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A’s in AFL: Barreto, Schrock represent future double-play tandem
- Updated: October 25, 2016
Franklin Barreto and Max Schrock highlight a talented crop of Oakland Athletics prospects participating in this year’s Arizona Fall League, a group that includes seven players overall and five Top 30 prospects.
Barreto and Schrock have been billed as offensive-oriented players in their young careers, with their hitting ability helping to offset some defensive concerns. But now, after a short stint playing together in Double-A during the regular season, the A’s future double-play tandem is working on honing its defensive chops while playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in this year’s Fall League.
Barreto, the A’s top prospect and No. 42 on the Top 100, enjoyed another strong year at the plate in 2016, hitting .281/.340/.413 with 10 home runs and 30 steals at Double-A Midland before advancing to Triple-A Nashville ahead of the Pacific Coast League playoffs. And while the 20-year-old shortstop also made strides defensively, he’s aware that he still has considerable improvements to make on the dirt.
“My purpose is always to have good at-bats and work on my defense, which is the most important [thing] that I have to work on day-to-day,” said Barreto, who trimmed his error total to 15 this season from a career-high 34 in 2015.
As for Schrock, he’s still familiarizing himself with the A’s organization after coming over from the Nationals on Aug. 25 in exchange for left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski.
“I just had no idea that it was coming,” said Schrock, the A’s No. 20 prospect.
Selected by Washington in the 13th round of the 2015 Draft, Schrock, 22, hit up a storm in his first full pro season. He batted .326 over 67 games at Class A Hagerstown and then posted a .341 clip over 54 games with Class A Advanced Potomac before joining the …
