In 1954, the Philadelphia A’s set a franchise record with 10 major-league debuts in their first 15 games of the season. The 2022 Oakland A’s have threatened that record, with seven players making their debuts through 14 games this season. Fans may root for the name on the front of the jersey, but right now, it’s helpful that there are names on the back, too.

These A’s may not be long on experience (they lead the league with 16 rookies used) or name recognition, but it hasn’t prevented the team from getting off to a surprising 8-6 start. Their 6-4 win over the Orioles on Thursday moved them to within a half-game of the first-place Angels in the AL West. Is a .571 winning percentage sustainable? Probably not. But if the goal for this season was to set the foundation for the next window of playoff contention, it looks as though the slabs are being laid.

One potential anchor for future A’s postseason teams, Nick Allen, made his major-league debut Tuesday and notched his first major-league hit Thursday. It was a double in the seventh that keyed a two-run rally that helped salt the win for the A’s.

FIRST BIG LEAGUE HIT FOR NICK ALLEN pic.twitter.com/DtilzyB8rK

— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) April 21, 2022

Allen is projected as the A’s future everyday shortstop, but his first two starts in the big leagues have come at second base. His manager last season at Double-A Midland, Bobby Crosby, says Allen is comfortable at either spot up the middle.

“His actions are so — I hate to say perfect — but perfect,” Crosby said over the phone Thursday. “He won’t have a problem playing short, second, either one, and he’ll be a leader at both. When I say his hands are perfect, every action he makes is some of the best I’ve ever seen.”

Allen is one of three players who were on Crosby’s 2021 Midland roster currently on the A’s roster — outfielder/third baseman Mickey McDonald and reliever Zach Jackson are the other two. McDonald, an 18th-round pick in 2017, made his major-league debut Wednesday and Jackson picked up his first major-league save Tuesday. Seeing players go from Double A to the big leagues in such a short time has energized A’s prospects hoping to make the same leap.

“It shows them that if they do what they’re supposed to and do the right stuff, and play the game the right way — which I know Kots (A’s manager Mark Kotsay) appreciates and wants — they can make it up quick,” Crosby said. “They’re all super close-knit. So to see their buddies who they know they can play their game and do what they’re doing, I think it gives the guys kind of a sense of like, all right, I can do it too.”

Jackson made his major-league debut on April 9 and has quickly moved into a late-innings role in the bullpen. He’s allowed three runs in five innings but has six strikeouts and has two holds in addition to the one save. Jackson was on track to debut with the A’s last year after posting an 0.55 ERA in 16 1/3 innings for Midland to start the season. He injured his hip after a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas, however, and missed the final 10 weeks of the season. Crosby says Jackson has the mental makeup and the stuff to be a closer.

“He’s not scared. He knows he’s nasty,” Crosby said. “He’s not going to shy away from any situation.”

Jackson was originally a Blue Jays farmhand and joined the A’s as a minor-league Rule 5 pick before last season. Another former Blue Jays reliever, Dany Jiménez, is also emerging as a potential closer for the A’s. Jiménez notched his second save Sunday and has yet to allow an earned run this season in six innings. He came into this season with two career major-league appearances (both coming with the Giants in 2020).

It was also a spectacular series for rookie Cristian Pache, who endeared himself to his new home crowd with several acrobatic catches. He hit his first Coliseum home run Thursday.

Cristian Pache. With the bat. At the Coliseum. pic.twitter.com/L9qDobCHZL

— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 21, 2022

The A’s have had to lean on fresh faces this homestand because seven players have landed on the COVID-19 injured list since Friday. The team welcomed back A.J. Puk and Austin Allen the last two days but still have five players on the list (Chad Pinder, Jed Lowrie, Stephen Piscotty, Lou Trivino and Kirby Snead). Injuries have also cut into the A’s depth. Outfielder Skye Bolt was placed on the 10-day IL with an oblique strain during the opening road trip, and the A’s lost infielder Kevin Smith (ankle) and catcher/first baseman Stephen Vogt (right knee) during the Orioles series.

Smith suffered a bone bruise in his left ankle when he jammed it into a base Tuesday and Vogt left Wednesday’s game after injuring his right knee on a play at first base. An MRI revealed a Grade 2 sprain, which could sideline Vogt for a while. There is no timetable for the returns for Bolt, Smith and Vogt.

Christian Bethancourt joined the A’s roster as a replacement player in Toronto, but he has secured a more significant role with Vogt on the shelf. On Thursday, the A’s officially added Bethancourt to the 40-man roster, designating reliever Miguel Romero to clear a spot. Bethancourt is already 10th on the team in at-bats (24) despite starting the season in Triple A. He’s hitting only .208 but has hit the ball hard (41 percent hard-hit rate going into Thursday’s game) and has struck out just three times while seeing time defensively at first base and behind the plate.

• The A’s could be getting starter James Kaprielian back soon. He threw his second rehab start Wednesday, going 4 2/3 innings for Las Vegas. Kaprielian allowed four runs on nine hits but got 14 swings-and-misses in 78 pitches thrown and struck out five. His fastball sat 94-95 mph early before fading to 92-93 in the final inning.

• McDonald, a San Mateo native, made his major-league debut Wednesday. He struck out as the final out in the A’s 1-0 loss, but his arrival in the big leagues was celebrated around the organization. An unheralded prospect for most of his career, he landed on the big-league radar last season when he hit .305 with a .402 OBP between Midland and Las Vegas. An outstanding defensive outfielder who can also play third base and an excellent base runner, McDonald is the sort of player who does all the little things well.

“Whatever you needed in a game, which I always respect, he got it done,” Crosby said. “I know (Ramon) Laureano has talked about how every at-bat is ‘how can I help the team?’ and Mickey is just like that.”

• Frankie Montas (6 innings, 1 run), Cole Irvin (5 innings, 1 run), Daulton Jefferies (6 innings, 0 earned runs) and Paul Blackburn (5 innings, 1 run) were all outstanding in the Orioles series. The A’s rotation has a 3.52 ERA and Jefferies (1.17 ERA) and Blackburn (1.80 ERA) rank third and seventh in the AL in ERA, respectively.

(Photo of Nick Allen: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)