Scouting baseball players can be like chasing unicorns.
Scouting directors dream of finding switch-hitting catchers with pop, and the Athletics think they may have one.
Dylan Fien drew rave reviews for his performance at his first instruction league in September, after Oakland made him a seventh-round pick this year out of Great Oak High in Temecula, Calif.
“He’s 6-foot-4 with broad shoulders,” A’s farm director Ed Sprague said. “He swings well and hits the ball hard. He was not overmatched in terms of competition offensively. His bat-to-ball skills seem pretty solid for a high school kid.”
Fien shows raw power potential along with the ability to make contact. The A’s bought him out of a UCLA commitment with a $550,000 bonus, or roughly double the slot value for the pick.
With a rugged 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame, Fien should develop strength as his body matures. That could lead to power numbers in the future.
As for catching, that will be a question for the future. “He came in with some tenderness, so he didn’t catch a ton,” Sprague said. They did not see him throw enough to evaluate his arm, which left some question in pre-draft evaluations.
Fien starts a long, difficult road but has the makeup to succeed, Sprague said.
“A high school catcher has a lot to learn in terms of pitch-calling, game-crafting and so many other things,” he said.
Fien played with his younger brother Gavin at Great Oaks. Gavin is a shortstop who committed to Texas and will be in the 2025 draft.
A’s ACORNS
— Former Missouri third baseman Luke Mann, a 14th-rounder in 2023, put together an outstanding instructional league, according to Sprague. The 24-year-old is working to learn multiple positions to increase his opportunities.
— Shortstop Jacob Wilson, whom the A’s drafted sixth overall in 2023, soared through the minors and finished the season Oakland. Manager Mark Kotsay said that Wilson has a shot to win the shortstop job next year. What he most needs to do is improve his first step on defense.