A’s 2012 Top 10 Prospects, #10: Grant Green

Every Thursday, Swingin’ A’s will unveil a top Oakland A’s prospect. Starting from number 10 and finishing with number 1, be sure to stop by every Thursday to see who makes the list of the Top 10 Oakland A’s prospects. We’ll start with No.10, SS Grant Green, who will look to rebound in 2012 after a so-so 2011 campaign.

After posting so-so numbers in 2011, Oakland’s Grant Green may need to have himself a stellar 2012 campaign in order to win back some of the support from fans. Aside from his power leaving him last season, Green struggled with the strike zone in 2011, posting a 119/39 K/BB. Those are not encouraging numbers from a former first round draft pick.

Once viewed as a cornerstone type of guy, Green has been reduced down to more of a super-utility guy in Oakland’s system. The organization had Green playing in Center Field last July with the Rock Hounds, suggesting that the team isn’t entirely sold on his status as an everyday short stop.

Some see Green as more of a second baseman than anything, but given the arrival of Jemile Weeks, Green’s future at second doesn’t look promising. Barring any serious injuries, Weeks is Oakland’s second baseman. Period.

Consequently, Green will need to perform well this season in order to reestablish himself as a top prospect. Still, I think its quite a stretch to have Green playing in the outfield, let alone in center field. Unfortunately, though, Green has placed himself in this predicament.

After hitting .318/.363/.520 with 20 HR and 87 RBIs with Stockton, he posted a .291/.343/.408 line with 9 HR and 62 RBIs with Double A Midland.

As if Green’s 112 point dip in SLG wasn’t a cause for concern, the former first rounder also failed to show any improvements with his SO-to-BB numbers. He posted a 117/38 K/BB in ’10 and a 119/39 K/BB last year.

Green will need to make adjustments this season if he’s to be a viable option for the Athletics. Green’s not a terrible player, but he’s certainly no longer a No.1 or No.2 guy in Oakland’s farm system.

If he makes the necessary improvements, his future with the organization may be brighter than it currently is.

The power-starved A’s would like nothing more than to have Green rebound from his so-so 2011 campaign this year. Will it happen? Maybe. Hopefully for the A’s he does turn things around.

The team has been looking for hitters for a while now and Green was supposed to be a guy they could build around for future seasons.

He’s still in the top-10 of A’s prospects, but he’ll need to turn things around this year to re-establish himself as a viable major league starter.

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