When we look back at the Athletics' last season, it was the offense that grabbed all the headlines. With power hitters like Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, and Shea Langeliers, the team had no trouble sending balls over the fence and lighting up the scoreboard.
But let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the pitching staff. They struggled, wrapping up the season with a team ERA of 4.70, ranking them 27th in MLB.
That's a stat that simply has to improve if the A's want to make a serious run this year. The pitchers can't afford to leave their sluggers hanging out to dry again.
Now, the A's did make some moves over the offseason to shore up their pitching. They brought in Aaron Civale to add some depth to the rotation, hoping he can be a stabilizing force. Meanwhile, Mark Leiter Jr. and Scott Barlow were signed on one-year deals to fortify the bullpen.
Yet, the real pressure is on the starting rotation, and that’s where Luis Morales comes into the spotlight. Morales, with his Top 100 prospect pedigree, is being looked at as the potential game-changer for Oakland.
His fastball clocks in at an impressive 98 mph, and his sweeper boasts a 38.0 percent whiff rate. Simply put, he’s got the kind of electric stuff that could make a real impact.
Morales made his MLB debut last August, starting 10 games with a solid 4-3 record and a 3.14 ERA. Having had a taste of the big leagues, he's got a better sense of what’s needed at this level.
With a full offseason to prepare, Morales could very well emerge as the leader of this rotation in 2026. Keep an eye on him; the A's certainly will be.