September is often the most exhilarating month during baseball’s regular season. For teams in the hunt, it’s when the playoff races really begin to heat up. On the flip side, even rebuilding clubs can be worth watching, as this month offers a chance to catch a glimpse of young players.
In the case of the Oakland Athletics — the club is both in contention and providing potential future stars their first taste of the big leagues.
24-year-old A.J. Puk, the A’s first-round pick of the 2016 draft, was the first notable A’s prospect to receive a call-up this season, debuting August 21.