The A’s first-round pick will grab most of the attention on draft day, but the real value could show up later. In the second and third rounds, Oakland has a chance to land players who may not carry the same buzz as the headliners, but still bring real upside.
A few names have already been tied to the A’s at the top of the board, including Chris Hacopian, Tyler Bell, Hunter Dietz, Ryder Helfrick and Justin Lebron. Those are all first-round types, and Helfrick and Lebron in particular are viewed as close to MLB-ready, with the kind of ceiling that could get them to the big leagues as soon as next season.
But the draft doesn’t stop after Round 1, and that’s where things get interesting for Oakland.
One player to watch is Peyton Bonds, the Rutgers outfielder and nephew of Bay Area legend Barry Bonds. Bonds showed off big-time pop at the MLB Draft Combine, where he posted a 113 max EV and multiple 110s. He’s listed as the 81st-ranked prospect in the class and brings a 55-grade hit tool, 50-grade run, 50-grade arm and 60-grade fielding.
Bonds also fits the kind of profile that can tempt a team to go underslot early. He’s projected as a third- or fourth-round possibility for the A’s, and his frame jumps off the page at 6-5 and 230 pounds.
He hit .352 in his senior season and paired that with strong bat-to-ball skills for a player his size. The raw power is obvious, and while he’s an aggressive swinger, he really limits strikeouts.
Oakland has also shown some familiarity with Rutgers talent, with Ryan Lasko and current A’s rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer both coming out of the program in recent years.
Another arm with serious upside is Savion Sims, the 6-foot-8 high school right-hander from Prestonwood Christian in Texas. Sims is the 85th-ranked prospect and is only 19, which makes him one of the more intriguing development bets in the class.
The stuff is loud. Sims owns a 70-grade fastball, routinely reaches triple digits, and backs it up with a slider.
His pitch mix is identical to Mason Miller's and is also similar to likely top-10 selection Jackson Flora. The concern is command, since he carries just a 45-grade control grade.
Still, if the A’s development group can sharpen that part of his game, Sims has the kind of arm that could turn into a scary reliever in a few seasons.
In Other News...
Injuries Cant Hide Whats Really Sunk The As Season
The Athletics reached the All-Star break at 41-55, and the reasons for the slide go well beyond the usual midseason injury excuses. Yes, the club has spent stretches without important pieces, but the deeper problem has been an offense that never found enough consistency to support the rest of the roster, especially away from home.
Oaklands road struggles have been so severe that they have become the defining feature of the season, and they have left Mark Kotsay and his staff searching for answers they have not found. Even in a division where other clubs have hovered around .500, the As have fallen behind in a way that suggests the issue is bigger than who is or is not available on a given night. [Read more 🡒]
A's Make A Pitching Shakeup Fans Saw Coming
The Athletics moved on from pitching coach Scott Emerson after a season in which the staff never found much stability, a decision that had been building for weeks as the clubs run prevention continued to unravel. Oaklands pitching issues have been impossible to ignore, with the staff sitting last in the American League in ERA and the rotation repeatedly unable to give the team consistent innings or dependable results.
Dan Hubbs will take over as interim pitching coach for the rest of the 2026 season, giving the As a new voice in a department that has been under pressure from the start. Emersons exit ends a long run in the organization that stretched back to 2003 and included time as the major league pitching coach since 2017, but the larger question now is whether a change on the staff can help a group that has spent most of the year chasing answers. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Rumors Hint Another A's Veteran Could Be Trade Bait
The Yankees search for a right-handed bat behind the plate has put a few familiar names into the deadline mix, and Jonah Heim is one of the catchers drawing attention. A former All-Star and Gold Glove winner, Heim still carries the kind of defensive reputation that tends to travel well in July, especially for a contender trying to stabilize a position that has become a concern.
For Oakland, the wrinkle is that Heim has not been getting the same steady catching workload he once did. Shea Langeliers breakout has pushed him more toward first base or designated hitter duties, which gives the As a veteran with some flexibility but also makes him a player other clubs can picture in a different role. If the market keeps heating up, that kind of profile is the sort of thing that can turn a useful piece into a trade conversation. [Read more 🡒]