The Oakland Athletics are looking towards the future, with their sights set on two promising outfielders currently playing in Lansing, Michigan. Henry Bolte and Bryan Buelvas have shown great potential, with both players possessing speed, developing power, and a passion for the game that is evident in their performances on the field. The Athletics plan to eventually move to Las Vegas, where these two young talents could find themselves playing after a stop in Sacramento while a new stadium is being built.
While Buelvas and Bolte have displayed impressive skills on the field, there is still room for improvement in their pitch recognition at the plate. However, their performance at the High A level this year has shown signs of progress. In their first 19 games, both players have 17 hits, 3 homers, and are 8-for-8 in stolen base attempts. Buelvas has hit homers in three consecutive games, while Bolte boasts a .239 batting average with 15 runs and 13 RBI, and Buelvas is hitting .243 with 18 runs and 12 RBI.
Both outfielders have caught the attention of long-time Lansing radio announcer Jesse Goldberg-Strasser, who described watching them play as a mix of enjoyment and frustration. Bolte, a second-round pick out of Palo Alto High School, is known for his speed on the basepaths and defensive skills, with the potential to develop into a multi-tool center-fielder. Buelvas, originally from Colombia, signed with the A’s at the age of 16 and has shown flashes of brilliance both offensively and defensively.
In addition to Buelvas and Bolte, the Oakland Athletics have a number of other prospects in their farm system who are projected to make an impact in the coming years. Infielders Jacob Wilson, Max Muncy, Myles Naylor, and Brett Harris, along with outfielder Denzel Clarke and catcher Daniel Susac, are all listed among the top 10 prospects in the organization by MLB Pipeline. The team also has highly ranked right-handers Luis Morales, Joe Boyle, Joey Estes, and Steven Echevarria, as well as relief pitcher Mitch Spence, who was a Rule 5 draft pick and has impressed in his rookie season.
Looking back at the history of the Oakland Athletics, the team has a tradition of developing talented outfielders. In the 1960s, the team drafted Rick Monday and Reggie Jackson, both of whom went on to have successful careers in the majors. Monday was an All-Star in his first year in Oakland and Jackson became a Hall of Famer, helping the team win three consecutive World Series titles in the early 1970s. The success of these historic outfielders serves as inspiration for the young talents like Bolte and Buelvas, who are hoping to make their mark in the MLB in the years to come.
