The Athletics have a star in the making at shortstop.

A little over a year after the A's traded away All-Star closer Mason Miller to the San Diego Padres, the organization has multiple reasons to be excited about Leo De Vries.

The 19-year-old was the centerpiece of the deal for Miller. At such a young age, De Vries showed that a Major League promotion is not that far away. MLB Pipeline's No. 2 prospect made relatively easy work of Double-A pitching before a season-ending injury.

In 93 games at Double-A Midland, De Vries hit .290/.378/.458 with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs. He posted an .836 OPS in 428 plate appearances and stole 34 bases in 39 attempts.

In August, the Dominican Republic native hit .324/.375/.541 with seven RBIs and a stolen base. De Vries was placed on the 7-day minor league injured list on Aug. 18 with a sore right shoulder. The injury will keep him out for the remainder of the season.

"De Vries' injury is not considered serious. He was sent to the A’s Spring Training complex in Arizona to rehab under the guidance of the club’s medical and training staff," MLB.com's Martin Gallegos reported.

Gallegos adds that the A's have not yet decided if De Vries will play in the Arizona Fall League or in LIDOM, the Dominican Republic's top professional baseball league.

During spring training, De Vries showed that he's not intimidated by facing pitchers with years of MLB experience, going 20-for-47 with three homers and three doubles in Cactus League play.

That should give the A's some confidence when it's time for his promotion to the Majors. The real question is whether De Vries replaces All-Star Jacob Wilson at shortstop when his number is called.

De Vries played 129 innings at third base this season, but the A's would likely rather leave him at his natural position.

Alternatively, the A's could appoint De Vries or Wilson as their full-time second baseman. But that's a future decision the AL West organization does not have to worry itself with right now.

By the time the A's move into their new Las Vegas stadium in 2028, De Vries will most likely be one of the building blocks of what the franchise hopes is a postseason contender.

The A's came into the season with high expectations, but injuries and a 5-19 record in July doomed the club's playoff aspirations.