Ballers Draft Three at Arizona Tryout
Oakland made three selections at this year’s Pioneer League Arizona Tryout Draft
By Tyler Petersen
OAKLAND, Calif.
Oakland made three selections at this year's Pioneer League Arizona Tryout Draft taking INF Justin Trimble, INF Jason Leon, and C Nick Poss. All three players will join the club for the team's short spring training which starts on May 11.
Even with no tryout camp in Florida this year and the club having traded away multiple picks last trade deadline (Two OAK 1st Rounders & BIL 2nd Rounder for RHP Malik Binns; OAK 2nd Rounder for OF T.J. McKenzie), Oakland still came out with three solid picks at spots 13, 26, and 18 in the draft order.
Justin Trimble is a 22-year-old infielder from Arroyo Grande, CA who played his college ball at UC Santa Barbara. His only full year of play came his senior season in 2024 when he was second on his team in home runs (12) and RBI (51). That big year earned him a contract with the Houston Astros as an undrafted free agent and he finished the year in A+ Ashville, playing in six games. In 2025 he played the whole year in Class A Fayetteville where he hit .189, 4 HR, and 21 RBI in 55 games.
Jason Leon is a 23-year-old infielder from Indio, CA who played at both the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA and at Cal State Bakersfield. In the two years he played he slashed a combined .322/.397/.443 in 77 games. He most recently played in the California Winter League this January for the Palm Springs Power for manager Aaron Miles.
Nick Poss is a 23-year-old catcher from Discovery Bay, CA who might be a little more familiar a name to Ballers fans. After finishing up his final college season at William Jessup University in San Jose, Poss joined the Idaho Falls Chukars late into the 2025 season. He only played in six games for the Chukars but was included in their playoff roster and faced the Ballers, although limited to pinch hit at-bats. Poss was 7-23 (.304) with a double and two RBI to begin his pro career.
Along with INF Zack Blaszak whom the Ballers drafted in the Midseason Tryout Camp last July, these players will have eligibility for the extra roster spot designated for attendees of the camps as Oakland's 25th man.
And for those who noticed a difference by writing "25th man", a new roster restriction rule went into place this year limiting rosters to 24 players plus the extra spot.
The Ballers have done extremely well with their extra player each of the first two seasons:
- 2024 – RHP Brody Eglite – 5-0, 3.55 ERA, 26 G/1 GS, 1.16 WHIP
- 2025 – UTIL Esai Santos – .289/.428/.488, 11 HR, 46 RBI, 66 R
Oakland will have a very good chance to hit again on their draft picks with this group of players.
