After a strong opening day in the MLB draft, the Athletics have a chance to keep the momentum rolling on Day 2. They already came away with Drew Burress in Round 1, Mason Edwards in Round 2, Gabe Gaeckle in the Competitive Balance round, Jacob Dudan in Round 3, and UCLA standout Roman Martin in Round 5. With 15 more rounds waiting on Sunday, there’s still plenty of room to add real upside.
One name that jumps out is Will Gasparino. He was expected to come off the board somewhere in the first five rounds, so if he’s still there when the Athletics are on the clock at pick No. 172, that would be a notable slide.
Gasparino brings a 6'6 frame and above-average speed, and his long-term ceiling is the kind of thing teams chase in the middle rounds. His scouting grades back that up: a 45 Hit, 60 Power, 55 Run, 55 Arm, and 55 Field.
The catch is simple - if other clubs value him the way they’re supposed to, he may not make it anywhere near Oakland’s pick.
Kyle Casteel is another intriguing possibility, though he comes with the added complication of a West Virginia commitment. That makes him harder to sign, but not less interesting.
At 18 years old, Casteel is 6'4 and already touches 95 MPH with his fastball. He was also named the 2026 Pennsylvania Prep Baseball Player Of The Year, a sign of just how much talent is packed into his profile.
The Athletics need pitching, and Casteel fits the mold of the kind of project pick that could turn into something big if the development goes right.
Then there’s Genson Veras, a high school bat with serious loud tools. He’s also committed to a college program, which could complicate things, but the bigger issue might be whether he even lasts long enough for the Athletics to make the call.
Veras is 6'6, 225 pounds, and just 18 years old, and he made noise at the draft combine with elite bat speed and balls coming off his bat at around 115 MPH. His 55 Power, 55 Run, and 55 Arm grades suggest a player who could end up being a steal if he’s still there late.
The Athletics used Day 1 to build a solid foundation. Day 2 is where they can start swinging for the kind of talent that changes the shape of a draft.
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 🡒]