The Athletics were hampered by several major injuries to an up-and-coming lineup this season. Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and Tyler Soderstrom all missed significant time. An offense that ranked 12th in scoring in 2025 slipped to 20th in 2026.
The absences in the middle of the order opened up playing time for a handful of inexperienced bats. The A’s got a good look at several players who could contribute in 2027, even when everyone is healthy. Here’s a look at each young hitter and where they might fit in the plans for next season.
Bolte repeated Triple-A to begin the year, but quickly proved too talented for the level. He slashed .348/.418/.658 with a dozen homers and 17 steals across 37 games with Las Vegas. Bolte was promoted for his big-league debut in mid-May. He got off to an uninspiring start, carrying a .690 OPS into the All-Star Break.
The former second-round pick took off over the final two months of the season. Bolte hit .307 with eight homers and nine steals from August on. He scored 37 runs in 52 games as a reliable table setter in the leadoff spot. Bolte sprinted through the finish line of his rookie season with a .945 OPS in September.
Bolte wasn’t just a major contributor with the bat. He also posted 5 Defensive Runs Saved in center field. The strong debut campaign, and particularly the sizzling stretch to close the season, likely earned Bolte the Opening Day gig in center field next year.
After tapping into a bit more power in the minors, Kuroda-Grauer got a chance to earn everyday reps in the A’s infield at the end of June. He was tremendous over a brief sample, posting a 146 wRC+ across 21 games. An unfortunate below-the-belt injury cost him two months in the second half.
It’s a shame Kuroda-Grauer didn’t get a longer stint in the majors. His high-contact, minimal-power approach isn’t super popular in today’s game, but could fit nicely among the A’s sluggers. He also brings experience at second base, third base, and shortstop. Kuroda-Grauer brings the type of versatility the club has leaned on guys like Jeff McNeil, Donovan Walton, and Max Muncy for, but with potentially more offensive upside. He’ll probably open the year with Las Vegas.
‘Tommy Tanks’ joined the club after the All-Star Break. He recorded a .600 OPS in 56 games as a regular at first and third base. White hasn’t shown the typical power of a corner infielder, especially one with a cool nickname. He hit 10 homers in 76 minor league games this year. He went deep a dozen times between High-A and Double-A last season. White posted a .328 SLG and a .074 ISO in 195 plate appearances with the A’s.
The fit is difficult for White. Kurtz will soak up the majority of the reps at first base. Rooker is the everyday DH, with Langeliers occasionally slotting there when he isn’t behind the plate. Zack Gelof is locked in at third base after a resurgent 2026 campaign. White probably needs more injuries to get another look in 2027.
A foot injury limited Clarke to 40 games this year. He was the club’s Opening Day center fielder, but was sidelined from May through August. Even with Bolte’s emergence, the runway would’ve been there for Clarke to prove he could hit at the major-league level. He just couldn’t stay on the field.
When Clarke was available, he struggled mightily at the plate. He scuffled to a .409 OPS across 87 plate appearances. Clarke now has a 49 wRC+ over parts of two MLB seasons. He was still a plus defender in center field, but Bolte has cruised by him on the depth chart. His path to a big-league role is probably as a fourth outfielder/defensive replacement.
Cheating here a bit, as Cortes isn’t a young hitter. But he’s young in terms of MLB experience. Cortes earned his first opportunity in the big leagues in the second half of 2025. He broke camp with the club this season and spent the whole year on the roster. Cortes recorded a 93 wRC+ across 381 plate appearances, the majority of which came against right-handed pitching.
Cortes actually had a better OPS in his brief opportunities against lefties (.757) than in a much larger sample versus righties (.711). Those splits were flipped in 2025, so there’s hope he can be a viable platoon bat. The issue is his defensive limitations. Cortes posted -9 Defensive Runs Saved in 91 appearances at the corner outfield spots. He’s probably a DH-only option, but the A’s already have that spot covered. Even if he could play the outfield, there isn’t a viable platoon partner. Both of the starting corner outfielders (Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler) are left-handed hitters. Clarke, despite his lack of offense, might make more sense for the final bench spot.
Photo courtesy of Sergio Estrada, Imagn Images