A's Prospect Primer: Olson's got the power

Some players are on the verge of stardom, others are entering a crucial phase of their development and still others are getting their first tastes of full-season ball. With the 2015 season approaching, MiLB.com takes a look at the most intriguing prospects from each MLB organization.

Shining Star: Franklin Barreto, SS

Though not the team's top ranked prospect -- Barreto is ranked second -- the 19-year-old is coming off a highly impressive season in the Northwest League, batting .311 with 33 extra-base hits and 61 RBIs in 73 games for Vancouver. He was the main piece the Blue Jays dangled to get All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson from Oakland in the offseason.

"It's interesting -- he had some issues in Venezuela and just arrived Tuesday [March 17]," said A's director of player development Keith Lieppman, "He just got on the field. Our first impressions -- we've just seen him in an intrasquad game -- first at-bat it was a line drive to left field, solid contact. The reports are off the charts as far as his athleticism, about his ability to make good, hard contact, he appears to be a very good defender, could play short or second. At this stage he looks like he's going to be able to put up some speed numbers, we had him running 4.1 [seconds] to first base. Nice combo of tools and youth and somebody that we can grow with in the organization."

Best tool: Matt Olson, 1B

Even if you take the inflated offensive environment of the California League into consideration, Olson's 2014 numbers were still pretty impressive. He finished third in the Minor Leagues with 37 homers, and led the Minors with 117 walks. Currently the A's top prospect, Olson's power rates a 65 according to MLB.com, and that power has been on display for his whole career, as the 20-year-old has hit 69 homers in 322 Minor Leagues games.

"Its a typical scenario where most of our guys put up the really good numbers at Stockton," said Lieppman, who wasn't sure whether Olson would start at Midland or Nashville. "At Double-A you have to learn to be a good hitter versus a home run hitter in that ballpark or in the Texas League in general. I don't think people recognize many of the cities -- the way they are situated, they play where the wind is opposite of Stockton, where it's in your face most of the time. In the player's development, he learns to keep the ball on a plane as opposed to lift. In one way it helps develop these guys; we don't emphasize the home run, just hard contact and consistency with their swings. I think we all understand he does have power, and when he gets to the big leagues he'll be the prototypical power hitter that's gonna hit for 25 or 30 at that level. Showing that off early is kind of what we see right now -- it's pure power and it will play at the big league level."

Back and healthy: Raul Alcantara, RHP

Three starts into his 2014 season, Alcantara was shut down and had Tommy John surgery. The shame of it was Alcantara was off to a great start with Double-A Midland. The 22-year-old was 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA while allowing 17 hits over 19 2/3 innings for the RockHounds. Though Alcantara is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, he should be able to get on the mound before the summer according to Lieppman, who called Alcantara's comeback from Tommy John the quickest he's seen in the organization.

"We're having him go through our extended spring program with a May date for starting to make his comeback, but he's had no setbacks," he said. "He's right on track and maybe ahead of schedule. Just because of the seriousness of the surgery, we'll be conservative; there's no need to push him too quickly. We'll limit his innings this year -- he's probably not going to rack up a whole bunch. Next year will be the big year for him. This is just getting him back and making sure everything is right on target.

"He really developed a good slider. He improved that to the degree, where he had a good fastball, a changeup, but the breaking ball was an issue. He had started to come up with a pretty good pitch. I think, as he's coming back, he's starting to throw breaking balls now. What will end up happening is maybe he'll have a better breaking ball, going through the rehab. Getting his mechanics fundamentally sound and the right way to throw that breaking ball will be developed. This may be a blessing in disguise for him."

Major League-ready: Kendall Graveman, RHP

Part of the same deal in which the A's sent Donaldson to Toronto, Graveman has a chance to break camp with the A's this spring and potentially open in the rotation as well. He's been nearly unhittable in Spring Training, sporting a 0.60 ERA in four outings, allowing just seven hits over 15 innings while walking four.

It was a similar case last year in the Minors, as the 24-year-old was 14-6 with a 1.83 ERA in 27 starts. Drafted two years, Graveman held hitters to a .231 batting average while pitching at four levels.

"Without a doubt," Lieppman said about whether Graveman will pitch in the bigs this year. "I think he's made a tremendous impression at the big league level. He's still with them, I have seen some of his games and he's made a big impact on the big league camp. He's one of those guys who are in the mix. I think there are a lot of guys that are very impressed with his abilities."

Full-Season debutant: Matt Chapman, 3B

The A's first-round pick will head to either the California League or the Texas League after getting into 54 Minor League games across the Arizona, Midwest and Texas Leagues. Already considered an above-average defender, the 21-year-old will seek to improve on his .692 OPS from last year, though his debut will be delayed a bit because of a knee injury.

"With Chapman, the last day before he reported to mini-camp, he was in his exercise program and he ended up hurting his knee in a fluke [way] -- as he was running, he somehow tripped and hurt his knee. He's in rehab right now -- we're just going through a scenario where they are trying to get him ready to maybe be ready to go out in mid-April or the first of May. We had slated him to go to either Stockton or Midland, but the injury has put a little slowdown effect on him.

"We think very highly of him. He's a true No. 1 pick, world of tools with a great arm, upside defender. It's a shame he's had to miss time. I think he'll be ready to play once he finishes his rehab."

More to keep an eye on: Another component of the Josh Donaldson trade, Sean Nolin could help the A's this year, having made 17 starts for Triple-A Buffalo a year ago, though he may need to build up endurance after only tossing 97 Minor League innings due to a groin injury. ... After being named the Indians' Minor League Player of the Year in 2013, Joey Wendle struggled last season, partly due to a broken hamate bone. He'll get a new start with the Indians after being acquired for Brandon Moss over the winter. ... After hitting 25 homers in 2013, Max Muncy saw his power output dip to seven long balls with Midland last season. He still showed a propensity for getting on base, posting a .385 OBP while also being able to play both corner infield positions. ... Using his 80 speed, Billy Burns was able to swipe 54 bases in 60 tries in 119 games and added three more stolen bases in 13 big league games. If Burns can raise his average from a career-low .237 in 2014, he could be an interesting player to watch.