Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40

Because they exceeded their pool in the 2017-18 international signing period, the last year before hard caps were put on international spending, the A’s were not allowed to sign anyone for more than $300,000 during the 2018-19 signing period. They still managed to hand out a dozen six-figure bonuses, including giving Buelvas $100,000 to sign out of Columbia. He made a strong first impression, playing his way to the United States in his first summer of pro ball in 2019. He hit 16 homers and swiped 17 bags in his first taste of full-season ball in 2021, though he had just a .718 OPS. He really struggled with the move to High-A in 2022 and moved back down to Single-A Stockton to start the 2023 season. With moderate success there, he got pushed back to High-A and even up to Double-A, though he scuffled in both spots. He’s seemed to find his footing with a return to High-A Lansing in 2024.

The wiry 5-foot-11 outfielder has shown improvements in his overall approach this season, cutting his strikeout rate and increasing his walk rate compared to 2023, a reason for his better overall numbers. He has an intriguing speed and power combination, and seeing more pitches has allowed him to find more to drive more consistently.

Buelvas is a very good outfielder who can play all three spots well. He’s played center field more than anywhere else, and that obviously would enhance his value should he show he can stay there on a daily basis. He still needs to demonstrate he can hold up and bring energy to the field for an entire season, but the A's are cautiously optimistic with his early gains this year. He’s most likely a fourth outfielder type, but he could be one who works his way into the lineup more frequently because of his intriguing tools.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40

Buelvas signed out of Colombia for $100,000 in 2018 and got off to a hot start in 2019 by hitting .300 as a 17-year-old playing in the Rookie-level Arizona League. After an encouraging 2021 in which he showed off his raw tools with 31 extra-base hits, 16 home runs and 17 stolen bases over 88 games with Low-A Stockton, he took a bit of a step back last season, hitting just .195 in 69 games at High-A Lansing. He continued to play into the winter with Vaqueros de Monteria in Colombia and hit .214 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 33 games.

Buelvas has displayed qualities of a good approach at the plate at a young age with a decent ability to draw walks, even in a down season last year. He has shown off an intriguing speed and power combo, with the hope he can tap into that pop as he develops more into his wiry 5-foot-11 frame.

A very good outfielder who can play all three spots well, Buelvas likely will continue to move around out there to maintain that versatility. The A’s are not too concerned about his down year, partially attributing the struggles to him being a bit worn out from his workload the previous year, which also included winter ball. They still see a bit of a Ramón Laureano-type skill set with him and hope he can bring more energy throughout the 2023 season.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

Signed for $100,000 out of Colombia in 2018, Buelvas quickly made a good impression in 2019 by hitting .300 in the Rookie-level Arizona League as a 17-year-old. He really showed off his raw tools in 2021 with a total of 31 extra-base hits, 16 home runs and 17 stolen bases over 88 games in his first full season at Low-A. He spent some time in the Caribbean Series playing for Colombia and hit .273 with three RBIs in seven games, but didn’t carry that over to 2022, when he struggled offensively and missed considerable time with a hamstring injury.

The A’s think Buelvas has the chance to have a good approach at the plate. For a player his age, he’s shown good plate discipline at times with his ability to draw walks. While the solid speed has always been there, the uptick in power was a pleasant surprise, given his wiry 5-foot-11 frame. With time, he has the chance to develop into a very good hitter.

Able to play all three outfield spots, Buelvas projects to stick in center field, with the A’s believing he could evolve into a Ramón Laureano-type player without the amazing arm. His passion for the game is clear, which should help him advance through the system and ultimately establish himself as an everyday player at the big league level.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

Buelvas signed for $100,000 out of Colombia in July 2018 and put himself firmly on the prospect map in 2019, when he went to the Rookie-level Arizona League as a 17-year-old and shined with a .300/.392/.506 slash line and 20 extra-base hits in 44 games. He made a fairly successful jump to full-season ball as a teenager in 2021, reaching double-digits in home runs and stolen bases.

The A’s have been impressed with how well Buelvas has handled everything that's been thrown at him at such a young age. He’s expected to develop into a plus hitter in due time, already showing an advanced approach with a willingness to draw walks. He’s an aggressive runner on the basepaths with a touch above average speed. He struggled some in the instructional league in 2020 after perhaps putting extra pressure on himself, but it appears he was able to learn from older players and use those lessons during his full-season debut.

Buelvas can play all three outfield spots well, though he has the chance to stick in center field. The A’s love the passion he plays with just as much as his tools, which showed up consistently in 2021.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

When opportunity knocks, one has to be ready to answer. That’s exactly what Buelvas, an athletic outfielder who signed for $100,000 out of Colombia in July 2018, did during his debut summer in 2019. While playing in the Dominican Summer League, Buelvas was summoned to the United States to play in the rookie-level Arizona League just a few weeks after his 17th birthday because they needed more bodies stateside. He then proceeded to hit .300/.392/.506 with 20 extra-base hits in 44 games to jump firmly onto the prospect map.

One of the youngest players in the AZL, Buelvas handled being thrown into the fire with the aggressive assignment with aplomb. The A’s think he has the chance to be a plus hitter in time, with an advanced approach especially given his age and a willingness to draw walks. While he’s likely not going to be a big over-the-fence type of hitter, he did show extra-base authority to all fields and a penchant for going the other way. He may settle into being an average runner over time, but he’s aggressive on the basepaths.

Buelvas has seen time in all three outfield spots, something that’s likely to continue, but he’s a true center fielder who should be able to play there long term. As much as his tools excite the A’s, they also love his makeup and his passion for the game. He won an award for being the most valuable player at instructs after the season, leaving the organization very excited to see what he does for an encore in 2020.

Awards

MID Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

MID Player of the Week

Week	Team
07/14/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/26/2024	Midland RockHounds activated LF Brayan Buelvas from the 7-day injured list.
	09/16/2024	Midland RockHounds placed LF Brayan Buelvas on the 7-day injured list.
	07/19/2024	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Midland RockHounds from Lansing Lugnuts.
	03/31/2024	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Lansing Lugnuts from Midland RockHounds.
	09/13/2023	Midland RockHounds activated CF Brayan Buelvas from the 7-day injured list.
	08/30/2023	Midland RockHounds placed CF Brayan Buelvas on the 7-day injured list.
	08/01/2023	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Midland RockHounds from Stockton Ports.
	07/06/2023	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Stockton Ports from Lansing Lugnuts.
	05/23/2023	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Lansing Lugnuts from Stockton Ports.
	04/05/2023	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Stockton Ports.
	03/13/2023	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Oakland Athletics.
	03/13/2023	CF Brayan Buelvas roster status changed by Oakland Athletics.
	01/29/2023	Colombia activated CF Brayan Buelvas.
	01/29/2023	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Colombia.
	07/31/2022	Lansing Lugnuts activated CF Brayan Buelvas from the 7-day injured list.
	07/31/2022	Lansing Lugnuts activated CF Brayan Buelvas from the 7-day injured list.
	07/31/2022	Lansing Lugnuts activated CF Brayan Buelvas from the 7-day injured list.
	07/14/2022	Lansing Lugnuts sent CF Brayan Buelvas on a rehab assignment to ACL Athletics.
	07/14/2022	Lansing Lugnuts sent CF Brayan Buelvas on a rehab assignment to ACL Athletics.
	05/29/2022	Lansing Lugnuts placed CF Brayan Buelvas on the 7-day injured list.
	05/29/2022	Lansing Lugnuts placed CF Brayan Buelvas on the 7-day injured list.
	05/29/2022	Lansing Lugnuts placed CF Brayan Buelvas on the 7-day injured list.
	04/01/2022	CF Brayan Buelvas and assigned to Lansing Lugnuts from Stockton Ports.
	01/26/2022	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Colombia.
	09/10/2021	Stockton Ports activated CF Brayan Buelvas from the 60-day injured list.
	08/31/2021	Stockton Ports placed CF Brayan Buelvas on the 60-day injured list.
	05/29/2021	Stockton Ports activated CF Brayan Buelvas.
	05/29/2021	Colombia activated CF Brayan Buelvas.
	05/28/2021	Stockton Ports placed CF Brayan Buelvas on the temporarily inactive list.
	05/01/2021	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Stockton Ports.
	05/01/2021	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Stockton Ports.
	05/01/2021	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Stockton Ports from AZL Athletics Gold.
	10/09/2020	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to AZL Athletics Gold from Athletics Alternate Training Site.
	07/18/2020	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to Athletics Alternate Training Site from AZL Athletics Green.
	07/01/2020	Oakland Athletics invited non-roster OF Brayan Buelvas to spring training.
	07/01/2019	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to AZL Athletics Green from DSL Athletics.
	05/31/2019	CF Brayan Buelvas assigned to DSL Athletics.
	07/03/2018	Oakland Athletics signed free agent CF Brayan Buelvas to a minor league contract.