A’s 2012 Top 10 Prospects, #5: Brad Peacock

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. This special Wednesday night edition in celebration of Leap Year will turn its focus on pitcher Brad Peacock, who claims the No.5 spot in our list of top 10 A’s prospects. 

The A’s best trade this winter, in my mind, was the Gio Gonzalez trade. Sure, the trade may not have been the most popular thing Billy Beane did this offseason, but at least he demonstrated why he’s still regarded as one of the brightest minds in baseball still.

While the A’s did give up Gonzalez, who won 31 games over his final two years in Oakland, what the team got in return was definitely made the trade worth it in the end.

Oakland got not one, but four prospects from the Washington Nationals in exchange for Gonzalez. Of the four prospects nabbed in the trade, two of them have landed on our list of top 10 A’s prospects this year. Right-hander Brad Peacock is one of those prospects.

Peacock, 24, is a former 41st round draft pick from 2006, who has a bright future ahead of him. Barring any injuries, Peacock has the stuff to make it in the big leagues and he should get plenty of playing time this year in Oakland’s young starting rotation.

He excelled in Washington’s farm-system, getting better and better as he moved through the minor leagues. His numbers in 2011 were impressive, as he went a combined 15-3 with a 2.39 ERA while splitting time between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse.

His strikeout rates are what impress me the most, though. He posted a K/9 rate of 6.3 in 2009 and then saw that number climb to 9.4 in 2010 while splitting time between High-A and Double-A ball. Last year, Peacock posted a 10.9 K/9 rate while splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A.

For the Athletics, Peacock is a viable option worth starting this year. He appeared in three games last year with the Nationals, going 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in 12 innings of work.

The A’s will likely roll out with a rotation that includes the likes of Brandon McCarthy, Bartolo Colon, Peacock, Tom Milone, and possibly even Jarrod Parker. The A’s youth-movement will definitely be in full-swing this season, with guys like Peacock gaining some much needed major league experience.

Overall, Peacock is a solid pitcher, who has three solid pitches in his arsenal and a potential to become a strikeout machine in Oakland’s rotation this year.