Greg Deichmann Makes A Strong Impression

Former Louisiana State outfielder Greg Deichmann went from the College World Series to pro ball without difficulty, and the Athletics could not be more excited about the 2017 second-round pick.

“He has a great idea of the strike zone,” farm director Keith Lieppman said. “He’s very confident—not cocky, but confident in his approach. He has very solid at-bats and a real grind-it-out mentality.”

In his first 36 games at short-season Vermont, Deichmann hit .295/.413/.523 with five home runs. The A’s project him to be an above-average hitter with above-average power, which would be a great asset for an organization starved for outfield prospects.

“He plays good defense as well,” Lieppman said of the right fielder. Deichmann has a strong arm and already has developed good routes despite the fact he played primarily first base until his junior year at LSU.

Deichmann said that the advance to pro ball has been about finding his routine and learning how to play every day.

“That’s the biggest adjustment for me, finding a way to keep my body feeling good and to bring energy to the game,” said Deichmann, 22. “It took a week or two to observe and see how the other guys who had been in the system did it, how they went about what they do leading up to the game.”

The lefthanded-batting Deichmann appeared in just 10 games as a college freshman. As a draft-eligible sophomore, he hit .288 with 11 home runs and was selected by the Twins in the 26th round. He chose to return to LSU, and the Tigers advanced to the CWS, where they finished runner-up to Florida. Deichmann had a big year, hitting .308 with 19 homers.

Deichmann arrived in pro ball more polished than the A’s expected.

“I think the quality of the at-bats he puts up will allow him to hit for average,” Lieppman said. “His plate discipline will allow him to . . . hit with power . . . He’s a good baserunner, too. And that will improve the more he plays. I think he could be a guy who could be a solid baserunner, even though he doesn’t have great speed.”

A’s ACORNS

• The A’s moved righthander Raul Alcantara and his high-90s fastball to the bullpen at Triple-A Nashville. Once the system’s top pitching prospect, he continues to rebuild arm strength after Tommy John surgery.

• Vermont righty reliever Wandisson Charles has hit 102 mph while showing improved control this year. Oakland signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2015.