*In order to make efforts Nomination votingTo make it easier for everyone, I will comment “Nominations” and you can reply with your choices and vote for the players you would like to see on the next nomination list.
The next player to feature in our annual CPL is a right-hander Henry Baez. Baez is one of the returning players in Mason Miller, a powerful right-hander who has steadily climbed the minor league ladder and is now on the cusp of the majors. The Athletics have plenty of options heading into the season, but if he continues to impress against quality hitters, he could become an option in the starting rotation later this summer.
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The next nominee will be an outfielder Junior Perez. The righty corner outfielder has a lot of pop in his bat and showed some speed in Double-A and Triple-A last season. Perez, 24, is one stop away from the majors and will likely be an option for the Athletics next season if he continues to show improvement as a hitter. The Athletics clearly think highly of him after protecting him from being picked by another club in the Rule 5 Draft.
The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this article before participating:
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Please only cast one vote. The player with the most votes at the end of voting will receive a ranking spot. The remaining four candidates will advance to the next ballot, where new nominees will join them.
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In the comments, below the official vote, the community will Nominate players for the next round of voting. Your comment should be formatted as “Nomination: Contestant Name”.
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If a prospect is tradedhis name will be crossed out and all other players will move up one space. If the prospect is acquireda special vote will be held to determine the player’s ranking.
Click the link here to vote!
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Ranking of the most promising players for A’s fans:
Voting continues! Who is the 14th best prospect in the A’s system? Here’s a brief overview of each nominee – scouting ratings (20 to 80) and scouting reports from MLB Pipeline.
Nominees currently on the ballot:
Zane Taylor, RHP
Expected Grade: Double-A | Age: 23
Statistics for 2025 (AAA): 0.00 ERA, 1 Start, 2 IP, 4 K, 2 BB, 0 HR, 2.97 FIP
MLB Pipeline Grades and Scouting Reports:
Scout level: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40
Taylor’s fastball velocity jumped 3 mph this spring as he worked 92-95 mph and hit 98 mph while maintaining his velocity in games and throughout the season. His fastball lacks life, but he controls it well and is difficult to hit when he locates it in the zone. He does an excellent job of eliminating spin on his low-80-degree changeup, fades, sinks, and delivers solid pitches.
While Taylor’s mid-80s slider and low-80s curveball don’t have outstanding spin or shape, they produce high levels of chase and air swing. He overcame the shortcomings of his small stature by lowering and striking pitches that produced a low release height, a flat approach angle and enough extension to make his pitches harder for hitters to catch. He’s 23 years old and almost a finished product, but he has a long shooting history and is at least as good as a late-round starter.
Shotaro Morii, SS/RHP
Expected Level: Low A | Age: 19
2025 Stats (Rookie League): 188 PA, .258/.399/.384, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 36 BB, 47 K, 4 SB
MLB Pipeline Grades and Scouting Reports:
Scouting Rating (Hitters): Hits: 50 | Power: 50 | Running: 55 | Arms: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40
Scout Rating (Pitcher): Fastball: 55 | Slider: 40 | Curveball: 45 | Splitter: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40
At the plate, Morii features a smooth left-handed swing and excellent balance. His power was outstanding and he hit 45 home runs in high school. He is considered a senior batsman with good bat control. On the mound, his fastball topped 95 mph and the score was about 92-93. He also brings a splitter with nasty movement, a true 12-to-6 curveball and a tighter slider with solid bite and depth, although the production could use some fine-tuning. Morii had only pitched officially for less than two years, and his arm was relatively fresh when he entered the organization.
Morii’s high-octane throwing arm has excelled at shortstop, but some evaluators believe he could potentially move to third base as his 6-foot-1 frame fills in. While scouts see a long-term future for Morii in the batter’s box, Major League Baseball plans to give him every opportunity to succeed as a two-way player, and there is already excitement about his impressive physical attributes and desire to become one of Japan’s next great players.
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Junior Perez, OF
Expected Rating: AAA | Age: 24
2025 Statistics (AA/AAA):587 PA, .231/.348/.473, 29 doubles, 6 triples, 26 HR, 87 RBI, 87 BB, 165 K, 27 SB
Per Billy Owens, Director of Player Personnel and Assistant General Manager: “Perez is a physical guy with quality tools. His range and athleticism stand out defensively. Offensively, he can be inconsistent, but he displays bat speed, patience and real power. Solid overall. Development is not linear. It will take patience to realize his tremendous potential.”
Gunnar Hoglund, RHP
Expected Level: 3A/Major | Age: 26
2025 Statistics (Triple-A): 2.43 ERA, 6 starts, 29 2/3 IP, 30 K, 7 BB, 3 HR, 4.17 FIP
2025 Statistics (Pro): 6.40 ERA, 6 starts, 32 1/3 IP, 23 K, 11 BB, 10 HR, 6.75 FIP
MLB Pipeline Grades and Scouting Reports:
Scout level: Fastball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 60 | Overall: 45
While Hoglund may never regain the electric stuff he had early in his career, the Athletics were encouraged to see his fastball velocity climb back into the high 90s. He also tried adding two-seamers and cutters. His low-80s slider now has more of a sweeping action and serves as his primary secondary pitch. He also refined his low-80-degree changeup, creating a solid three-pitch combination that was enhanced by a strong ability to consistently deliver the ball.
Now three years removed from Tommy John, the Athletics are hoping Hoglund can develop into a reliable backfield rotation player, especially if he can successfully develop a fourth pitch. The Florida native was regularly deep in starts in major league cameos (6.40 ERA, 23 strikeouts, 11 batters in 32 1/3 innings) before going down with the injury and is not expected to be fully recovered before the 2026 season.
Cole Miller, RHP
Desired Grade: Single A | Age: 20
2025 Statistics (Korea, Single-A): 1.90 ERA, 12 starts (15 appearances), 52 IP, 45 K, 11 BB, HR 1, FIP 3.38
MLB Pipeline Grades and Scouting Reports:
Scout level: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40
The Athletics were working on some mechanical adjustments with Miller before he was injured. His electric fastball reached 96 mph in high school and he showed excellent movement in the zone. The mid-80’s slider was a hard destroyer and is showing signs of improvement. His low-80s changeup shows potential as an average third pitch.
There’s a lot of excitement within the organization for Miller’s pro debut. His three-pitch combination and 6-foot-6 frame show potential as a major league starting pitcher. The Athletics also like to see his competitiveness on the mound when watching him. After an unfortunate delay, he finally got his first chance to impress this summer.
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Programming notes: Each CPL vote will last approximately 48 hours, so please don’t delay Take your vote!