With Khris Davis headed to the paternity list for the next three days, the Athletics are set to select the contract of infield prospect Sheldon Neuse, reports Martin Gallegos of MLB.com (via Twitter). It’ll be the first call to the big leagues for the 2016 second-rounder, who is widely considered to be among the organization’s top 10 prospects. Oakland will need to make a 40-man roster move to create room for Neuse’s promotion.
Neuse, 24, was originally drafted by the Nationals, who traded him to Oakland alongside Blake Treinen and Jesus Luzardo in the 2017 deadline deal that netted them Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson. He’s had a strong season in Triple-A Las Vegas, hitting .317/.389/.550 with 27 home runs, 31 doubles, two triples and three steals in 550 plate appearances. While he struggled to make contact in his first run at Triple-A in 2018, Neuse has slashed his strikeout rate and upped his walk rate in 2019. He currently ranks eighth among Oakland farmhands according to both MLB.com and Baseball America, while Fangraphs tabs him ninth in the organization.
Third base is Neuse’s natural position, and that’s currently a rather occupied position in Oakland thanks to Matt Chapman. As such, he’s spent some time playing second base, shortstop and left field this season in an effort to build his versatility and carve out a path to a role on the big league roster. A two-way star in college at Oklahoma, there’s been some previous speculation about utilizing Neuse as a two-way player, but he’s yet to throw a pitch in a game setting since being drafted. As things currently stand, a utility role looks like the best path to playing time for him in the Oakland organization.
As a 2016 draftee who was selected out of college, Neuse would’ve required protection from the Rule 5 Draft this winter anyhow. That would’ve made him a candidate for a September call-up when rosters expand on Sunday, but he’ll get his first crack at the big leagues a few days earlier.
Bazinga!
sad fact is he really doesnt fit in that onfield. perhaps he’s decent trade bait if he starts off hot.
Depends on if he can play 2B or LF if he could be ok at either then his bat plays. Good arm for OF just dont know if he is fast enough. Make him run this offseason.
He can play 2B AND left field. He also has the second strongest arm in the system right now, behind Murphy, and he is surprisingly athletic for a bigger bodied player.
It’d be dumb to dangle him unless we had a clear starter at second for next year, and we don’t.
did not know that. thanks for informing me of such.
Neuse is probably starting at 3B tomorrow after Chapman’s beaning tonight. Guys going to need a breather, that was intense.
Possibly, but he was slated to DH before that happened. Could still happen. Not going to keep Chapman out for long.
Barreto at 2B because Marcus Seimien is at SS.
You haven’t been paying attention. Barreto posted a .385/.410/.800 slash line in Triple A in July, was brought up and didn’t do anything with the opportunity. While I hate that he can’t get 200 straight at bats to prove if he’s a bust or if he can turn it around, that’s the nature of the game. When you’re competing for a playoff spot you can’t give extended looks at players if they aren’t at least showing glimmers of potential.
If he hasn’t been traded this offseason he’ll get a look in spring and they’ll make a decision because he’ll be out of options, but he doesn’t really do anything spectacular defensively at second, so it’ll be who between him, Joseph and Neuse hit the best next spring.
If that’s the case then why was Jurickson Profar starting? It doesn’t matter making a playoff spot if your not good enough to get to the World Series.
Manaea is in the A’s dugout, he’s getting added Sept 1.
Bassitt’s wife is also about to have a baby so he’s also there on case they need him to start for CB.
I think it’s kind of funny/odd that baseball reference has him listed as a 3B/etc and then also as a short reliever… he hasn’t pitched since college (albeit pretty effectively when he did pitch in college) but still seems like an odd thing to have on his baseball ref page. It’s not like Brian Johnson is listed as a SP/1B even though he was a great hitter in college.
His nickname in the minors has been “Right Handed Gianni” I hope that’s true
told you the a’s should bring Neuse up. great addition to the team.
Ahhh the trade that keeps on giving…