OAKLAND -- Considering his performance as a late-season callup in 2022, Jordan Diaz was optioned down from big league camp this spring a little earlier than most would have expected. But make no mistake, the A’s are still very high on the 22-year-old infielder.

Diaz, Oakland’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline, relished the opportunity to represent his home country of Colombia in the World Baseball Classic. The A’s were supportive of his participation in the international tournament, but one downside was the limited looks they saw of him in Spring Training. Still, the sample size was a positive one. Over seven Cactus League games, Diaz went 7-for-18 (.389) with two doubles and three RBIs.

Mostly due to a strong depth of infield talent that already exists at the Major League level, Diaz began the season at Triple-A Las Vegas, where he’ll get an opportunity to play every day and will likely shift around positions between second base, third and first. As soon as a need for an infielder in Oakland arises, expect Diaz to be one of the club’s first options called upon.

“That’s another player who in his short time here before he left, showed us that he took what we asked him to do in the offseason and really did a great job with it,” manager Mark Kotsay said of Diaz. “He’s a guy I can see quickly ascend up here, too.”

Triple-A Las Vegas
Cody Thomas kicked his season off with a bang by becoming the first player in Las Vegas Aviators history to hit for the cycle. The outfielder capped the four-hit, four-RBI day on Friday with a two-run triple to complete the historic feat.

Double-A Midland
Season begins April 6.

Expected Top 30 prospects on the Rockhounds’ roster include outfielders Lawrence Butler (No. 10) and Denzel Clarke (No. 12), third baseman Brett Harris (No. 15) and infielders Logan Davidson (No. 26) and Darell Hernaiz (No. 17).

High-A Lansing
Season begins April 7.

Expected Top 30 prospects on the Lugnuts’ roster include catcher Daniel Susac (No. 7), infielders Max Muncy (No. 9) and Euribiel Angeles (No. 27) and outfielder Henry Bolte (No. 13).

Single-A Stockton
Season begins April 6.

Expected Top 30 prospects on the Ports’ roster include outfielders Clark Elliott (No. 18), Colby Thomas (No. 21), Brayan Buelvas (No. 25) and Pedro Pineda (No. 30).