Olson, Barreto ranked among Top 100 Prospects
Slugging first baseman, shortstop acquired from Blue Jays named to MLBPipeline.com's list
OAKLAND -- MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list was released Friday, revealing two from the A's organization: first baseman Matt Olson and shortstop Franklin Barreto.
Olson placed 73rd on the list, with Barreto coming in at No. 85. The pair of prospects gave the A's 44 prospect points, ranking 26th among the 30 clubs. Prospect points are assigned to each ranked player as follows: 100 for No. 1, 99 for No. 2, 98 for No. 3, etc.
The annual ranking of baseball's Top 100 Prospects is assembled by MLBPipeline.com Draft and prospect experts Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis, who compile input from industry sources, including scouts and scouting directors. It is based on analysis of players' skill sets, upsides, proximity to the Majors and potential immediate impact to their teams. The list, which is one of several prospect rankings on MLBPipeline.com's Prospect Watch, only includes players with rookie status in 2015. Team-by-team Top 30 Prospects lists for 2015 will be unveiled in March.
Mayo: Breaking down the Top 100 | Callis: Best tools in the Top 100
Barreto, the key to the shocking November trade that sent All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson to the Blue Jays, is seen as Oakland's shortstop of the future -- a title that used to belong to Daniel Robertson, shipped to Tampa Bay this month, and, before that, Addison Russell, who was traded to the Cubs in a midseason blockbuster that brought Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the A's last year.
Russell was Oakland's lone representative on last year's Top 100 list, at No. 12.
Barreto is just 18 and won't see big league action for some time, but the A's project him to get there quicker than most. The 5-foot-9 speedster hit .311/.384/.481 with six home runs and 61 RBIs in 328 plate appearances for the Blue Jays' short-season Class A affiliate, Vancouver, last year. Barreto also stole 29 bases.
Video: Top Prospects: Franklin Barreto, SS, Athletics
Olson, 20, spent the year at Class A Advanced Stockton, batting .262/.404/.543. A first-round pick by Oakland in 2012, he led the California League in home runs (37), runs (111), total bases (278) and walks (117), and also posted 97 RBIs.
Olson was recently projected by Mayo as the 2015 Minor League home run champion.