Spring Training is fast approaching, but would you believe that we only just passed the midway point between Game 7 of the World Series and the first spring games? Time flies.

Anyway, MLB Pipeline is running a series ranking baseball’s top prospects by position. They began with right-handed starting pitchers on Monday and while the Athletics didn’t have any prospects named then, they did in fact get two names today when MLB released the top left-handed prospects in the game.

Lefties Jamie Arnold, the team’s #1 draft pick last year at #11 overall, and Gage Jump, the team’s second-round pick in 2024, were named as two of the top southpaws in the minor leagues this upcoming season, coming in ranked as the #6 and #9 top lefty prospects in the sport, respectively. The A’s are one of three teams with two left-handed starting prospects who cracked this year’s top-10, joining the Miami Marlins and Boston Red Sox that have accumulated some quality lefty pitching.

Arnold of course ranks as the team’s #2 ranked prospect behind shortstop Leo De Vries. He possesses a strong fastball that can run up to the high-90’s when he wants, and he pairs that with an above-average slider that needs more consistency and a developing changeup. The funky left-hander has drawn comparisons to another ace left-hander in Chris Sale thanks to both player’s sidearm deliveries. That would be a fantastic get for the A’s, though they may have to wait a bit before seeing him take the mound in the Green & Gold.

Looks pretty close to an exact replica of Sale, right?

Set to turn 22 years old just before the start of the season, Arnold didn’t make it into any pro games after signing last year but there’s no indication that was due to any sort of injury. He’ll likely begin the year in the lower minors, perhaps as far up as High-A depending on how aggressive the Athletics’ front office wants to be with his development. With as good as he is though it wouldn’t be a shock to see him reach Double-A, or heck even Triple-A near the end of this coming season. That would put a 2027 debut well within reach for the promising lefty.

Jump isn’t any prospect to sneeze at in his own right. The A’s #3 ranked prospect, Jump began his pro career at High-A himself last year and impressed in his first six games there. That’s all it took for the A’s front office to decide a promotion was in order and Jump ended up spending most of last year at Double-A Midland. There he ran into some stiffer competition but still held his own as a 22-year-old at that level with a 3.64 ERA in 20 games.

Jump is, obviously, a year ahead of Arnold so it’s entirely possible we see him in the big leagues at some point this season. He made a successful “jump” (don’t throw things) to Double-A but the A’s may want to see him start the year at that level again to begin this coming year. Already a Tommy John survivor, Jump’s pitching style elevates his repertoire, which includes a fastball and a slider/curveball combo, with a developing changeup mixed in here and there.

Both left-handers are expected to be there when pitchers and catchers report to the A’s, which is roughly one month away. The A’s have done well to develop their position player core, and if these two can live up to their sky-high potentials then the A’s will be title contenders before we know it. Glad to know others in the know think so as well. Exciting times!

Now go out there and have a great day A’s fans!

Here is a depth chart of all the minor league signings the A’s have made this winter:

Plenty of those spots are already accounted for, but there could be room for another addition to the group:

Always fun to remember how dominant Blake Treinen was for us in 2018: