2025 MLB Season Recap: Athletics

The Pitching

The Good

The confines at Sutter Health Park were starkly different compared to how the Coliseum played. Traditionally, the team’s previous home in Oakland leaned in favor of pitchers. However, that wasn’t close to the case in Sacramento. Sutter Health had the second-highest run lean (117) in the Majors last year, behind only Coors Field (132). It also ranked sixth in home run lean (112).

It was a very different season for the Athletics, at least offensively. After finishing in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored and OPS back in 2024, the Athletics finished in the top-third this past year. Yet again, the Athletics ranked in the top ten in home runs.

The Athletics were able to put up home runs in 2024 thanks to a breakout season from Lawrence Butler, as well as a 29-home run campaign from Shea Langeliers and 39 homers from Brent Rooker. For 2025, both Langeliers (31) and Rooker (30) eclipsed the 30-home run marker.

For about a month, Langeliers was arguably the best hitter in all of baseball. Between July 15 and August 17, no hitter in baseball had more home runs (14) or extra-base hits than the Athletics catcher. He also ranked second in wOBA (.489), behind only A’s rookie Nick Kurtz (.537).

It was an other-worldly second half for Nick Kurtz, who forced his way to the Majors after bulldozing through the Minors in April. Kurtz, with a long, powerful swing, hit .322/.429/.678 (1.107 OPS) with 19 home runs in the second half. Mind you, Kurtz didn’t do too badly in the first half, either; Kurtz blasted 17 home runs before the break — after he was called up in late April.

Kurtz and Langeliers both finished in the top five in wOBA among Major Leaguers in the second half.

Aside from the Athletics’ home run leaders, it was a good season for several others.

Tyler Soderstrom, who cooled after a scorching April, ended the year with 25 home runs and a .820 OPS. Lawrence Butler, who needed surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon after 2025, posted a 20-20 campaign. And Jacob Wilson, who looked to be the likely AL Rookie of the Year before Kurtz’s onslaught, hit .311 (.800 OPS) and earned an All-Star nod.

The Athletics’ offense proved to be formidable, and one that’ll be under team control for the immediate future. Both Kurtz and Wilson finished their first seasons, while Butler and Rooker signed multi-year deals before the 2025 campaign.

As for the pitching staff, that was more of a challenge. Mason Miller, despite increased walks, remained a force as a closer before he was traded midseason for a package that included Leo De Vries. Jeffrey Springs, acquired last winter from the Rays, led the team in innings pitched and put up respectable numbers (102 ERA+) despite going to an unfriendly environment for a fly-ball pitcher.

Jacob Lopez, also acquired in that deal, led all Athletics starters in K/9 (11.0).

Luis Morales, one of the Athletics’ top young pitchers, also pitched well. He struck out 43 over 48 innings and was one of several youngsters — Jack Perkins, Mason Barnett, and Gunnar Hoglund also made their MLB debuts — to make their first trek in the Majors this past year.

The Bad

The pitching, overall, was not particularly good for the Athletics. The A’s ranked in the bottom-third of the Majors, including starting and relief ERA, strikeouts, and chases.

Eleven starters made at least four starts for the Athletics, an indication of how volatile things were as far as the rotation went. And while the likes of Springs, Lopez, and even Morales in the second half were able to eat up innings, it was a challenge to fill out the rotation.

Osvaldo Bido regressed after a strong overall 2024. Yes, Bido, who lived off a tough four-seamer in 2024, gave up 13 home runs across 44 innings at home. However, he struggled just as much (5.86 ERA) on the road.

Luis Severino had a fantastic second half (6-0, 3.10 ERA, .623 opponents’ OPS). However, the numbers could not be more stark between his home and road splits.

Severino also led the American League in hit by pitches (16).

It was a challenge to get quality pitching, both in the rotation and bullpen. The latter wasn’t as much of an issue. However, the Athletics couldn’t get much from Jose Leclerc, one of the team’s bigger acquisitions this past winter. Leclerc made only 10 appearances before he was shut down by a lat strain in April.

As for the offense, it was another challenging campaign for pull-happy outfielder JJ Bleday. One year after a 20-home run campaign, Bleday hit .212/.294/.404 (.698 OPS), as he saw a steady diet of offspeed stuff. Bleday hit just .061 with a 49.1% Whiff% on changeups/splitters.

The Athletics also didn’t receive much from Luis Urias (82 OPS+) and Gio Urshela (71 OPS+).

Early Projected Lineup for 2026

• C: Shea Langeliers
• 1B: Nick Kurtz
• 2B: Max Muncy
• 3B: Darell Hernaiz
• SS: Jacob Wilson
• OF: Tyler Soderstrom (LF), Denzel Clarke (CF), Lawrence Butler (RF)
• DH: Brent Rooker
• SP: Jeffrey Springs, Luis Severino, Luis Morales, Jacob Lopez, Gunnar Hoglund
• RP: Justin Sterner, Hogan Harris, Tyler Ferguson, Michael Kelly, Michel Otanez, Elvis Alvarado, Osvaldo Bido, Anthony Maldonado

There are holes at second and third. One could be filled by Max Muncy, still a valuable infielder in his early 20s. Muncy posted just a .638 OPS in his rookie season.

However, what will be interesting to see, aside from whether the Athletics seek infield help, is whether additional pitching will be added. With Miller gone, the Athletics don’t have a clear closer/main high-leverage reliever.