Welcome to the start of another week A’s fans!

While major league baseball is in its offseason now, the sport is still being played down in Arizona where team’s younger prospects can get extra work over the winter. It’s a heavily abbreviated mini-season and it’s nearing the end here. With just two more games to go before the playoffs (which feature three rounds), it’s time to take a look back and see how certain prospects in the system have done with the extra work.

The Athletics sent seven players to go play for the Mesa Solar Sox this year. It’s not looking too good for them to advance to the playoffs so they likely only have a couple games left this year. Among the players the A’s sent were four pitchers, two catchers, and an outfielder. And among those seven, four are among the Athletics’ top 30 prospects.

The most notable name among the group is the outfielder, Breyson Guedez. Currently the third-best outfield prospect in the system, Guedez just turned 19 last month but made it to High-A this past season, his first in pro ball. For someone so young there’s still lots of ways his career could go. Not many expect him to have much power, or speed but he’s a quality hitter that’s still extremely young and these at bats he’s been getting in the AFL are exactly what he needs. While he’s been getting the work, the results haven’t been there as he’s slashing just .164/.271/.213 with no home runs, no stolen bases, and a worrying 18-to-7 K-to-BB ratio.

Catchers are something that the A’s have done well developing over the years and the two they’re currently working on both went to the AFL. Considered a top-20 prospect, Davis Diaz looks like he’s on the cusp of making his big league debut after rising from High-A to the Aviators last year. Davis has displayed his quality eye in the batter’s box in recent weeks, walking nearly as much as he’s walked while hitting .271/.400/.391 with one long ball. Already 23, he’s not likely to develop much more power so he’s going to have to rely on his ability to put the bat to the ball in the big leagues, and he’s demonstrated that again. Add in he’s positionally flexible and he’ll be an option for the big league team next year.

Fellow catcher Cole Conn (#21 according to MLB Pipelin) hasn’t played as much as Diaz but he’s had a quality time in Arizona as well. He’s got four doubles in just nine games played, though with no long balls. More impressively, he’s bested Diaz’s eye with a 8-to-6 K-to-BB ratio while adding in four stolen bases. Fast catcher. Conn crushed Triple-A pitching at the end of last year and that could put him ahead of Diaz on the organizational depth chart.

Four pitchers in the system also made appearances for the Solar Sox this year. Right-hander Kenya Huggins has absolutely dominated as he’s pitched 10 1/3 innings of relief and allowed just two runs while collecting 13 strikeouts. Acquired from the Reds for half a season of Miguel Andujar, Huggins looks like a steal at this point but his long-term role is still being determined.

Journeyman right-hander Jared Johnson was also among the contingent sent by the A’s. He’s pitched in seven games and allowed six earned runs. There doesn’t seem to be much upside there but he pitched for the Aviators last year and could be a depth piece at some point next season. Fellow righty Jay Dill is a recent 18th-round pick by the A’s and spent most of last year at Double-A with mixed results. Things continued that way for Dill as he’s been tagged for seven earned runs in just 5 1/3 innings pitched. And finally we have a left-hander in Tucker Novotny. The 23-year-old has turned some heads with a strong AFL. He’s made three starts (five total appearances) and has allowed just five earned runs in 13 12/3 innings. The walks have been an issue but he’s also racked up 16 punchouts. Another 18th rounder, the southpaw only just made it to High-A last year so he’s got a long ways to go before he becomes an option for the big league team.

A mixed bag, to be sure, but not without positives. The two catchers in particular seem like decent bets to make their big league debuts in the coming season, especially if the A’s elect to move star catcher Shea Langeliers. Heck, the A’s do still need a backup catcher as of this moment. Could one of them break camp as Bangeliers’ backup? This AFL made that a real possibility.

Have a great start to your week everyone.

I mean, it makes sense with Leo coming. But it’d sure be selling low:

Interesting. Shouldn’t really affect the A’s, but still interesting:

A look ahead to some potential A’s targets next winter, when the checkbook is supposed to open up: