Struggling Former Braves Prospect Faces Early Challenges in 2025 Season
Joey Estes, a former Atlanta Braves prospect acquired by the Oakland A’s in the blockbuster Matt Olson trade, was once considered one of the key pieces of the deal, behind only catcher Shea Langeliers and former top prospect Cristian Pache. Despite showing promise, including a standout performance with a Maddux against the Los Angeles Angels last season, Estes’ 2025 campaign has been off to a rocky start.
In his first two starts of the season, Estes has posted a troubling 15.43 ERA over seven innings. In those outings, he’s allowed 15 hits, walked six, and struck out just five, leading to a total of 12 earned runs. However, the numbers don’t tell the full story. His biggest struggle has been with command. In a challenging outing against the Chicago Cubs at the debut of Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Estes relied heavily on his fastball but couldn’t find the strike zone consistently. The result was a rough 18-3 loss, with his lack of command leaving him vulnerable to a powerful lineup.
Estes also dealt with a noticeable dip in velocity. After averaging 92.4 mph on his fastball in 2024, his velocity dropped to 90.5 mph during the chilly Sacramento game. Although it picked up slightly to 91 mph in his recent outing in Colorado, it’s still a significant drop compared to last season’s numbers. If Estes can’t locate his pitches effectively, he’ll continue to struggle against big league hitters. While his stuff is considered below league average according to Stuff+ metrics, his success hinges on his ability to spot his pitches. Without that, he’s essentially offering batting practice to opposing hitters.
To be fair, Estes faced some tough circumstances, including the unknowns of pitching in Sutter Health Park, where even established veterans like Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs struggled. His second start came at Coors Field, the most hitter-friendly park in baseball, which certainly didn’t help his cause. But beyond the challenges of the ballparks, it’s the lack of velocity and control that might prompt the A’s to reevaluate his spot in the rotation.
One potential alternative could be former New York Mets prospect J.T. Ginn, who has been outstanding in two Triple-A outings this season. Ginn, a ground ball pitcher, could provide a different dynamic compared to Estes, who relies more on fly balls. Another option might be Jacob Lopez, who is also on the 40-man roster and could be a good fit.