A’s centerfielder continues to improve and add value
2024 was JJ Bleday’s third season in the majors, and second full season with the Oakland Athletics. He played centerfield exclusively this past season for the first time in his career. Bleday was the fourth overall pick of the Miami Marlins in the 2019 draft out of Vanderbilt University and made his MLB debut July 23, 2022.
How was he acquired?
On February 11, 2023, The Miami Marlins traded JJ Bleday to the Oakland Athletics straight up for pitcher A.J. Puk. The trade was considered a win-win deal for both teams who had needs to fill and were receiving underperforming players with a high up-side.
What were the expectations?
In 2023, Bleday spent half of the season in Vegas and on the Injured list. He played in a total of eighty-two games, splitting time in all three outfield positions. The A’s were expecting exceptional defense with middle of the order production. His first season left fans wanting more, but he blossomed significantly in 2024.
2024 Results
2024 was Bleday’s best season as a pro ballplayer. He played in 159 of 162 games, 157 in the field and was a consistent presence in the lineup. And while he has not lived up to his full potential, he made considerable progress. His forty-three doubles led the A’s and was fourth overall in the American League.
JJ Bleday first 2 seasons in MLB:
— Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) August 6, 2024
21 doubles, 15 home runs
JJ Bleday this year:
32 DOUBLES, 13 home runs
He's on pace to hit 46 doubles, just behind Jarren Duran and Alec Bohm pic.twitter.com/7cIdmffCaP
He led all AL outfielders in putouts with 392, ranked second in outfield assists and had the third fewest errors in the league. Bleday also had the third highest range factor of all American League centerfielders.
"That's JJ Bleday, bay bay!" - Dallas Braden pic.twitter.com/UMJO3gJraB
— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2024
2025 Outlook
JJ Bleday comes into the 2025 season with the highest expectations yet. Last season he showed improvement in both offensive and defensive categories and his ability to stay healthy for the entire year showed his durability and conditioning. While he has often been discussed as trade bait, General manager David Forst has said that he and Brent Rooker will not be traded this year. As we watch the A’s seeming to take a more serious approach to 2025, this bodes well for Bleday. He isn’t arbitration eligible until the 2026 season and won’t hit free agency before 2029. This makes JJ an economical choice to roam centerfield during the transition from Oakland to Sacramento to Las Vegas.
