FUTURE ROTATION PIECE? Zane Taylor is Coming

The Lansing Lugnuts may have uncovered another future piece of the A’s pitching puzzle, and this week on Lugnuts Weekly, Jesse Goldberg-Strassler breaks down why Zane Taylor’s dominant five-scoreless-inning performance could be a turning point in his development. Beyond the box score, Jesse explains how Taylor’s fastball/changeup combination is becoming a legitimate weapon, why his ability to attack right-handed hitters is the biggest development, and whether comparisons to pitchers like Logan Webb and Sonny Gray make sense for the young right-hander. Booney and Jesse also dive into the rise of Ben Hanson, the strength of the Lugnuts pitching staff, the prospects who have changed the most since Opening Day, and why Steven Echavarria might be one of the most untouchable arms in the A’s farm system. Plus, the conversation goes beyond prospects with a deep discussion on what makes a great manager, clubhouse culture, leadership, trade deadline possibilities, and which Lugnuts players could become the next breakout names A’s fans are talking about one year from now.