Rob Parker celebrates the career of MLBbro Torii Hunter, who won nine straight Gold Gloves in centerfield and compiled 353 homers and 2,452 hits over a 19-year MLB career.
This is an exciting time in Oakland A’s history despite losing over 100 games in 2022 for the first time since the 1960s.
That step backwards has given birth to “The New Oakland.”
#TheNewOakland pic.twitter.com/uNnXkpW7TQ
— Matt Ortega (@MattOrtega) February 28, 2023
As the once proud franchise looks to reload and rebuild, having just won 97 games in 2019, Oakland brass knows that with the crop of raw, fresh talent they have assembled in their elite farm system, 2023 could be the beginning of a new era of excellence.
A handful of the highly touted prospects in the A’s organization have been included on the spring training roster to gain experience at the Big League level and start preparing for the future. One newbie of note for the mlbbro.com audience is rookie Lawrence Butler — the organization’s No.17 ranked prospect and rising — who got to showcase his skills on Monday in a 7-3 spring training loss to the Colorado Rockies.
The multi-talented sixth-round pick by the A’s in the 2018 MLB Draft out of Westlake High School in Atlanta, went 2-for-2, first breaking up a no-hitter in the seventh with a double that produced a thundering exit velocity of 111 mph and then flexing that big stick energy with an oppo taco solo job to left in the ninth.
LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO https://t.co/TOUzyQ23jS
— Marquis Grissom Jr. (@MarquisJr9) February 27, 2023
Other top prospects who were invited to A’s camp this spring, include catcher Tyler Soderstrom, the organizations No.1 prospect, Zack Gelof (No. 3), Denzel Clarke (No. 13), Max Muncy (No. 8) and Daniel Susac (No. 4).
“It’s been pretty good just being around the big league guys,” Butler told MLB.com. “Getting to talk to some of them and pick their brain about things we wonder about in the Minor Leagues all the time. I’m having a lot of fun up here.”
Butler, 22, is moving up the MLB pipeline at a nice pace. After a highly productive stint with High-A Lansing in 2022 in which he posted an .825 OPS with 11 homers, 19 doubles, 41 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 81 games, Butler put in some time in the Arizona Fall League and was promoted to the club’s 40-man roster in the offseason.
In 287 minor league games Butler has 153 RBI, 46 steals, 35 homers and 388 K’s, which he will have to cut down on at the next level. Overall, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound centerfielder possess a skill set that translates well to the pros and the brand of ball that Oakland plays.
Also in Butler’s favor, is Oakland has a rich history of MLBbros leading the way to championships.
The great Reggie Jackson led the Oakland A’s Dynasty to three straight World Series rings in the 1970s (’72-’74), winning a league MVP and World Series MVP in 1973. Rickey Henderson‘s second Oakland stint produced back-to-back World Series appearances. In 1989, Rickey led Oakland to the championship and in 1990 he won the AL MVP. Black Ace Dave Stewart was a huge part of that ’89 team. In fact, “Smoke” was the World Series MVP.
There’s a youth movement going down in Oakland and they are providing a sneak peek into the future this spring. The #MLBbro Butler is producing, it might be sooner rather than later that you see him roaming the outfield on an everyday basis for the big club.
The Kansas City Royals are nowhere near competing for the playoffs but that hasn’t stopped MLBbro Michael Taylor from going on a tear recently. He’s batted over .350 this week and had multiple hits in every game since August 28. He’s been in the leadoff spot as well as cleanup, providing the club with whatever has been needed. Although he went hitless in Thursday’s contest, this recent stretch has been nothing short of impressive.
MLBbro Michael A. Taylor Shows Up When The Stakes Are Highest
Taylor got out of the box slowly this season, batting only .184 through 17 games in April and March combined. But he heated up over the summer months posting averages of .289, .329, and .284 in May, June, and July respectively. Although he has not performed as well in August, this past week he continued to see the ball well and has 9 hits and 7 RBI this week. Although this will not spark the Royals on a major level and propel them into any contention talks, it does give Taylor momentum heading into next year.
MLBbro Michael A. Taylor Is the Rock That Keeps Kansas City’s Hopes High
MLBbro Taylor is enjoying a season that has seen him already post the highest WAR of his career, 2.9 so far. He also boasts the lowest strikeout percentage of his career at 24.9%, and the highest walk-rate as well at 8.4%, as of the writing of this article. The Royals chose not to trade Taylor at the deadline, and he went into a slight slump post-deadline. This recent surge should help to boost his status and make his name hot again as he should be seen as a valuable commodity in the MLB offseason. Any team looking for a veteran contact hitter with elite defense (He won the Gold Glove in 2021.) should look no further than center field in Kansas City.
Over the weekend we lost another MLBbro from the major league ranks, as the Milwaukee Brewers decided to part ways with centerfielder Lorenzo Cain. Cain has yet to officially announce his retirement, but there are many around the game who believe this is it for LoCain.
With one less MLBbro manning the outfield and in memory of Willie Mays and Rickey Henderson — two of the greatest players to grace the diamond — let’s take a look at a few players who are still doing big things in centerfield. The position has always been one of supreme excellence and prestige and impact for Black and brown ballers.
The first two MLBbros on our list are the cream of the crop when it comes to Black centerfielders in today’s game. Elite centerfielders are not only the captain of the defense, but they are also elite at the plate. Names like the aforementioned Mays, Ken Griffey Jr. and the OG Curt Flood are the standard when we speak on Black centerfielders who did it all, and these two young bros are working to carry that torch within this generation of ballplayers.
Now if you’re a regular here at MLBbro.com, you know exactly where I’m going with this. When healthy, Buxton is the only centerfielder who consistently puts up numbers that mirror Los Angeles Angels centerfielder Mike Trout. Unfortunately, Buxton has played less than 100 games for three straight seasons. If he can stay on the field, Buxton can compete with any of the MLB’s elite.
Mullins put the league on notice last season. CM Storm stopped switch-hitting, taking all his AB’s exclusively from the left side of the plate and developing a more disciplined approach. His walk rate increased from 5.2 to 8.7 percent while his strikeout rate dropped from 24.2 to 18.5 percent. Mullins recorded the first 30-30 season in the 67-year history of Orioles baseball.
While the bros mentioned above have the ability to affect the game in multiple ways, the next two centerfielders on my list are known specifically for their defense. They won’t blow you away with their offensive numbers, but if you’re a fan of intelligent defenders who make highlight reel catches, then you will love these next two MLBbros. Think Otis Nixon and Devon White.
The 2021 Gold glove winner, Michael A. Taylor used his elite speed to record an Outs Above Average of +15, which was second amongst all outfielders. As elite as he’s been defensively, his lack of impact at the plate will make it difficult for Taylor to move from defensive specialist to elite centerfielder.
Grisham won the Gold Glove in the pandemic shortened 2020 season and has been a leader in advanced defensive metrics like Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average. The injury to Fernando Tatis Jr. has given Grisham an opportunity in the leadoff spot but he has struggled to find his rhythm at the plate. Grisham flashed 20/20 potential during his 2020 campaign, and a return to that form would make him an elite centerfielder.
Following his 2020 ROTY campaign, Seattle Mariners Kyle Lewis was labeled by many as the next big thing in the Pacific Northwest. But unfortunately for Lewis and the Mariners, lower leg injuries and a recent concussion have turned excitement into indifference. If his fortunes turn, look for Lewis to reenter the conversation for best young centerfielder in the game.
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