TEAM: Oakland Athletics
PICK: 9 (Slot: $4,761,500)
POOL: $9,553,200
SCOUTING DIRECTOR: Eric Kubota

PREVIOUS TOP PICKS
2017: Austin Beck, OF, North Davidson HS, NC (6th overall)
2016: A.J. Puk, LHP, Florida (6th overall)
2015: Richie Martin, SS, Florida (20th overall)
2014: Matt Chapman, 3B, Cal State Fullerton (25th overall)
2013: Billy McKinney, OF, Plano West HS, TX (24th overall)

HISTORY: For a time, Oakland was very heavy on selecting college prospects early in the draft, but they haven’t shied away from high school bats in recent years. In 2012, their top three picks were all preps and are now in the big leagues (SS Addison Russell, SS Daniel Robertson and 1B Matt Olson). They took OF Billy McKinney, another big leaguer, in the first round in 2013 and made OF Austin Beck (North Davidson HS, NC) the sixth overall selection last year.

FORECAST: The A’s haven’t taken a high school right-hander in the first round since Jeremy Bonderman in 2001, so it’s fair to count that demographic out. 2B Nick Madrigal (Oregon State) could slide this far. OF Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama) and his defense would be welcome in the spacious Oakland Coliseum. SS Brice Turang (Santiago HS, CA) and OF Connor Scott (Plant HS, FL) are the likeliest high school prospects to be available. LHPs Ryan Rolison (Mississippi) and LHP Shane McClanahan (South Florida) would be the best college pitching options.

Nick Madrigal, 2B, Oregon State
PBR Draft Board: 4
HIT: 45/55            POWER: 40/50            SPEED: 60/60            DEFENSE: 50/55            ARM: 50/50
Madrigal is just coming back from an injury to his wrist that kept him out for a good chunk of the season, but he has picked up very much where he left off. His quick hands and pitch recognition allow him to put aggressive swings on any pitch early or ahead in counts, and he makes adjustments later to spray the ball to all fields. He is quick and agile at second base with clean hands and a quick release. The arm plays average, but is accurate. He has superior instincts and always appears to be several steps ahead. (Shooter Hunt)

Find Madrigal's full report in the Draft HQ. 

Ryan Rolison, LHP, Mississippi
PBR Draft Board: 7
FB: 50/55            SL: 60/70            CH: 40/50
Rolison is an athletic lefty with good down plane from a 3/4 slot. He repeats his delivery and has good arm speed with extension out front. The fastball showed above average life at 90-93 mph, touching 94 early in the game. His breaking ball is his ticket to the major leagues. It’s released from the same window as his fastball, and looks just like it, until it disappears under the bat. (David Seifert)

Find Rolison's full report in the Draft HQ.

Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida
PBR Draft Board: 8
FB: 60/70            SL: 40/50            CH: 40/50
McClanahan’s arm is one of the quickest in the country and the fastball has flashes of being a double-plus pitch in the future. He throws slightly crossfire and the arm works from a 3/4 slot. He was electric in the first inning, working 93-94 mph with some late action and ramping it up to 97-98 with little effort and late riding life. He lost command of the fastball in the second and was up in the zone and got hit. Both of his offspeed pitches were below average, but he showed a better feel for the changeup early. His slider is a sweeping, slurvy pitch and there is decent shape to it when thrown hard. The changeup worked well off the fastball when both were down. (Doug Freeman)

Find McClanahan's full report in the Draft HQ.

Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama
PBR Draft Board: 12
HIT: 40/55            POWER: 30/45            SPEED: 60/60            DEFENSE: 50/60            ARM: 60/60
Swaggerty has a Brett Gardner frame and is an athletic center fielder with tools, baseball skills and instincts. Despite hitting off balance—a result of a narrow base and long stride—he keeps his hands back and connected to his hips. He has explosive, strong hands and uses his hips well. He swings easy and whistles the bat through the zone. He is smooth defensively, consistently running strong routes to go with his easy, plus speed. (David Seifert)

Find Swaggerty's full report in the Draft HQ.

Brice Turang, SS, Santiago HS, CA
PBR Draft Board: 16
HIT: 30/50            POWER: 30/40            SPEED: 60/70            DEFENSE: 55/60            ARM: 50/60

Turang has wiry strength with room to fill out his 6-foot, 160-pound frame. The son of a big leaguer, he has always shown excellent instincts in the game. He routinely puts the bat on the ball and can drive it to all fields. He is a plus runner and uses his speed and instincts to be a menace on the base paths. That speed also plays defensively, giving him above average range at shortstop. He is a very good athlete, seemingly able to make any play and throw on the move. (Nathan Rode)

Find Turang's full report in the Draft HQ.

Connor Scott, OF, Plant HS, FL
PBR Draft Board: 17
HIT: 40/50            POWER: 50/60            SPEED: 60/60            DEFENSE: 55/55            ARM: 55/55

One of the few high school players in the state with a true plus tool and multiple above average tools. It is a fairly easy comp him to Kyle Tucker, being from the same school, though Scott has less power and is a better runner. The swing has shown some swing-and-miss tendencies in the past, but he has appeared to level the path and cut down on the swing and miss. He works to all fields, but shows power to the middle of the field. (Doug Freeman)

Find Scott's full report in the Draft HQ.

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