The A's took a big chance, and an equally big risk, drafting dual-sport athlete Kyler Murray for the No. 9 overall pick during last year's MLB draft.
The short story is, he didn't choose baseball. He'll be throwing a ball for the Cardinals -- but of the football variety -- next season as the team's quarterback and No. 1 overall draft pick.
It's fine. This is fine.
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So next season, we know the A's, along with every other team, won't have a similar situation to dissect. But ESPN's Keith Law posted his first MLB mock draft and has the A's taking a look at someone at the hot corner.
For the team's first pick at the No. 29 overall spot, Law suggests Kody Hoese, a third baseman from Tulane.
"Hoese has come on this spring to lead Division 1 in homers after declining to sign last year as a draft-eligible sophomore," Law writes.
Hoese, a 6-4 junior infielder from Griffith, Ind. is batting .404/.491/.829 with 21 home runs in 47 games this season. Yes -- I had to double check those numbers as well.
Oakland Athletics
A scout says he's a prominent riser this spring with his value sky-rocketing.
"He went from down the board to potential first-rounder over the course of the spring," a scout told NBC Sports California. "His numbers are insane: 1.320 OPS with 19 doubles with 21 bombs and more walks than strikeouts. He's also a solid defender at third base who can stay there long term. Good hit/power combo and looks like he’s got a chance to be a really good everyday major leaguer."
So that's good news.
Last season with the GreenWave, Hoese batted just .291. I say "just," because -- well, he's batting .414 now -- and I realize I've already written that, but I needed to write it again.
Baseball America's scouting report on the 21-year-old reads similar with an emphasis on how much he's improved in his junior year:
"A 6-foot-4, 200-pound third baseman with Tulane, Hoese has broken out in his junior season in the American Athletic Conference. After hitting just five home runs over his freshman and sophomore seasons, Hoese has managed 19 homers as of April 16—more than any hitter in the country. In that 36-game stretch, Hoese has managed a .409/.500/.879 slash line with more walks (24) than strikeouts (16). However, teams will be plenty skeptical of Hoese on draft day considering his track record prior to this season and the fact that he’s a fringe-average defender at third base. Most of his value is tied to his bat, and with a pair of mediocre wood-bat summer performances, a team taking him on Day 1 or early Day 2 will have to be confident his 2019 season is more indicative of his talent."
[RELATED: Matt Olson reportedly set to rejoin A's]
The Orioles, Royals and White Sox have the first through third picks for the draft that takes place on Monday, June 3 at 7 p.m. PT with coverage beginning on MLB Network and MLB.com at 6 p.m.