The second heat was a much closer race this time between lefties Jamie Arnold And Gauge Leap. Arnold, however, came in first with about 60 percent of the vote, taking second place overall on this year’s list of community prospects. Arnold, the 11th overall pick in last year’s draft, is further away than the team’s other top prospects, but he could end up being the best of the bunch. The fullback has drawn plenty of comparisons to another left-handed stud, Chris Sale, and the A’s would be happy to see Arnold follow the same career trajectory. The 21-year-old has yet to officially launch his professional career, but that should happen soon, likely at Single-A with a quick promotion on the table.
The next candidate to join the list will be left-handed Wei-En Lin. The Taiwanese southpaw was previously fairly moderately ranked last year, but has absolutely climbed the A-system ranks thanks to an extensive repertoire that looks like it could propel him into the starting pitching mix towards the end of the year. Lin could be another lefty that the A’s develop alongside Arnold and Jump, but will he be able to cross the finish line this coming year?
Advertisement
The process of this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:
-
Please only vote for one. The player with the most votes at the end of the voting will win the place on the leaderboard. The four remaining players move on to the next ballot where they are joined by a new candidate.
-
In the comments, under the official vote, the community designate the players who will be included on the ballot for the next round. The format of your comment should be “Nomination: Player Name”.
-
If a prospect is tradedhis name will be crossed out and all other players will be moved one space. If a prospect is acquireda special vote will be held to determine where that player should place.
* * *
A’s Fans’ Top Hopes, Ranked:
The votes continue! Who will take third place? Here’s a brief overview of each candidate: Scouting scores (on a scale of 20-80) and scouting reports are from MLB Pipeline.
Nominees in the current ballot:
Gauge jump, LHP
Expected level: Triple-A | 22 years old
Statistics 2025 (A+/AA): 3.28 ERA, 24 starts, 112 2/3 IP, 131 K, 34 BB, 7 HR, 2.96 FIP
MLB Pipeline Notes and Scouting Report:
Scouting Notes: Fastball: 55 | Curve ball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Change: 50 | Control: 55 | Total: 55
Jump’s fastball is difficult for opposing hitters to grip with an arm angle that creates some deception. The heater sits at around 92-94 mph and can reach up to 97 with good range in the area. His upper 70s curveball has significant downward break, and his 80s slider has cutting action. His low-80s changeup is used much less than his other three offerings.
Listed at 6 feet, Jump doesn’t have the size of a typical starter, although his growth since surgery and ability to generate his stuff with arm speed contribute to his potential prospects as a long-term starter. A mid-rotation starter’s ceiling is there, although some scouts believe he might be better suited in a bullpen role. For starters, the A’s will develop him as a starter and look to see him maintain good health and strike-throwing ability.
Henry Bolte, OF
Expected level: Triple-A | 22 years old
Statistics 2025 (AA/AAA): 488 PA, .284/.385/.427, 20 doubles, 6 triples, 9 HR, 56 RBI, 57 BB, 141 K, 44 SB
Advertisement
MLB Pipeline Notes and Scouting Report:
Scouting Notes: Shot: 45 | Power: 55 | Execution: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Total: 45
Bolte is a well-equipped athlete who continues to fill out his large 6-foot-3 frame. His impressive raw power continues to show in the minors, although there is still real concern regarding his high strikeout and strikeout rate as he continues to struggle with off-speed stuff outside the zone. The A’s have worked with him to revamp his swing to improve his bat path and cover more of the zone, which has produced slight improvements in those areas, although there is still much work to be done.
Another brilliant tool for Bolte is his near-elite speed, which was on display last season as he swiped 46 sacks. This speed is also useful on defense, combining it with a strong arm that makes him a solid outfielder at all three positions. Further refinement is needed, but he remains an exciting talent with a very high ceiling who continues to progress steadily through the system.
Braden Nett, RHP
Expected level: Triple-A | 23 years old
Statistics 2025 (AA): 3.75 ERA, 24 starts, 105 2/3 IP, 116 K, 48 BB, 8 HR, 3.77 FIP
MLB Pipeline Notes and Scouting Report:
Scouting Notes: Fastball: 55 | Curve ball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Change: 50 | Control: 55 | Total: 55
While working through injuries, Nett continued to show stellar speed, reaching up to 99 mph in the minor leagues last season. He typically sits at 95-97 mph and swings and misses the zone with ample carry. He also throws a tight 81-84 mph slider that generated a 38% whiff rate in 24 and a sharper 90-92 mph cutter that can catch hitters off guard. He’ll mix a higher 70s curveball with more vertical drop and he’s ditched a 80s splitter in favor of a much more effective 88 mph kick changeup that really neutralizes lefties.
Nett put some effort into his delivery, and the 2025 season (pre-trade) was the first time he posted a walk rate below 13 percent at any Minor League stop. Combine that with early injury concerns, and it’s easy to think he could eventually be a reliever. But his arsenal is deep enough and his stuff is promising enough — when combined with the progress he’s made this season — to continue to land him in a starting role in the upper minors.
Johnnyssy ColoméSS
Scouting Notes: Hit: 55| Power: 65 | Race: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Total: 60
It’s not often that teenage prospects launch home runs. But Colome tends to hit that jittery pop with frequency, constantly exploiting his swing — so well in fact, that one evaluator mentioned the most recent occasion where he saw an international prospect continually hit his launch point in this manner was Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Colome is a right-handed hitter with explosive hands and a solid contact rate, although he’s known for being a bit aggressive in the box to get that power.
Something of an athletic marvel standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 190 pounds at 16, Colome is an agile athlete who displays plenty of lateral quickness. The fluidity of his movements and his strong arm have led to comparisons to Manny Machado on the defensive end. Much like the seven-time All-Star, Colome may drift away as his frame fills out, but he is an extremely dedicated worker and has the feet, soft hands and instincts to stay at the premium position.
Wei-En Lin, LHP
Expected level: Double-A | 20 years
Statistics 2025 (A, A+, AA): 3.72 ERA, 13 starts (26 appearances), 87 IP, 117 K, 22 BB, 9 HR, 3.77 FIP
MLB Pipeline Notes and Scouting Report:
Scouting Notes: Fastball: 50| Curve ball: 50 | Slider: 45:50 | Change: 50 | Field: 55 | Total: 40
A 6-foot-2 left-hander, Lin has a combination of feel on five pitches and projection on his frame. Right now, his fastball only averages 91 mph, but it tops out at 95, and it’s easy to see that his frame has huge room to add good force, with more consistent velocity to come. It already had the makings of a quality heater, thrown at a clearance height of about 5.9 feet and with over 18 inches of throw, which helped it miss a fair amount of bats. His changeup was his best secondary offering to date, with huge whiff rates in his debut. His short curve is his favorite breaking ball so far, although he has a harder, shorter slider. It will also use a splitter for another off-speed possibility.
It’s a small sample size so far in his first full season, but Lin appears to have the makings of an extreme strike pitcher, showing particularly good command of his fastball and curve. If the teenage southpaw is able to fill out and throw harder, the A’s could have a very interesting left-handed starting pitching prospect on their hands.
* * *
Note on programming: Each CPL vote will last approximately 48 hours, so don’t delay in making your selections!
