eye. A very good defender, he could get time in Oakland in 2017.

3. A.J. Puk, LHP: Tall (6-7) and projectable, Puk throws his fastball from an effective downhill angle that results in lots of strikeouts (40 in 32 2/3 innings). He backs it up with a hard slider. Still relatively raw at 21, Puk will need to prove he can pitch deep into games. He will get his first taste of full-season ball at low Class A.

4. Grant Holmes, RHP: Though his strikeout rate dropped from previous seasons (8.3 K/9 in high A; was 10.2 in low A), Holmes has the repertoire to front a rotation. Holmes, 20, has a hard curveball and a strong frame to hold velocity deep into games.

5. Jharel Cotton, RHP: Cotton, 24, is a short (5-11), ultra-athletic starter who led the Class AAA Pacific Coast League with 155 strikeouts and then pitched well in five September starts for the A’s. He keeps walks to a minimum by commanding his heavy fastball to both sides of plate and has two breaking balls and an above-average changeup.

Excerpted from BaseballHQ.com’s 2017 Minor League Baseball Analyst. To order: Baseballhq.com/mlba2017