When Athletics Manager Mark Kotsay offered his final thanks in an on-field speech directed at A’s fans, he officially concluded the Athletics’ 57-year storied tenure in Oakland. The Athletics will now claim temporary residency in the California Capital of Sacramento.
They will arrive in Sactown with hopes of piggybacking off of the electric atmosphere that the NBA’s Sacramento Kings have offered their fanbase over the past few seasons. California’s 6th largest city has always been proud and loyal to its sports teams. Sutter Health Park will offer Athletics fans an up close and interactive experience unlike any other in MLB.
The Athletics front office has made some bold and creative moves during this offseason. They have worked to improve the roster by addressing several areas of need. Kotsay and company expect a list of top prospects to arrive in camp, hoping they will compete for a spot in the lineup on opening day. The club is obviously in unprecedented transition, but that doesn’t mean it will not compete for a playoff spot and beyond.
Sutter Health Park is a lovely baseball venue. Renovations are in the final phase, upgrading the former 14,000-seat outdoor stadium to 18,000 seats, reminiscent of a big league park. The grass field is being replaced with state-of-the-art field turf, similar to what is currently offered at numerous NFL stadiums.
The backdrop of the capital skyline and the visible nearby Sacramento River will offer fans a live baseball experience not unlike the picturesque venues of Oracle or PNC Park, albeit on a smaller scale. Sacramento is a baseball city.
Nearby Sacramento City College (Coach Reed Smith) is a five-time State Champion in the highly competitive and skilled California Community College (JUCO) Athletic Association. There is also a Nationally Ranked Division One program, with the Sacramento State Hornets (Coach Reggie Christiansen) cracking the National top 25 poll several times over the past few years.
Baseball is everywhere in Sacramento, and the Athletics will look to write their chapter of baseball lore as they plan to stay for at least two years. The organization and the city seem to be working well together to prepare for the arrival of Major League Baseball.
Excitement for this Athletics team began to pick up steam when the team announced the signing of former Mets and one-time Yankees ace Luis Severino. The hard-throwing right-hander saw a resurgence of success in 2024, throwing 182 innings to an ERA of a respectable 3.91. Severino will probably be the opening-day starter, but that is not set in stone.
JP Sears had a career-high 180.2 innings in 2024, including 13 quality starts. He has ace potential, as does Joey Estes, who, at age 22 last season, made 24 starts. Add to this a very capable bullpen and possibly the best closer in the game in Mason Miller, and you have an Athletics team that is far from throwing in the towel for 2025.
Offensively, this pesky lineup has both power and speed. The return signing of All-Star outfielder Brent Rooker and his annual 30-plus home runs is projected to be a brilliant move. Sutter Health Park features more hitter-friendly confines than most venues in the American League. His total in the bomb department should only increase. Lawrence Butler and JJ Bleday will be looking to pile on the total bases and runs scored at the top of the lineup. Both players have All-Star potential, based on their 2024 stat lines. Butler, Especially, is looking to be a perennial 30-30 player.
As for the prospects, they don’t come any more highly touted than shortstop Jacob Wilson. Across three minor league stops in 2024, Wilson hit .400 with an insane.OPS of 1.142 over a 50-game, 200-at-bat snapshot. He appears ready to take it to the next level and will have an opportunity to play for a starting infield position.
Then there is the third Naylor brother, Myles Naylor, who regularly clears the yard in the minor leagues. At 19, Naylor has plenty of time to live up to the hype of being the “best of his brothers.”
Looking ahead to the 2025 MLB draft, the Athletics will have the 11th pick. While that is unlikely to mean they will have a shot at selecting Ethan Holliday, the Athletics scouting department will still have a strong group of projected first-rounders to choose from.
The youth movement is in effect in Sacramento, but that does not mean to suggest that the team is in rebuild mode. It is fair to say that they are in an enviable position with a new and excited fanbase and a group of players with both experienced youthful talent and energy.
The Athletics are not on most baseball analysts’ list of teams most likely to play in the World Series. That does not mean, however, that this team will not compete. Kotsay’s never-say-die attitude is infectious in this group. Don’t be surprised if the “Sac Town” Athletics are seen knocking on the door of a wild card playoff spot come September.
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!
