Opening Day is almost here. It’s that time. As the resident Oakland Athletics beat writer, it’s only right we kick off the 2024 season with what the lineup will look like for the first game of the season. Alex Wood was named the Opening Day starter for the Oakland A’s. He will oppose Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Indians.
Let’s project the starting lineup, shall we?
1. Esteury Ruiz, CF
The exciting Ruiz is back for his second season with the Athletics. The 25-year-old was electric last year, appearing in 130 games while setting the AL record for stolen bases (67). Despite not being known for power (five home runs), he had 114 hits and recorded 47 RBIs.
But, we know why we love Ruiz. His speed is just absolutely insane, giving Oakland their fastest player in quite some time (Rickey Henderson).
Learning from the legend this offseason, there’s no reason to doubt he didn’t improve himself this spring. Despite having competition for the center fielder job, there’s no reason to not have him at that position and batting leadoff once March 28th rolls around.
2. Zach Gelof, 2B
Called up in July, he also made a name for himself like Ruiz. Though he’s not as fast as him, Gelof batted .267 and hit 14 home runs. He also had 32 RBIs for the As, sixth-most on the team (impressive, considering he didn’t play a full season in the majors).
The second baseman showed he can be a solid second baseman defensively last year, and Oakland will continue to allow him to play second base while also batting second in the lineup consistently.
3. Seth Brown, RF
The veteran can also play first base but will help patrol the outfield this year. An Athletic for five years now, he had a down year in 2023 compared to 2022. His home run and RBI total decreased while batting a low .222.
With guys like Lawrence Butler threatening to take over, Brown may have even less playing time in 2024. But, until that time comes, he will get his chance to start the year. He’s someone to monitor as a player the Athletics could trade before the deadline. Brown is a good enough slugger, as the lefty did hit 25 home runs in 2022.
4. Brent Rooker, DH
The lone Athletics All-Star in 2023, Rooker looks to build off his amazing 2023 season. He led the team across the board offensively (.246 BA, 30 HR, 69 RBI).
Yes, he did strike out a lot (172), and pitchers now have tape on him after he played 137 games for Oakland in 2023 (just 81 games during his first four years). But, you can’t deny that his power is one of the few threats on this Oakland team. Though he can play in the outfield, he should stay the DH most of the time when he is in the lineup.
5. Ryan Noda, 1B
Another promising hitter, Noda appeared in 128 games last year for Oakland. The rookie was second in strikeouts but did hit 16 home runs and 54 RBIs in 2023.
What stood out the most was his ability to get on base. His 77 walks drawn was by far the most on the team, which contributed to his team-leading .364 on-base percentage.
As the Athletics look to rebuild, plenty of opportunities should be there for Noda to patrol first base while also batting fifth or even higher in the lineup like we saw last year. The power is there for the 27-year-old, something to look for this season.
6. J.D. Davis, 3B
Acquired off the free agent market just a few days ago, the 30-year-old returns to California for the first time since his college days at Cal State Fullerton.
Playing for the Astros, Mets, and Giants throughout his career, Oakland will be his fourth stop.
Davis appeared in 144 games for San Francisco last year, hitting 18 home runs and 69 RBIs while batting .248.
With Aledmys Diaz starting the season on IL, someone needs to play third base. Having Davis and his positional versatility, putting him at one of the corners is not a difficult decision. Maybe he will get traded at the deadline if he starts the year on a high note. But, for now, he looks to rejuvenate himself for the rebuilding Athletics. His WAR of 2.2 in 2023 says something: he’s a winning player.
7. Shea Langeliers, C
Second on the team in home runs last year, Langeliers was the primary catcher for Oakland and looks to do the same in 2024. After just six home runs in 2022, he increased that total to 22 in 2023 and also had 63 RBIs.
Fourth on the team in hits and second in total bases, Langeliers could have his playing time eaten into because of the arrival of Tyler Soderstrom from triple-A. However, with the possibility of the prospect playing more first base compared to catcher, we could see Langeliers continue to man the catcher position for most of 2024. He must improve his batting average, barely hitting .200 last season.
8. JJ Bleday, LF
Approaching his third year in the majors, Bleday hit ten homers and 22 runs batted in for the A’s in 2023. However, he only played in 81 games for Oakland and may not get much playing time even this year.
His batting average of .195 is concerning, as he has failed to hit over the Mendoza Line so far in his career.
9. Nick Allen, SS
Known more for his defense than offense, Allen will likely continue to bat near the bottom of the order if he gets more playing time at the shortstop position.
Last season, he improved his batting average from .207 to .221 and will look to continue to get better offensively across the board while maintaining his solid defensive presence.
Starting Pitcher: Alex Wood
The 33-year-old is slated to start on Opening Day, traded to the A’s this offseason.
Wood spent the last three seasons in San Francisco. After a down year in 2022 (5.10 ERA, 8-12 record), he went 5-5 and maintained a 4.33 ERA through 29 games played. He only made 12 starts last year, as he moved into the bullpen as the season went on. However, Wood will likely remain in the starting rotation as long as he is a member of the As. He will look to get under the 4s in terms of ERA and show signs of his 2021 self (10-4 record with a 3.83 ERA).
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Featured Image: Suzanna Mitchell/MLB Photos via Getty Images
