1"Weight: 160Acquired: 2015 Trade with NYY and DETPosition: Second BasemanB/T: S/RMost Notable Tool: Hitting toolSeason Stats: 83 games http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-verlander-jersey ,..."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Diamondbacks Farm TeamsGameday ThreadsDiamondbacks NewsDiamondbacks Game ReportsFang FoodDiamondbacks Farm SystemDiamondbacks ProspectsDiamondbacks Top Prospect #15: Infielder Domingo LeybaNew,6commentsESTShareTweetShareShareDiamondbacks Top Prospect #15: Infielder Domingo LeybaMark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsName: Domingo LeybaDOB: 9/11/1995 (Age 23)Height: 5’11”Weight: 160Acquired: 2015 Trade with NYY and DETPosition: Second BasemanB/T: S/RMost Notable Tool: Hitting toolSeason Stats: 83 games, 358 PA, .269/.344/.381 (109 wRC+), 17 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 43 R, 5/7 SB for AA Jackson2018 Season Summary: After a terrible shoulder injury that shortened his 2017 season to just 17 games and not fully recovered at the start of the season, Leyba spent the entire season for AA Jackson. The results weren’t spectacular with a 109 wRC+ after a breakthrough campaign in 2016, but certainly respectable enough to keep him on the prospect map for now. He had two good months (May, July) and two poor months (June, August). The strikeout and walk rates are solid with a 13% K rate and 10% BB rate, so plate discipline was never really an issue across the full season numbers. In fact the past two full seasons he’s played the walk rate has been about 9% vs. a strikeout rate of 14%, so Leyba has shown the ability to at least lay off borderline pitches at the AA level. Tools: Hit 40/50, Power 35/40, Speed 50, Defense 45/50I don’t know how much his shoulder was bothering him, but his tool set is rather average overall. The strong strikeout to walk ratio suggests he’ll put up a solid contact and walk rate. The lack of game-changing power, speed, or defensive versatility could cause him to get passed by better prospects in the system.d by better prosUpside: Due to the lack of a strong throwing arm Brian McCann Jersey , Leyba is limited to 2B defensively. The team already has a core player established with 6 more seasons of team control in Ketel Marte, so starting at that position is out of the question barring any unforeseen moves. As a result, Leyba may have to make his mark as a utility infielder, although the team already has a utility infielder with a bit more defensive versatility in Ildemaro Vargas.Risk: Due to the limited defensive profile and the lack of a potential impact tool, Leyba stands to be washed out of the system by higher upside players in front and behind him. A 109 wRC+ season at the plate in 350 PA is decent for a light-hitting prospect, but with the recent acquisition of Andy Young in the Paul Goldschmidt trade, the Dbacks have added a prospect to the system with a similar timeline and more upside. He’s already spent two seasons on the Diamondbacks’ 40 man roster and has not seen a single plate appearance above AA yet, which means the team only has 1 option year left. Likely 2019 Assignment: Leyba will likely start the year for the Reno Aces, the AAA affiliate. At this point, there is very little development potential for Leyba there and it’s a sink or swim season for him as a prospect. ETA: 2019 Season A perennial exercise in which you tear your hair out questioning the Athletics’ relevancy. Nothing more, nothing less."Oakland Athletics2018: 97-67, 2nd in AL West, lost in AL wild card game to New York YankeesWho?The Oakland Athletics. You know, the team that assembles a team of misfit toys, shrewd trades and the occasional elite prospect to ascend to under-the-radar brilliance on a 2018 opening day payroll less than half of that of the Angels’? Yeah, them.Were they even good last year?Certainly. While an extensive injury list to the rotation forced them to roll with a ragtag team of musketeers, the impact was offset by a terrific defense and a strong bullpen. Matt Chapman proved himself to be the real deal, and Jed Lowrie lambasted his peers with a five-win season. Khris Davis, Matt Olson, and Stephen Piscotty provided all-important thump, and Blake Treinen is consistently nasty. Still, the team shouldn’t have been nearly as incredible as they were last year http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-verlander-jersey , as everything went right and little went wrong.What did they do this offseason?Losing Jed Lowrie, Kendall Graveman, Shawn Kelley, Familia, Emilio Pagan, and Trevor Cahill is quite the blow to the squad’s talent base, and the plethora of buy-low candidates in Marco Estrada, Robbie Grossman, and Jerry Blevins isn’t nearly enough to fill the gap. Oakland’s hallmark trade for this winter was acquiring former top-prospect Jurickson Profar from Texas, who is somehow just 26 years old and posted 2.9 fWAR last season, a nice Lowrie replacement if performance holds. Joakim Soria helps replace relief pieces who didn’t return to the organization. Nick Hundley is a fine yet underwhelming seasoned catching addition on a minors deal. 2019 Projected LineupORDERPOSPLAYERBATSAGEZiPS (fWAR)ORDERPOSPLAYERBATSAGEZiPS (fWAR)Stats and info courtesy of FanGraphs The heart of the A’s lineup is stacked with power, no doubt, but it’s the getting on-base that could be a problem without Jed Lowrie. Surely, Piscotty or Profar will step up to fill the role but I’m skeptical such large shoes can be filled. This is a nice lineup overall, though the bottom has much to be desired — keep in mind that this will be improved through use of platoons. 2019 RotationPLAYERThrowsAGEZiPS (fWAR)PLAYERThrowsAGEZiPS (fWAR)Not a lot of confidence to be inspired in these pitchers whose best days have been had long before. The A’s are banking on defense and large AL West parks to outperform their pitchers’ true talent level and have starters produce enough volume to be competitive. Furthermore, Sean Manaea, Jharel Cotton, and Jesus Luzardo are all on the shelf, three MLB-quality starters. Top prospect A.J. Puk isn’t on the roster, either. 2019 BullpenPLAYERThrowsAGEZiPS (fWAR)PLAYERThrowsAGEZiPS (fWAR)Treinen has the ability to wipe out the best of hitters. We all know how good Joakim Soria is. Liam Hendricks and Lou Trivino have found considerable success, and Buchter presents a unique look from the left side. Old friend Yusmeiro Petit is still at it with his deception, too. This is an okay group as a whole Tyler Clippard Jersey , but it’s nothing special and the additions aren’t nearly enough to make up for the talent that was lost this offseason. If their starters can’t go three times through the order, they could be in big trouble this season.What is their strength?Defense, defense, defense. Matt Chapman is a stalwart on the left side, as is Matt Olson at the opposite corner. Marcus Semien improved considerably last season (9 DRS, 8.3 UZR), an incredible plus considering poor defensive ability nearly derailed his career before it even took off. What is their weakness? Starting rotation depth definitely exists, but is lacking in talent. Jesus Luzardo has the tools to be one of the better starters in the league and Manaea has shown flashes, but the rest of the group leaves much to be desired in aggregate. It may not hurt the A’s so much in their home ballpark, but it will be exposed in road games against the Astros. Furthermore, I am not convinced the team has the necessary table-setters it needs to win games by considerable margins, despite packing a punch with the long-ball. So, what can we expect?I expect an A’s team with their typical modus operandi. They’re going to scratch and claw and fight in every game, and make it close. It’s what they do, and it’s what they’ve always done. But there’s little doubt that the team massively overperformed last year, and hasn’t done nearly enough to add more talent to offset that which was lost. I see a third-place finish for the A’s in the 84-88 win range, and definitely threatening for playoff time in September. What’s the most accurate song representation for this team?Goofy Goober Rock from the Spongebob Squarepants movie, because they simply don’t know how to quit.