This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
The A’s identified several players last season whom they believe will form their next core of winning baseball at the Major League level with the arrival of top prospects such as Zack Gelof, Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler, but there are still a few areas that remain without a true established starter. That leaves some competitions to sort out those jobs in Spring Training, with potential candidates who exist outside of their 40-man roster.
So far, the A’s have announced 22 players that will be joining the team in big league camp as non-roster invitees, and a few more players could be added over the next few weeks.
Here is a look at the non-roster players invited to A’s camp and who might have a shot to earn a role out of Spring Training:
PITCHERS
Right-handers: Stevie Emanuels, Tyler Ferguson, Vinny Nittoli, Jack Perkins, Billy Sullivan, Shohei Tomioka
Left-handers: Easton Lucas, Jack O’Loughlin, Domingo Robles
Perkins, who is ranked the A’s No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is coming off a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League in which he did not allow an earned run over 10 appearances after going 4-3 with a 4.10 ERA in 22 games (20 starts) with 93 strikeouts and 47 walks across 107 2/3 innings between High-A Lansing and Double-A Midland during the regular season. O’Loughlin is an intriguing lefty who began his professional career in the Australian Baseball League in 2016 as a 16-year-old shortly after signing with the Tigers. He reached Triple-A in Detroit’s system last season and combined for a 3.99 ERA in 27 games (25 starts) with 118 strikeouts and 52 walks across 124 innings between High-A and Triple-A.
POSITION PLAYERS
Infielders: Armando Alvarez, Cooper Bowman, Brett Harris, Drew Lugbauer, Max Muncy, Hoy Park, Jacob Wilson
The A’s will get a close look at Wilson, who was selected sixth overall in last year’s MLB Draft and impressed during his stint at High-A Lansing. Lugbauer is a power-hitting first baseman who has amassed 112 home runs over six Minor League seasons, including 25 last year in the Braves’ system between Double-A and Triple-A. Alvarez had a strong year in the Giants’ system at Triple-A Sacramento, slashing .308/.379/.581 with 18 homers, 15 doubles and 58 RBIs in 74 games.
Outfielders: Daz Cameron, Jeisson Rosario, Max Schuemann
The son of former All-Star outfielder Mike Cameron, Daz joins the A’s in camp after spending all of 2023 with Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate, where he hit .268 with 16 homers, 23 doubles, 67 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 110 games.
Catchers: Kyle McCann, Yohel Pozo, Daniel Susac
McCann nearly made the Opening Day roster last season as the A’s backup catcher until the club signed veteran Carlos Pérez during the final week of Spring Training. Instead, McCann spent the year at Triple-A Las Vegas, where he slashed .270/.351/.474 with 17 home runs, 17 doubles and 57 RBIs in 97 games. Pozo, who split time with McCann behind the plate last season at Triple-A, hit .306 with 18 homers and 81 RBIs in 92 games. Susac, Oakland’s first-round selection in the 2022 MLB Draft and No. 4 prospect, will get valuable development time.