A's set for 2024 home opener amid renewed excitement

4.08.24

There are many things involving Mother Nature or Acts of God for which you cannot plan when strategizing the schedule for your home opener. A total eclipse is not one of those.

It has been known for a long time that the A's 2024 home opener at the Navy Yard on Monday, April 8 would fall on the same day that an eclipse would strike across the region. Here in Philly, the solar eclipse begins at around 2:30 PM ET and lasts for approximately two-and-a-half hours, hitting 90% totality at around 3:30PM, with full sunlight finally re-emerging at around 4:35 PM ET. 

For that reason, the team and the WFBL scheduled first pitch for 7:15 PM ET rather than what would most years have been an afternoon opener. The eclipse excitement will only add to the usual lengthy tailgate partying among the Athletics fans.

When those fans do finally come strolling in to Philadelphia Park at the Navy Yard, they will do so with a renewed sense of excitement. The buzz around the club's social media exchanges proves that to be a fact. And the reasoning would be the quick emergence of some of the top young talent from the minor league system.

In particular, 20-year-old center fielder Jackson Chourio and 22-year-old left fielder Wyatt Langford have been the hottest topic on sports talk radio and the internet. Not since Bryce Harper and Mike Trout debuted together here a dozen years ago have a pair of mega-talents of this caliber and age burst upon the scene together in South Philly.

But Chourio and Langford are not alone. 22-year-old Colt Keith is expected to handle the regular Designated Hitter duties while serving as a second base backup. And on the mound, a pair of 25-year-olds, Gavin Stone and  Japanese import Yoshinobu Yamamoto, are making their home debuts. 

While the newcomers are a big part of the buzz, a handful of returnees are also still young and looking to improve. That group includes first baseman Spencer Torkelson (24), second baseman Bryson Stott (26), catcher Gabriel Moreno (24), starting pitchers Brayan Bello (24) and George Kirby (26), and 23-year-old closer Abner Uribe.

"Sure, we had a tough season last year where standings are concerned. But Philly fans are smart. We never tried to insult their intelligence," said DeRosa. "They knew we were at the very beginnings of a major rebuilding effort, the biggest this organization has ever undertaken. There were going to be a couple of tough years. But we competed well, and I think we gave them a lot to cheer for last year. We're going to push to improve this season and give them even more to cheer."

One area of the team that could help that push for improvement is the pitching staff. A year ago it was the A's arms who kept the team in many of their games. Of their 14 defeats, 10 came by scores of either 6-5 or 7-5. That was in addition to the six wins and two tie results, meaning that the club was extremely competitive in 18 of their 22 games. Pitching was the strong suit a year ago and should be once again.

Pitching coach Mark Prior saw a lot of talent over these first few days:

"We have a ton of talent on the staff," said Prior. "Even more than a year ago. And it's young. These guys are going to be causing a lot of trouble for our opponents this year. And there is more coming from the minors, and soon. I've loved working with them."

There are just two veteran starting pitchers on the current roster, 28-year-old right-hander Jack Flaherty and 34-year-old southpaw Drew Smyly. But those two are expected to be supporting pieces. The real excitement comes from the younger arms, led by 25-year-old Japanese import Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The right-hander was signed by A's GM Matt Veasey as the result of a trade which vaulted the club to the top of the Waiver Wire late in 2023.

"This young man is something special," said Veasey. "He comes with as much talent and variety of pitches as any pitcher in the game. And he's smart about how to use his repertoire as well. His talent and age where the reason that we made the deal to jump up on the Wire. I can see Yoshi anchoring the rotation for years to come."

The rotation returns George Kirby and Brayan Bello and welcomes back trade re-acquisition Eury Perez. It is expected that at some point, possibly very early in the year, top draft pick Paul Skenes will be ready as well. Emmet Sheehan and Gavin Stone were added in a late trade with Eugene and are each expected to contribute at some point. And the club should finally see the return of talented righty Shane Baz to the mix by midseason at the latest. Jacob Misiorowski and Cade Horton will be starting out at Triple-A Myrtle Beach, readying for their own first opportunities.

In the bullpen, veteran lefty flamethrower Jose Alvarado and young righty fireballer Abner Uribe are already here. The club will look to add a couple of relievers during the Majors Draft, possibly even after its conclusion, who fit Prior's mantra of strikeouts while keeping the ERA/WHIP levels as low as possible.

While the pitchers are ahead of the position player core developmentally, that situation could change quickly. "The biggest factor in our being able to push back up the standings is going to be the development of our hitters," said Veasey. "Our minor league system is ranked as the best in the WFBL for a reason, and the bats are that reason. We need to get them up here to Philly and producing as quickly as we can."

Already here are first baseman Torkelson, catcher Moreno, and second baseman Stott. The 26-year-old Stott became a father for the first time this off-season. He was the club's Jimmie Foxx Award winner last year as the top offensive performer when his teammates voted Stott as the 10th Captain in club history. 

That is only three players for nine positions. The A's expect Keith to battle for the DH spot with Curtis Mead. The versatile Mead will be trying to earn a starting nod at third base or a corner outfield spot. However, his bat will be his calling card. Keith will also back up Stott at second base. The team will be otherwise be looking to draft a starting shortstop and third baseman to open the season for the short term. They really want to have Colson Montgomery ready to take that full-time shortstop role over at some point, hopefully early in the year.

In the outfield, Chourio will turn just 20-years-old during spring training. But the mega-talented prospect is penciled in as the starting center fielder, both for 2024 and for years to come. Last year's top Minors Draft selection, Langford will be given every opportunity to begin the season as the starting left fielder. The A's are likely going to turn to the Majors Draft to fill at least one outfield berth to open the year.

"We have holes to fill offensively," said Veasey. "It's my job to fill those. It's probably going to happen at the Majors Draft. But one thing that I can tell fans for certain - we are not going to block our top prospects. When they are ready for a full-time shot, they are going to get it. Whether that comes right out of spring training, a few weeks in, or somewhere down the line later in the year, there are going to be exciting young talents filling up our lineup."

The mantra for the 2024 Philadelphia Athletics is going to be integrate more exciting talent into the lineup, establish strong pitching from within the organizational ranks, stay healthy, compete for as many wins as possible, and exit the year with positive momentum towards 2025.

"We're not giving any games away," said DeRosa. "Yeah, it's still going to be a challenge. But everyone saw how we battled last year. How close an awful lot of our losses were. I'm telling you, if our kids develop the way that we believe they will, we're going to be even more trouble this season."