MESA, Ariz. -- The Athletics have essentially finalized their Opening Day roster ahead of their first game of the season on Friday against the Blue Jays after their most recent edition of Spring Training roster cuts.
The battle for the final bullpen spot has been settled with J.T. Ginn, who entered camp competing for a spot in the rotation, making the club as a multi-inning/long reliever. The final bench spot goes to versatile infielder Darell Hernaiz, who could also see some time in the outfield this season.
Here is the A’s 26-man roster:
Catcher (2): Shea Langeliers, Austin Wynns
Langeliers remains entrenched as the A’s primary catcher coming off a career-best year, and he will continue that everyday role as long as he remains healthy. Wynns proved to be a quality backup last year before his season was cut short due to an abdominal strain. He entered spring fully healthy and will continue in that role.
First base (1): Nick Kurtz
The reigning American League Rookie of the Year, Kurtz returns looking to follow up on what was an incredible debut season and appears to be on the brink of superstardom as an elite hitter in his age-23 season.
Second base (1): Jeff McNeil
McNeil joined the A’s from the Mets via trade this offseason to further lengthen what was already an impressive lineup as a former batting champion. He brings the ability to play multiple positions, though the club expects him to be its primary second baseman.
Third base (1): Max Muncy
Muncy earned the starting third base job by performing as arguably the top A’s hitter of spring. More importantly, he showed steady improvement on defense at the hot corner, a position he never played with any sort of regularity as a professional before last season.
Shortstop (1): Jacob Wilson
Wilson finished runner-up to Kurtz in AL Rookie of the Year voting, was tied for the second-highest batting average (.311) in the Majors behind Aaron Judge and became the first fan-elected rookie shortstop to start the All-Star Game.
Outfield (4): Tyler Soderstrom, Denzel Clarke, Lawrence Butler, Carlos Cortes
Soderstrom moved from first base to left field last April and ended up a finalist for a Gold Glove Award in the AL. Clarke made several highlight-reel catches in center and could end up competing for his own Gold Glove over what is expected to be his first full season as a big leaguer. Butler got a late start to game action this spring due to finishing up his rehab process from offseason knee surgery. He will begin the season as the starting right fielder, though the A’s plan to limit his workload early in the season with some days off and designated hitter assignments.
Cortes, who represented Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, begins the year as a fourth outfielder who could see plenty of action off the bench and in right field as a left-handed option.
Utility (2): Darrell Hernaiz, Andy Ibáñez
Hernaiz boosted his stock this spring by performing well for Team Puerto Rico in the WBC and increased his versatility by playing some outfield. He’ll be the main backup to both Muncy and Wilson on the left side of the infield and a valuable option off the bench late in games. Ibáñez was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers just before the start of spring and is exactly the type of versatile player the A’s value with his veteran experience at third, second, first and in the outfield.
Designated hitter (1): Brent Rooker
Rooker appeared in all 162 games for the A’s last season, with 135 of those games (134 starts) coming as the DH. The rest came at the corner outfield spots, where he should get some time again this season.
Starting pitchers (5): Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, Luis Morales, Jacob Lopez, Aaron Civale
Severino and Springs anchor the rotation as established veterans. Morales and Lopez both flashed their upside as rookies last season. Civale joined the A's just before the start of camp on a one-year deal to shore up the rotation as a third experienced veteran of the group.
Relievers (8): J.T. Ginn, Luis Medina, Hogan Harris, Justin Sterner, Michael Kelly, Elvis Alvarado, Mark Leiter Jr., Scott Barlow
The A’s will go closer by committee, at least to start, with newcomers Barlow and Leiter expected to be key parts of the late-inning formula along with Alvarado, Kelly, Sterner and Harris. Medina, who is returning from Tommy John surgery, was touching 99 mph in spring games. He and Ginn both provide length as former starters.