Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 40 | Overall: 45

Kuroda-Grauer displayed a knack for hitting as a three-year starter at Rutgers by combining to hit .343 across three seasons, including a .428 batting average with a 1.082 OPS as a junior. That standout season led to the A’s selecting him in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft, which saw them land Nick Kurtz, Tommy White and Gage Jump with their earlier picks. Joining the same system as college teammate Ryan Lasko, a second-rounder by the A’s in 2023, Kuroda-Grauer continued to perform as an impressive pure hitter last season between High-A Lansing and Double-A Midland. He also got some extra work in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .345 with a .898 OPS in 18 games for the Mesa Solar Sox.

Kuroda-Grauer profiles as a Jacob Wilson-type hitter with his strong bat-to-ball skills that have led to remarkably low strikeout totals as a pro. The A’s would like to see him take a few more chances when he has count leverage by trying to backspin some balls to the pull side and drive them to the gap, something he has not really shown the ability to do. Doing so would help him take the next step as a hitter, providing another layer to what is already considered an advanced approach at the plate.

Kuroda-Grauer has always provided strong defense at short, but upon the arrival of Leo De Vries to Double-A Midland last season, he saw more reps at third and surprised the A’s with how well he handled the hot corner. Speed is also an element of Kuroda-Grauer's game, as he stole 27 bases last season. It remains to be seen if he can ever generate more power than he’s shown, but all the other tools in his bag set him up with a decent chance to reach the big leagues with the floor of at least a versatile utility-type player.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Kuroda-Grauer was a three-year starter at Rutgers who shined as a hitter from the jump, combining to hit .343 across those three seasons. After receiving an invite from USA Baseball to train at their Collegiate National Team Training Camp, he went to the Cape Cod League and overcame some regular-season struggles by hitting .444 in the playoffs before returning to Rutgers for his junior season. That was by far his best, as he hit .428 with a 1.082 OPS. That performance led to the A’s selecting him in the third round of the 2024 Draft, marking the second straight year in which they took a Rutgers player (after drafting his teammate Ryan Lasko as a second-rounder in 2023). After 24 games between Single-A Stockton and High-A Lansing, the A’s rewarded him with four games at Triple-A Las Vegas to end the season. Across those 28 total games, he hit .324 and struck out just nine times in 126 plate appearances.

Kuroda-Grauer’s athletic size and hard-working mentality remind some in the A’s organization of a young Marcus Semien. While he may never have Semien-type power, his high-level ability to frequently make contact and rarely strike out is reminiscent of another more high-profile touted top prospect in Jacob Wilson. His advanced approach at the plate allows him to work counts and make good decisions with his simple swing. The power remains below-average, though the A’s believe he could grow into some extra pop with 15-homer potential as a ceiling.

There is a speed element to Kuroda-Grauer’s game, and while he may not be a burner, his 40 stolen bases in college show he can be a decent threat on the basepaths. Defensively, his arm is average, but his overall glovework and instincts give him the chance to stick as a shortstop with second base as a fallback. Between that and his excellent bat-to-ball skills, Kuroda-Grauer enters his first full professional season with a chance to quickly rise through the system.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

A starter since he set foot on campus at Rutgers, Kuroda-Grauer started putting his name on the map when he hit .300 as a freshman. He showed a little more impact as a sophomore in 2023, earning an invitation to USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team Training Camp. From there he went to the Cape Cod League, where he struggled in the regular season but hit .444 in the playoffs. He carried that hot bat into his junior season, when he hit .428 and was among the Division I leaders in hits, leading to him being the second Scarlet Knights hitter to go in the top three rounds in as many years. He went in Round 3 to the A’s, who took his teammate Ryan Lasko in the second a year prior.

Compact, strong and athletic, Kuroda-Grauer does a lot of things well from the right side of the plate. He almost never strikes out and seldom swings and misses, combining his contact skills with an advanced approach that points toward becoming at least an above-average hitter in the future. Utilizing an upright stance and a simple swing, he works counts and makes good swing decisions. There hasn’t been a ton of pop yet, but there is some belief he could grow into 15-homer power in the future.

While he’s not a burner, Kuroda-Grauer does run well and can steal some bases. Because of his above-average hands and actions to go along with a good internal clock, he has the chance to stick at shortstop, even though he has an arm that is just average. He could be a plus defender at second base should a move be necessary, but it’s those bat-to-ball attributes the A’s will be banking to carry him to the big leagues.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

A starter since he set foot on campus at Rutgers, Kuroda-Grauer started putting his name on the map when he hit .300 as a freshman. He showed a little more impact as a sophomore in 2023, earning an invitation to USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team Training Camp. From there he went to the Cape Cod League, where he struggled in the regular season but hit .444 in the playoffs. He carried that hot bat into his junior season, when he’s been among the Division I leaders in hits, giving him the chance to be the second Scarlet Knights hitter to go in the early rounds in as many years.

Compact, strong and athletic, Kuroda-Grauer does a lot of things well from the right side of the plate. He almost never strikes out and seldom swings and misses, combining his contact skills with an advanced approach that points toward becoming at least an above-average hitter in the future. Utilizing an upright stance and a simple swing, he works counts and makes good swing decisions. There hasn’t been a ton of pop yet, but there is some belief he could grow into 15-homer power in the future.

While he’s not a burner, Kuroda-Grauer does run well and can steal some bases. Because of his above-average hands and actions to go along with a good internal clock, he has the chance to stick at shortstop, even though he has an arm that is just average. He could be a plus defender at second base should a move be necessary, but it’s those bat-to-ball attributes that will help him join 2023 second-rounder Ryan Lasko as a Rutgers position player taken in the top five rounds.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer assigned to Athletics Prospects.
	01/28/2026	Athletics invited non-roster SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer to spring training.
	09/10/2025	SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer assigned to Mesa Solar Sox.
	07/29/2025	SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer assigned to Midland RockHounds from Lansing Lugnuts.
	04/19/2025	Lansing Lugnuts activated SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer from the 7-day injured list.
	04/07/2025	Lansing Lugnuts placed SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer on the 7-day injured list.
	03/31/2025	SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer assigned to Lansing Lugnuts.
	03/06/2025	activated SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer.
	02/24/2025	SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer assigned to Athletics.
	09/17/2024	SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer assigned to Las Vegas Aviators from Lansing Lugnuts.
	08/27/2024	SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer assigned to Lansing Lugnuts from Stockton Ports.
	08/09/2024	SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer assigned to Stockton Ports from ACL Athletics.
	08/05/2024	SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer assigned to ACL Athletics.
	07/25/2024	Oakland Athletics signed SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated SS Josh Kuroda-Grauer.
	06/09/2023	Bourne Braves activated SS Josh Kuroda-Grauer.
	06/08/2023	SS Josh Kuroda-Grauer assigned to College Workout.