The Athletics have seen this movie before: a Futures Game appearance, then a quick climb to the majors. Tyler Soderstrom did it in 2023.
Lawrence Butler did it in ’23. Shea Langeliers did it in ’22.
Now Leo De Vries and Jamie Arnold are trying to follow the same script.
Both prospects were on display at Citizens Bank Park earlier this month in the All-Star Futures Game, and both have done plenty to keep the conversation moving. De Vries is the club’s No. 1 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 overall.
Arnold sits at A’s No. 2 and MLB No. 27.
Together, they’ve been turning heads at Double-A Midland and pushing hard for a move to Triple-A Las Vegas.
“It was fun to watch both of them in the Futures Game,” A’s general manager David Forst said. “I think they’re both in a really good place with their development.
Jamie’s first full season [in the Minors], he’s competing at Double-A and racking up strikeouts. He’s had some games where he’s given up some hits and has had to work his way out, but that’s part of the process, similarly with Leo.
Everyone talks about his age, and it’s deserved. This is a 19-year-old playing really well at Double-A.
He’s had stretches where he’s dominated.”
De Vries has put together a strong season in the Texas League, posting a .290/.386/.452 line with 12 home runs, 14 doubles, 45 walks, 77 strikeouts and 33 stolen bases in 365 plate appearances. The 19-year-old shortstop made a strong impression in big league camp during his first spring with the A’s, and he’s carried that momentum into the season.
His speed has jumped off the page. After stealing 11 bases between his time in the Padres’ and A’s systems in 2025, De Vries now leads all A’s Minor Leaguers with 33 stolen bases. He has also added 15 games at third base, giving the organization another look at his versatility while shortstop remains his primary position.
Arnold, the 11th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Florida State, was moved quickly as soon as his pro career began. After getting a look in front of the big league staff this spring, he was sent straight to Double-A. The adjustment hasn’t always been seamless, but the left-hander has settled in more and more as the season has gone on.
Over his last seven starts, Arnold is 3-2 with a 2.62 ERA, 33 strikeouts and 17 walks in 34 1/3 innings, while holding hitters to a .217 average. For an A’s organization that has had major issues on the mound at the big league level this season, that kind of progress matters.
Arnold is one of three left-handed pitching prospects who at one point this season ranked among MLB’s Top 100, along with Gage Jump and Wei-En Lin. Jump is already in the A’s rotation, and Arnold could be next if he keeps this up.
“You’re looking for both guys to force their way to Triple-A,” Forst said of Arnold and De Vries. “I can certainly see that happening in the second half of the season.
As far as the big leagues, we have not talked about either guy in that context. But once they get to Vegas, we’ve shown that there are plenty of guys here now who didn’t have to be [in Triple-A] very long.”
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As Suddenly Face Serious Concern With Shea Langeliers
Shea Langeliers breakout season has hit an abrupt snag, with the Athletics placing their All-Star catcher on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Saturday because of a torn meniscus in his right knee. The move comes after a year in which Langeliers established himself as one of the clubs most important everyday players, and Oakland answered by recalling Brian Serven from Triple-A Las Vegas to handle the catching duties.
The injury leaves the As facing a much different outlook behind the plate in the short term, and it also clouds whatever remained of the clubs plans for the next few days. Langeliers was in the middle of a season that had put him squarely on the radar as one of the better catchers in the league, but now the focus shifts to how long hell be out and whether Oakland will have to navigate the rest of the year without him. [Read more 🡒]
A Major As Vegas Development Just Raised The Stakes For Fans
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On the field, the roster still looks like one that could change again before the deadline. Oakland already sent Aaron Civale to the Cubs, and the move fit the kind of sell-off that often comes when a club is balancing present needs with a bigger future plan. For fans, the uneasy part is that the baseball side and the relocation side are moving at the same time, with more decisions still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
A's Bullpen Help May Come From A Familiar Former Closer
The Athletics are looking at bullpen help before the trade deadline, and the search has plenty to do with need as much as opportunity. Oakland has leaned on a small group of relievers it trusts, while Jose Suarez has been effective enough to put himself on the radar as a possible trade piece if the club decides to cash in an impending free agent.
One veteran option under consideration is Liam Hendriks, whose experience would give the staff a different kind of presence in the late innings. For the As, the appeal is obvious: a familiar arm with a track record in Oakland and the kind of leadership that can steady a relief corps still trying to find more dependable depth. [Read more 🡒]