MESA, Ariz. – Franklin Barreto has never played an inning for the Oakland A’s.
That streak could end this year.
Barreto, a product of Venezuela who turns 21 on Monday, is rated the best prospect in the Oakland organization this year. And in 2016. And in 2015. Those who watch developing talent long ago bought into the fact that Barreto could become something special.
What’s needed is time and an open position. He’d never played about Class-A before 2016, when he arrived at Double-A Nashville and put together a .281/.340/.413 slash line that included 24 doubles and 10 homers.