Front of the Line: A.J. Cole has the potential to be a front-of-the-line starter for the A's (Photo Credit: gambling911.com)

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 turn our attention now to pitcher A.J. Cole, who was acquired in the Gio Gonzalez trade. Cole is figured to have quality stuff and the potential to be a front-line starter in a few years.

After being drafted by the Washington Nationals in the fourth-round of the 2010 draft, A.J. Cole entered Washington’s system as a highly regarded prospect with a very high ceiling. Two years later, he’s a member of the Athletics’ organization after being traded to Oakland in the deal that sent All-Star lefty Gio Gonzalez to Washington.

With a 6’4″ lanky frame, Cole has the ideal pitcher’s body with lots of room for growing. Cole, 20, projects to be a front-line starter in the future for the A’s and that projection is based on the type of numbers he’s posted in the minor leagues.

The lean and mean pitching machine Cole currently embodies features a fastball that reaches the mid-90s, a curveball with great breaking action, and a developing changeup. The fastball right now, anyway, is probably Cole’s best pitch with his curveball serving as a nice chase-pitch.

He’ll sweep the curve against both righties and lefties, demonstrating he’s got faith in the pitch. The changeup, meanwhile, still could use a little more work. He’s shown a good feel for the pitch, but issues with the command of the pitch will need to be resolved before he uses that circle-change as an effective weapon.

Right now, then, Cole is more of a fastball-curveball type of pitcher. Improving his changeup, then, should be a point of focus for the right-hander. At just 20 years old, though, he’s got plenty of time to develop and mature into an effective, well-rounded starter.

The former fourth-rounder compiled a 4-7 record with a 4.04 ERA in 18 starts with Single-A Hagerstown last year. He also posted a 10.9 SO/9 rate as the lanky right-hander struck out an impressive 108 batters over 89.0 innings. In addition, the promising young Cole posted an encouraging 2.53 FIP last year.

He also displayed solid control, posting a 2.4 BB/9 rate last year with Hagerstown. Compared to other guys his age, Cole’s command is pretty good. Give him a few more years in the minors and he’ll really get a feel for the game.

Overall, Cole has big league potential. He’s definitely got a shot at becoming a No.1 or No.2 guy in Oakland’s rotation in a few years if his development goes smoothly. The A’s, a team not expected to contend for at least another few years, would be smart not to rush the kid.

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Sep 22, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Brad Peacock (41) delivers to the plate during the third inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals defeated the Phillies 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

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.

July 1, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics first baseman Chris Carter (22) at bat during the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Diamondbacks 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

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 week’s double-feature turns its focus now to Chris Carter, who lands in the No.7 spot in our list of Oakland’s Top 10 prospects for 2012.

Like Michael Taylor, Chris Carter will likely enter spring camp with an added sense of urgency. Carter, 25, has put together some strong minor league seasons together over his career, but transitioning over to the big league level has not been as easy for the youngster.

He posted 124 home runs between the years 2007-2010 and has demonstrated, on the minor league level, a real knack at putting a charge in the ball when he’s at the plate. Last year, though, Carter didn’t see as much playing time in the minors due to a thumb injury that had him miss two months of playing time.

In 75 games last year with the Sacramento River Cats, Carter managed to post a .274/.366/.530 slash line with 18 HR and 72 RBIs. On the flip-side, however, Carter still struggled with his strikeout rate last year in Triple-A. He struck out 24.7% of the time, while walking 12.2% of the time. (more…)