From Beloit To Oakland: 2018 Spring Training Preview

With spring training beginning this week with the reporting of pitchers and catchers, we take a look at some former Snappers who have a chance to make the Oakland Athletics Opening Day roster.

Daniel Gossett, Renato Núñez, Matt Olson and Matt Chapman headline the list of former Snappers that could make their way from Mesa, Ariz., to The Coliseum.
Another name Beloit fans are familiar with is Boog Powell, who could start the season manning center field for the A's. Powell, who made his major league debut with Seattle on April 29 of last season against the Cleveland Indians, was traded to the Athletics on August 6, 2017 for Yonder Alonso. The 25-year-old produced well for the A's in his 29 games with the club, hitting .321-3-10 in 29 games with the club. In total for the 2017 season, the former A's 20^th round selection in 2012 combined to bat .282-3-12 in his first 52 games in the majors. Powell will have to beat out Dustin Fowler for the center field honors, but with Fowler recovering from a knee injury last season Powell may start the year as the Opening Day center fielder.
After having a break-out season in 2017 at the major league level, Olson seems to be a lock to man first base for the A's in 2018. The former first round pick in 2012 began the season with Triple-A Nashville while hitting .272-23-60 in 79 games with the Sounds. While with the A's, the 23-year-old hit 24 home runs in 59 games with his first career home run coming off James Shields on June 24, 2017 against the Chicago White Sox. Olson also clubbed his second career home run in the same game as the A's took a 10-2 victory. His 24 homers also ranked him tied for seventh amongst rookie in major league baseball.
Bruce Maxwell has solidified himself as the A's starting catcher going forward. The Birmingham-Southern College product hit .237-3-22 in 76 games with the parent club in 2017. Maxwell, who had a perfect fielding percentage (1.000%) also caught 17 of 61 (28%) of would be base-stealers.
After having a brief stint with the A's in 2016, Renato Nunez launched 32 home runs for Triple-A Nashville in 2017 before being promoted to Oakland after the season once again. Primarily a third baseman, Nunez has played left field and first base professionally as well as designated hitter. The power has never been a question for Nunez, who has 130 career minor league homers and also hit his first major league home run on September 29, 2017 against the Texas Rangers off Martín Pérez.
Matt Chapman made his major league debut on June 15, 2017 against the New York Yankees in Oakland and recorded his first hit the following day. Like Olson, Chapman also hit his first and second home runs in the same game both off Cleveland Indians ace Corey Kluber on July 15. The Cal-State Fullerton product played all of his 84 games at third base and finished his rookie campaign with a .955 fielding percentage and committed 13 errors.
Fighting for a starting rotation spot , Daniel Gossett enters camp as one of four options for potentially the final two spots in the five man rotation. Sean Manaea and Kendall Graveman are atop the rotation, with Paul Blackburn likely filling the third rotation spot, leaving two spots open. Gossett, Jharel Cotton, Daniel Mengden and Andrew Triggs will all compete for an Opening Day roster spot.
Spring Training games will begin for both the Grapefruit and Cactus League on February 23 and last through March 27 when camp breaks. Opening Day for the 2018 Beloit Snappers will be April 5 against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at 6:30 p.m. CST.