Athletics’ Brennan Milone Shows A Knack For Hitting
From the time Brennan Milone started hitting in high school to draft day 2022, the Athletics watched him closely.
“As a staff, we liked him a lot in high school,” A’s scouting director Eric Kubota said. “Our area scout, Jemel Spearman, really liked him and made sure a bunch of us saw him that spring. He’s always had a knack for hitting.”
When Milone finished at Georgia’s Woodstock High, the Dodgers drafted him in the 28th round. He chose instead to attend South Carolina, then lost his freshman season to Covid. He returned as a sophomore in 2021 to play 38 games, but he hit just .216 with three homers.
Milone transferred to the Oregon in 2022 and again started slugging, batting .337 with 12 homers in 60 games.
“I kept an eye on him when he was at South Carolina and then was able to see him at Oregon,” Kubota said. “We were fortunate to have a history with him already. We thought he could hit, and his numbers backed it up, so we took a chance. I’m happy that things are going well so far.”
The A’s drafted Milone as a third baseman in the sixth round in 2022. Last year at two Class A levels, he hit .285/.398/.488 with 17 homers and 72 walks in 114 games.
Through 40 games at Double-A Midland this year, the 23-year-old Milone hit .273/.368/.434 with five homers and 20 walks.
“His bat has carried him to Double-A,” A’s farm director Ed Sprague said. “He’s really been an on-base guy as well. Power can be the last thing to come, and that will be the separator for him.”
The biggest question for Milone will be position. A high school shortstop, he played third base and first base in college. He has played mostly first as a pro.
“(Midland manager) Gregorio Petit says he can play third,” Sprague said. “It’s mostly about him gaining the confidence to do it.”
A’s ACORNS
— Injuries have slowed two of the Athletics’ top shortstop prospects. Double-A Midland’s Jacob Wilson went down with knee tendinitis after a torrid start to the season. Triple-A Las Vegas’ Max Muncy got hit in the hand and needed time off.
— Righthander Cole Miller, drafted in the fourth round last year out of high school, continues to recover from Tommy John surgery he had this spring. Righthander Nathan Dettmer, a fifth-rounder from Texas A&M, has been sidelined by an elbow chip.
