Henry Bolte earned the Athletics’ Minor League Player of the Year honor after a breakout season split between Double-A and Triple-A, flashing speed on the bases and growing power. At 21, his performance (.278/.378/.424 with 7 HR, 31 SB in 80 games at RockHounds; .300/.404/.433 with 13 SB in 30 games at Aviators) position him as a realistic 2026 MLB debut candidate, potentially in a platoon or left-field role behind Clarke and Butler. The season’s end also nudges attention toward a crowded A’s outfield pipeline as De Vries and Jamie Arnold join Bolte in the system.

The A’s finish near the season’s end 73-83, a stark improvement from last year’s low bar. Houston’s playoff chase adds heat to the final games, while Seattle and others watch the margins tighten. Bolte’s rise fuels optimism for an outfield poised to define the club’s future, with Bolte, Clarke, and Butler shaping a high-upside trio as they push for big-league time in 2026.

Pittsburgh built an early lead, but Oakland answered with a five-inning rally to steal the series opener 4-3 at PNC Park. Mitch Keller held the A’s in check through four, but a three-run homer by Lawrence Butler in the fifth flipped the game. The Pirates threatened in two later innings but couldn’t push another run across, extending their home skid to seven straight losses. A brutal stretch for Pittsburgh leaves them at 65-89, while Oakland sits 73-81 as the series continues.

Key moments included Jared Triolo starting the scoring with an RBI on an error, Bryan Reynolds driving in a run with a single, and Spencer Horwitz collecting a double to plate Triolo. Despite a 3-0 cushion after the second, the Pirates couldn’t sustain the lead as the A’s bullpen shut the door late and the offense went quiet after the fourth. Stay tuned for more updates as Pittsburgh looks to rebound in the next matchup.

Oakland limps to a 5-1 loss as St. Louis closes out the series. Springs logged six solid innings but got little support from the lineup, and a misplay by Rooker helped the Cardinals push a lead early. Liberatore worked 5 1/3, holding the A’s to a handful of hits before Contreras padded the score with an eighth-inning RBI triple. Oakland heads to Anaheim with Mason Barnett slated to start, a critical turn in a tense road trip. Fantasy takeaway centers on Rooker’s power pace and Liberatore’s steady control.