Athletics' Franklin Barreto: Will stay up the middle in camp

A's manager Bob Melvin said Barreto will spend his time at shortstop and second base this spring, John Hickey of The Mercury News reports.

Analysis:

The club's top prospect is knocking loudly on the door for a job with the big club sometime this coming season. Though Marcus Semien has locked down shortstop, Barreto may have a shot at second base, currently occupied by injury-prone Jed Lowrie and other uninspiring options. Whenever he's called up, he may immediately jump toward the top of the order. He's a difference-making bat worth stashing in deep leagues, though the wait is much easier to endure in AL-only games because of the late-season upside he'd offer.