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Athletics positioned to select one of the best college bats in the draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Athletics are one team that knows more than most what it's like to have a good first-round draft pick. With their small market, they have had to build their teams up through the draft rather than free agency and trades.
Over the years, they have picked well early, taking guys like Tyler Soderstrom, Max Muncy, Jacob Wilson, and the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, Nick Kurtz.
Last year, they received the 11th overall pick, and with it, they took Florida State LHP Jamie Arnold. Now, they could take another swing at a college arm, or they may go back to a position player.
MORE: Athletics' Denzel Clarke at risk of losing CF job to 22-year-old with .716 OPS
Athletics positioned to select one of the best college bats in the draft
This year, the Athletics were given the eighth overall pick in this year's draft. Some elite talent will be gone when they get on the clock, but there will still be plenty of other highly sought-after talent waiting for the next opportunity.
Now, this is where things can get tricky. Some teams could take some surprise picks, leading to some other teams to pivot with whom scouts originally thought they would draft. However, without that knowledge, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel believes Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick could be a great fit.
"It's feeling like the board will be giving the A's a college bat here, and Helfrick is perceived as the best of this group. Hacopian, Drew Burress and Lebron are also potential fits, and college pitchers Liam Peterson and Cameron Flukey could fit."
Helfrick is one of the most advanced catchers in the college game, and he has a great bat to back that up. He loves to sit on fastballs, but if there was one thing he needs to work on, it's chasing pitches out of the zone, and he could use some work on hitting breaking balls.
More MLB news:
- Pirates may lean toward direct Major League help in the draft
- MLB analyst sets the stage for the Giants to draft one of the best prep bats
- Cubs have a $100 million problem brewing on the left side of their infield
- Rays' low-risk outfield gamble looks exactly like last summer's flop
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