WEST SACRAMENTO – The return of J.T. Ginn from the injured list for the Athletics in Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Angels at Sutter Health Park served as a reminder of the unsettled back end of their rotation, which could soon present an opportunity for fast-rising young right-hander Luis Morales.
Following a dominant start to his 2025 campaign at Double-A Midland, Morales was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday night. Through his first eight starts with the Rockhounds, the A’s No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline has posted a 2.98 ERA with 53 strikeouts and 15 walks across 42 1/3 innings.
Morales impressed manager Mark Kotsay in Spring Training, both when he was called up from Minor League camp for a Feb. 25 appearance against the Giants in which he fired several fastballs that touched 97 mph and again in Spring Breakout with two hitless innings.
After going through an up-and-down 2024 season with High-A Lansing, where he posted a 4.22 ERA in 22 starts, the key to Morales’ hot start this year has been the development of his changeup. It’s a pitch the A’s felt he wasn’t utilizing enough last season and encouraged him to throw more this spring. That usage has led to him gaining a strong three-pitch mix along with his electric fastball and nasty slider.
"Last year in Lansing, you could see this changeup starting to come, but he was kind of fighting how much he was going to throw it,” A’s special assistant to the GM Grady Fuson said on A’s Cast last week. “We got him throwing it and using in Spring Training, so now he’s got a legit three-pitch [mix].”
Of course, Morales is not quite yet a finished product.
"I think he needs to tighten the consistency of his slider a little bit,” Fuson said. “Sometimes it gets flat and sweepy. Sometimes it’s sharp. The flat and sweeping one from his type of arm action can be an easy look for a hitter. But he’s throwing hard and he’s healthy. He’s in a good spot right now.”
While Morales has earned a chance to sharpen those tools at the next level, the A’s will continue their search to identify which two pitchers can round out a rotation that features stalwarts in Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs and JP Sears. Osvaldo Bido and Joey Estes got the first chance to fill those final two spots, but both are now in Triple-A Las Vegas as rookies Ginn and Gunnar Hoglund (A’s No. 14 prospect) get their opportunities.
"I think both these young starters, Hoglund and J.T., have that opportunity in front of them to establish themselves,” Kotsay said. “We have a lot of confidence in their abilities, for sure. They just have to go out and execute and perform. They do have the stuff to pitch here and be in the rotation.”
Ginn turned in a so-so outing on Monday. Coming back from a right elbow issue for his first Major League start since April 24, the right-hander racked up seven strikeouts and did not issue a walk. However, a pair of costly homers surrendered to Nolan Schanuel and Taylor Ward, as well as long at-bats, led to his departure after just four innings at 79 pitches.
"The strikeouts are something you look for in an outing,” Kotsay said. “The one pitch he wants back is a hanging breaking ball to Ward there. … Overall, first outing back, I thought he did a nice job.”
Ginn has performed well enough to continue getting looks at the Major League level for the A’s. The same can be said for Hoglund, who is set to take the mound on Tuesday holding a 3.78 ERA over his first three big league starts. But the A’s know that they will likely have to dip into their Minor League pitching depth again for starts at some point this year. That’s just the nature of a 162-game season.
"I’ve always said that any time you’re in Double-A, it puts you on the radar to help the big league club at some point,” A’s general manager David Forst said on Friday. “As long as they pitch well, they’re going to be considered to move up.”