Despite just a two-vote difference this morning between him and Henry Bolte, Athletics Nation put all their weight behind starting pitcher Mason Barnett in the final hours of the poll and bestowed him with the seventh spot in the Community Prospect List.
Acquired just six months ago as the centerpiece of the Lucas Erceg trade, the 24-year-old righty is a former third-round pick who performed up to his billing in the Kansas City Royals’ farm system. He’s now close to surpassing that billing after taking a leap forward in his A’s organizational debut. In his seven starts with Double-A Midland, Barnett his strikeout rate tick up to a terrific 31.