Shea Langeliers: Athletics 2022 Minor League Player Of The Year — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

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When Shea Langeliers came west, he carried a mountain of expectations.

The Athletics had made the difficult decision to tear down and rebuild, a bitter toxin for a fan base that had grown to love its team with homegrown cornerstone players Matt Olson and Matt Chapman.

Langeliers was the highest-ranked prospect acquired in Oakland’s flurry of deals last offseason that parted with Olson and Chapman as well as starting pitchers Chris Bassitt and Sean Manaea.

Langeliers responded with a season that provides some hope for the Athletics’ future. He hit .283/.366/.510 with 19 home runs in 92 games for Triple-A Las Vegas and was named MVP of the Futures Game prior to his Aug. 16 callup to Oakland.

“From the first time I saw him, I liked everything about him,” A’s farm director Ed Sprague said. “He’s a solid catcher, throws well and has a nice, flat swing through the zone. He uses the whole field. He’s a defensive-minded catcher who can hit.”

The defense is what draws the raves.

“He is totally about helping a pitcher get through the game,” Sprague said. “That’s his No. 1 goal.”

Sprague grades the 24-year-old Langeliers at a plus at both catching and throwing, and the rookie adjusted well to working with Oakland pitchers.

Sprague also sees Langeliers as a plus hitter. He currently rates his power as average, but with a chance to increase as the 6-foot catcher gains strength and experience. Langeliers is a slightly below-average runner and is significantly faster than most catchers.

“He’s very well-liked,” Sprague said. “He’s very personable—a very humble guy and very confident.”

Langeliers grew up in Keller, Texas, before advancing to Baylor and becoming the ninth overall pick in the 2019 draft by the Braves. He ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Double-A Southern League in 2021 and was part of the March 14 deal that sent Olson to Atlanta and brought Cristian Pache, Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes to Oakland.

A’s ACORNS

— The A’s will play mostly intersquad games during instructional league this fall. The change came because some organizations have opted for different schedules or limited their instructional camps because the minor league season is longer than it used to be. With 55 players expected in camp, Sprague expects this will allow for teaching opportunities.

— Righthander Daulton Jefferies had his second Tommy John surgery. The estimated recovery time is 16 months. He had is first ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction in 2017.