Happy Wednesday A’s fans.
Last night, the World Baseball Classic came to a dramatic conclusion with Venezuela scoring the go-ahead run in the ninth inning to defeat the USA 3-2. Now that the appetizer is over, it’s time for the main course: the 2026 regular season.
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Today marks the last day off Athletics players and coaches will get to enjoy in Arizona as spring training is nearing its finish line. After yesterday’s 6-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox, the A’s only have five Cactus League games remaining with a final matchup against the White Sox on Monday. Following that game’s conclusion, the 26 players selected for the A’s Opening Day roster will travel to Toronto for final preparations before the season opener against the Toronto Blue Jays a week from Friday.
Currently, 34 players remain in the A’s camp. Manager Mark Kotsay’s roster appears pretty much set, although the team will have to make some decisions regarding their bench and bullpen. With Max Muncy the favorite to start at third base and Andy Ibànez likely in the multi-position, utility role, either Zack Gelof and/or Darell Hernáiz may begin the season at Triple-A. Moving to the grass, right-handed batter Colby Thomas seems like the best fit as the fourth outfielder. Thomas can start occasionally in addition to coming off the bench to pinch hit for left-handed starters Lawrence Butler or Tyler Soderstrom when the A’s opponent brings a tough left-handed pitcher into the game. Alternatively, that role could go to left-handed hitter Carlos Cortes, who brings less power, but more on-base ability.
The A’s also have to sort out their pitching staff. The team should put Luis Medina in its bullpen as another team would surely claim the out-of-options pitcher if he is designated for assignment. Do you think J.T. Ginn and Jack Perkins should join him as bullpen options or should they open the year in Triple-A as starting pitchers? Will there be a surprise inclusion on the A’s Opening Day roster? If so, who?
In addition to the final few spring games, the third annual Spring Breakout, a recently started tradition of teams’ top prospects competing against their counterparts from other organization, happens this weekend. The A’s top prospects will play the Milwaukee Brewers’ rising stars on Sunday, a tantalizing matchup featuring several notable youngsters. Given their rankings and pedigree, the majority of the attention will be on Leo De Vries and Jesus Made, two of the best prospects in the league. De Vries will team up with fellow A’s top prospects, outfielder Henry Bolte and left-handed pitchers Gage Jump and Jamie Arnold, the quartet all looking to cap off impressive spring performances.
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Bryce Harper with one of the biggest swings of his professional baseball career. If former A’s closer Mason Miller had pitched the ninth instead of Garrett Whitlock, that game would have probably remained tied going into the bottom of the ninth inning.
It was nice of the A’s to acknowledge these two legendary local sports reporters, who illustriously covered the team for so many years. I was lucky enough to meet Dave Newhouse at a book store event. He was a wealth of historical knowledge and eloquently (if a bit bitterly) documented the successive exodus of major sports teams from Oakland.
Max Muncy has had a great spring offensively. The team needs him to keep hitting consistently in the regular season and more importantly reduce the amount of defensive mistakes at third base.