With the major league All-Star break almost upon us, it’s a good time to take a look at the A’s minor league leaders in a few key hitting and pitching categories – as we did last summer, which you can revisit here. A minimum of 150 at-bats is required for the hitting categories and a minimum of 50 innings is required for the ERA and WHIP categories for pitchers. Players from all four of the A’s full-season affiliates – Nashville, Midland, Stockton and Beloit – are included and the stats are complete through games of Friday, July 8. Some of the names you might expect to see atop the lists, while others may come as a bit of a surprise!
BATTING AVERAGE
1) Ryon Healy .325
2) James Harris .305
3) B.J. Boyd .304
After hitting .302 last season at Midland, infielder Ryon Healy started the year back at Double-A, but he earned a promotion to Triple-A Nashville in mid-May by being the best hitter in the A’s system, and he hasn’t missed a beat. He’s played nearly every day this season, appearing in 84 games, and has already accumulated 108 hits, which is the most among A’s minor leaguers, while primarily playing first base but also occasionally appearing across the diamond at the hot corner. Meanwhile, outfielders James Harris and B.J. Boyd have both really been batting the ball around the yard at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton all season.
ON-BASE PERCENTAGE
1) Beau Taylor .386
1) James Harris .386
3) Ryon Healy .382
Catcher Beau Taylor has now spent parts of five seasons with Double-A Midland and he’s apparently learned plenty of patience in that time, as he’s been drawing a walk about once every six and a half plate appearances this season. After washing out as a former 1st-round draft pick for Tampa Bay, the A’s brought outfielder James Harris aboard last year. He did a terrific job as the table-setter atop Beloit’s lineup last season, and he’s taken it up a notch as a California League All-Star for Stockton this season.
SLUGGING PERCENTAGE
1) Ryon Healy .560
2) Matt Chapman .485
3) Tyler Marincov .473
Nashville infielder Ryon Healy has simply been the best overall hitter in the A’s minor league system this season. His 28 doubles, 46 extra-base hits and 186 total bases are all tops in the A’s system by a safe margin and show what a threat he’s been in the batter’s box all season. Meanwhile, Midland third baseman Matt Chapman has 15 doubles and 2 triples to go with his league-leading 20 home runs, and his teammate, outfielder Tyler Marincov, has put 18 doubles and 1 triple to match his 14 home runs while splitting time between Midland and Stockton this season.
HOME RUNS
1) Matt Chapman 20
2) Ryon Healy 14
2) Tyler Marincov 14
After leading the A’s minor league system in home runs with 23 while playing in the hitter-friendly California League last season, Midland third baseman Matt Chapman already has smashed 20 in the far less hitter-friendly confines of the Texas League, where he currently leads the league in round-trippers. It’s worth noting that infielder Ryon Healy and outfielder Tyler Marincov have both spent parts of their seasons in the Texas League as well. Neither has ever hit 20 home runs in a season before, but both are currently on pace to sail past that mark this season.
ERA
1) Angel Duno 2.22
2) Evan Manarino 2.33
3) Corey Walter 2.55
22-year-old Venezuelan RHP Angel Duno has been a key member of an extremely solid Beloit Snappers starting rotation this season. His control has been particularly impressive, and he’s only walked 9 batters over 69 innings, which has really helped keep him out of trouble for the Snappers this year. His teammate, LHP Evan Manarino, has probably been the team’s best starter, allowing just 1 home run all season while walking 15 and striking out 83 over 96 2/3 innings of work. Meanwhile, Midland RHP Corey Walter started the season in the bullpen before moving into the RockHounds starting rotation. He’s started 12 games while coming out of the bullpen in 7. And he’s looked strong in both roles, allowing just 1 home run while walking 11 over 67 solid innings this season.
WHIP
1) Kyle Friedrichs 1.04
2) James Naile 1.06
2) Zach Neal 1.06
Last year’s 7th-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Kyle Friedrichs, has been one of the best pitchers in the A’s minor league system this season. Friedrichs started out the year dominating the Midwest League with Beloit and has done a solid job since moving up to Stockton. He’s allowed just 10 walks over 95 innings of work and has been doing a better job of keeping runners off base than any other hurler in the A’s system. Friedrichs’ former Snappers teammate James Naile has been another dependable member of Beloit’s starting staff. After doing some fill-in work at both Nashville and Midland, Naile is now back with the Snappers and is looking as solid as ever. Nashville RHP Zach Neal has always done a really good job of keeping runners off base with his low walk rate, and he’s only walked 6 batters for the Sounds all season.
STRIKEOUTS
1) Chris Smith 99
2) Daniel Gossett 90
3) Heath Fillmyer 83
3) Evan Manarino 83
Many A’s fans might not realize that Nashville RHP Chris Smith is currently tied for the Pacific Coast league strikeout lead. The 35-year-old, who was signed as a minor league free agent in the offseason, has struck out nearly a batter per inning, notching 99 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings for the Sounds. 2014’s 2nd-round draft pick for the A’s, RHP Daniel Gossett, has always put up solid strikeout numbers, but he’s taken things up a notch this season, and he’s now struck out more than a batter per inning with 90 strikeouts in just 83 innings while splitting time between Stockton and Midland. 2014’s 5th-round pick, RHP Heath Fillmyer, has struck out 83 in 85 innings for Stockton this season, while LHP Evan Manarino has whiffed 83 while walking just 15 in 96 2/3 innings of work for the Snappers.
WINS
1) Dillon Overton 9
2) Aaron Kurcz 8
3) Evan Manarino 7
Though he made a couple of starts for the A’s recently, LHP Dillon Overton has probably been the most dependable member of the Nashville Sounds starting staff this season, giving his team a solid chance to win almost every time out, and his 3.01 ERA is currently fourth best among Pacific Coast League starters. Meanwhile, reliever Aaron Kurcz has somehow managed to accumulate 8 wins while pitching out of the bullpen for both Nashville and Midland, with his victories evenly split – 4 apiece for the Sounds and the Hounds. Kurcz has notched 4 saves as well and has been effective with a 2.34 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP over 30 appearances. And Beloit LHP Evan Manarino has been the best among an extremely solid starting staff for the Snappers this season.
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