{"id":13708,"date":"2025-03-27T13:45:32","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T20:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=13708"},"modified":"2025-03-28T11:21:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T18:21:38","slug":"athletics-preview-2025-out-to-prove-a-lot-of-people-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2025\/03\/27\/athletics-preview-2025-out-to-prove-a-lot-of-people-wrong\/","title":{"rendered":"Athletics Preview 2025: Out to \u201cProve a Lot of People Wrong\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Athletics Preview 2025<\/h2>\n

The Athletics<\/a> players are excited for the 2025 season, as every major leaguer would be. But they have a different reason for this season in comparison to others. Sport Relay<\/em> got the reasons from a few of them Sunday at their spring home of Mesa, Arizona. The overriding theme was optimism, especially with the way the Athletics finished 2024.<\/p>\n

What Excites the Athletics about the 2025 Season<\/h4>\n

\u201cEverything, is the easy answer. When coming into a new year, it’s endless opportunities. Everybody’s starting at zero. The excitement around this group is continually increasing, at least in here (the A\u2019s clubhouse). I think a lot of people are excited to watch us play this year, and we look forward to doing that.\u201d \u2014 Mason Miller<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cComing off of my rookie season last year, I got a taste of the big leagues. Fortunately, I was up for the full season. So I\u2019m going into it ready to attack the year. I have that mentality. This whole clubhouse has the mentality. I think we’re gonna bring it for sure.\u201d \u2014 Max Schuemann<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s excitement in this locker room over how we finished last year. Going to this year, there’s a lot of optimism and excitement about what this team could possibly do. I think we’re going to prove a lot of people wrong, and I think that’s what we’re most excited for.\u201d \u2014 Mitch Spence<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cLast year, we had a really good second half, and we\u2019re trying to bring that into this year. The guys in this clubhouse and everyone around us create a great atmosphere here, and it’s going to help us win a lot of ball games. We’re really looking forward to this upcoming season.\u201d \u2014 Joey Estes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAll these guys put in a lot of work. We have a young team that got a taste of winning last year, and it’s gonna be nice to carry that over to this year. A lot of guys put in the hard work this offseason. You can tell a lot of guys got (their contracts) extended. There\u2019s a little more expectation, but with that comes an atmosphere of winning, and I’ve always wanted to be a part of that.\u201d \u2014 T.J. McFarland<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Injured Players<\/h3>\n

The Athletics enter the 2025 season with six players nursing injuries. Second baseman Zack Gelof<\/a><\/strong> had surgery Monday to remove a broken hamate bone in his right hand. He will not return until May at the absolute earliest. Right-handed reliever Michel Ota\u00f1ez<\/a><\/strong> has a shoulder impingement and will likely return mid-April. Third baseman Brett Harris<\/a><\/strong> (strained oblique) and left-hander Brady Basso<\/a><\/strong> (strained shoulder) will also begin the season on the injured list. Right-hander Luis Medina<\/a><\/strong> and lefty Ken Waldichuk<\/a><\/strong> are both recovering from Tommy John surgery and will not return any time soon.<\/p>\n

2024 Statistics<\/h4>\n

\"2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\"2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Athletics Preview 2025: The Catchers<\/h3>\n

Shea Langeliers<\/a><\/strong> remains as the primary backstop. Off-season acquisition Jhonny Pereda<\/a><\/strong> will be his primary backup. Of the two, Langeliers is the better hitter \u2014 especially when it comes to power \u2014 but Pereda is the better defender.<\/p>\n

2024 Statistics<\/h4>\n

\"2025<\/a><\/p>\n

LgAvg CS%: 21.8%<\/em><\/p>\n

Infielders<\/h3>\n

Newcomer Gio Urshela<\/a><\/strong>, who spent 2024 with the Detroit Tigers<\/a> and Atlanta Braves<\/a>, will be the everyday third baseman. At shortstop, 2023 first-round draft pick Jacob Wilson<\/a><\/strong> will see the most time. The injury to Zack Gelof left a hole at second base, and 2025 debutant Max Muncy<\/a><\/strong> will fill it. First base will see Tyler Soderstrom<\/a><\/strong>, who will double as the number-three catcher. Another newcomer, Luis Urias<\/a><\/strong>, will be a valuable reserve at second, third, and shortstop.<\/p>\n

2024 Statistics<\/h4>\n

\"2025<\/a><\/p>\n

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Outfielders<\/h3>\n

Miguel Andujar<\/a><\/strong> will be the Opening Day left fielder and should see significant playing time there. JJ Bleday<\/a><\/strong> and Lawrence Butler<\/a><\/strong> will be mainstays in center and right, respectively. Brent Rooker<\/a><\/strong> will be the primary designated hitter but can also play in the outfield. Seth Brown<\/a><\/strong> will be the main reserve outfielder.<\/p>\n

2024 Statistics<\/h4>\n

\"2025<\/a><\/p>\n

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Utility<\/h3>\n

Max Schuemann can play in the infield and the outfield and should see some time all over the diamond.<\/p>\n

2024 Statistics<\/h4>\n

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Rotation<\/h3>\n

The Athletics will open the season with a \u201cmilitary rotation\u201d \u2014 Right! Left! Right! Left! Right! Right-hander and prized off-season signing Luis Severino<\/a><\/strong> will be the Opening Day starter. Behind him will be, in order, lefty Jeffrey Springs<\/a><\/strong>, righty Osvaldo Bido<\/a><\/strong>, lefty JP Sears<\/a><\/strong>, and righty Joey Estes.<\/p>\n

2024 Statistics<\/h4>\n

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Relief Corps<\/h3>\n

The 2024 Athletics relief corps finished in the middle of the American League (8 out of 15). Right-hander Mitch Spence will be, in the words of manager Mark Kotsay<\/a><\/strong>, \u201cthe Joker in the deck, where you can use him in any capacity out of the bullpen. You can make a spot start with him, could open the game with him, and can pitch him in the eighth inning if you need a leverage guy. He has all the weapons to do that and have success.\u201d<\/p>\n

In middle relief and setup, there are four righties and two lefties. The righties are debutant Noah Murdock<\/a><\/strong>; Justin Sterner<\/a><\/strong>, who did not allow an earned run all spring; Tyler Ferguson<\/a><\/strong>, a high-leverage specialist who had a strong 2024 campaign; and newcomer Jose Leclerc<\/a><\/strong>, who had a great 2023 postseason with the World Series-winning Texas Rangers<\/a> but had a disappointing 2024. Southpaws T.J. McFarland and Hogan Harris<\/a><\/strong> will also be asked to get big outs in high-leverage situations.<\/p>\n

The closer is fireballer Mason Miller, a 2024 All-Star. After a 2024 campaign that saw him finish fourth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting, he has earned the trust of his teammates and the entire coaching staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoker\u201d<\/h4>\n

RHP Mitch Spence<\/p>\n

Middle Relief and Setup Men<\/h4>\n

RHP Noah Murdock
\nRHP Justin Sterner
\nLHP Hogan Harris
\nLHP T.J. McFarland
\nRHP Jose Leclerc
\nRHP Tyler Ferguson<\/p>\n

Closer<\/h4>\n

RHP Mason Miller<\/p>\n

2024 Statistics<\/h4>\n

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Season Outlook<\/h3>\n

The Athletics\u2019 strengths, going by the 2024 performances, are in hitting. Expect to see a lot of slug, especially from the top four spots in the lineup (Butler, Rooker, Bleday, Langeliers). Given these strengths, scoring runs should not be much of an issue. They also have a strong relief corps, especially on the back end.<\/p>\n

But in order for that to pay off, they must be in the lead. Starting pitching, at this point, is one of the two big question marks for this squad. The bigger question mark \u2014 so much that it might even qualify as the \u201celephant in the room\u201d \u2014 is defense. Only Urshela, Urias, and Pereda are even at league average at their positions. Everyone else is below league average, some by a great margin. Unless this improves, if the A\u2019s are in a lot of close games, they could end up losing some due to self-inflicted wounds.<\/p>\n

Overall, the AL West is wide open, and that works in the Athletics\u2019 favor. The Los Angeles Angels<\/a> probably will struggle, but the rest of the division is fairly evenly matched. This gives the Athletics a good chance to have a winning record, something that was unfathomable as recently as two years ago. They could even sneak into a Wild Card spot. At any rate, they should be fun to watch in 2025.<\/p>\n

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Main Photo:<\/h4>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>