The A’s released outfielder Lazaro Armenteros, tweets Francys Romero. Oakland had sent Armenteros through outright waivers in May, so the move won’t create a spot on the 40-man roster.
It’s a disappointing conclusion to the Cuban outfielder’s seven-year stint in the A’s system. Armenteros was a high-profile amateur signee back in 2016. He landed a $3MM bonus on the strength of his raw power potential. It didn’t take long for prospect evaluators to express concerns about Armenteros’ defense and pure hitting ability, though. The right-handed hitter never made enough contact to get a major league look in Oakland.
Armenteros has fanned in more than 37% of his professional plate appearances. Even with huge walk rates and double digit home run totals, that’s not viable against minor league pitching. The A’s nevertheless added Armenteros to their 40-man roster at the start of last offseason on the heels of a .248/.380/.464 showing in Double-A. At the time, Oakland’s front office still had some belief that he could translate his physical tools into better results and didn’t want to let him reach minor league free agency.
The A’s gave the 25-year-old Armenteros his first look at Triple-A pitching this season. It didn’t go well, as he struck out nearly 40% of the time en route to a .191/.321/.309 slash over 42 games. The A’s demoted Armenteros back to Double-A last month. While he managed decent results behind a .481 average on balls in play, a 37.5% strikeout rate in 16 Double-A games led the team to move on entirely.
#FJF
Speaking of highly touted international prospects that didn’t work out whatever happened to the Mesa brothers?
Victor Victor flamed out in Triple A. Mesa Jr is actually panned out quite well for essentially being a throw in with his much higher regarded brother. He’s a top 5 prospect in their system and is still only 22 in Triple A with good numbers
Incredible physical talent and insane power just couldn’t make contact to save his life. Suprised he lasted this long
Curious if he is chasing a lot pitches out of the zone, or he can’t catch up with them in the zone.
Those are really high strikeout numbers. Anything in the thirties definitely is too high for any consistency.
He has an 80-grade name, at least.
¡Lazarito!
Sad day . I had high hopes for him playing LF/DH for the A’s , but he only hit in Midland . He became invisible in Vegas . Once I looked at a box score and 4 at bats and 4 strikeouts . Maybe a team like the White Sox can do something with his pitch recognition , because on the A’s it’s sink or swim . He could play some Mexican league ball where a batting instructor could help him . The raw talent is still there .A’s waste a lot of everything .
The white Sox teach hitting?
maybe the astros could have him hit a trash can
Perhaps Lazaro can resurrect his career in the Mexican Baseball League.
Prime candidate for a team that can develop young players to work their magic. A’s waste a lot of young talent.
Put him in the Mariners lineup. He’d fit right in as their cleanup hitter!
Rusney Castillo on a cheaper contract….
No coincidence that they were just told they would be charged by the letter on uniforms. Be prepared to see some 2 and 3 letter last names stacking the lineup card.