by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
Now that we’re a little more than a quarter of the way through the minor league season, it’s a good time to take a look at the A’s minor league leaders in some key statistical categories. When it comes to hitters, members of the Las Vegas lineup really dominate the list. Some familiar names like Skye Bolt, Jorge Mateo and Parker Dunshee are among the prospects showing up on our leader boards, but some potentially surprising names are making appearances as well.
On this week’s A’s Farm podcast, we talk with A’s assistant general manager Billy Owens to get his insights on top A’s prospects like Skye Bolt, Austin Beck, Jorge Mateo and more. After that, Stockton Ports play-by-play man Zack Bayrouty joins us to talk about his career as the man behind the mic for the Ports and to give us his take on some of the top young prospects in Stockton this season, and then we take the chance to catch up with A’s outfield prospect Lazaro Armenteros. You can check it out for yourself right here – A’s Cast.
(Stats complete through games of Sunday, May 19 / Minimum of 75 at-bats and 30 innings pitched)
–BATTING AVERAGE–
2B Corban Joseph (LV) .362
OF Skye Bolt (LV) .321
SS Jorge Mateo (LV) .319
Infielder Corban Joseph, who was claimed by the A’s in the minor league portion of the Rule-5 draft, has been one of the most productive hitters for the A’s new Triple-A team in Las Vegas this season. The 30-year-old currently boasts the fourth-best batting average in the Pacific Coast League, and his 11 doubles lead the team. Outfielder Skye Bolt has gone 10 for 32 since returning to Triple-A from the A’s and his 9 doubles tie him for second-most on the team. Meanwhile, shortstop Jorge Mateo has been doing it all for the Aviators this season. And the 23-year-old currently leads all A’s minor leaguers in hits, triples, extra-base hits, runs, RBIs and stolen bases.
–ON-BASE PERCENTAGE–
C Beau Taylor (LV) .486
2B Corban Joseph (LV) .411
1B Eric Campbell (LV) .407
OF Chase Calabuig (MID/BEL) .407
Catcher Beau Taylor has been an on-base machine for the Aviators, reaching base almost 50% of the time over the first month and a half of the minor league season. And the 29-year-old leads the team with 26 walks in just 105 plate appearances. First baseman Eric Campbell, whom the A’s signed as a minor league free agent in the offseason, has also been doing a great job of getting on base, with 20 walks in his first 124 plate appearances for the Aviators. Meanwhile, outfielder Chase Calabuig has been a pleasant surprise. Last year’s 27th-round draft pick for the A’s started the season at Beloit but was sent to Midland when Luis Barrera landed on the injured list, and he’s been one of the RockHounds’ most reliable hitters ever since. Barrera has since returned to action, but Calabuig has remained with the RockHounds.
–SLUGGING PERCENTAGE–
OF Mark Payton (LV) .635
1B Seth Brown (LV) .622
OF Skye Bolt (LV) .598
Outfielder Mark Payton who, like Corban Joseph, was claimed by the A’s in the minor league portion of the Rule-5 draft, has turned out to be one of the most potent hitters in the Las Vegas lineup this season. Not only is his .635 slugging percentage best among A’s minor leaguers, but the 27-year-old also leads the A’s system with a 1.012 OPS, while his 9 home runs and 34 RBIs are both good for second-best. First baseman Seth Brown has also been swinging a big bat for the Aviators this year. After leading the Texas League in doubles last year and the California League in homers in 2017, his 11 home runs are currently most among A’s minor leaguers, while his 23 extra-base hits are second only to Jorge Mateo’s 24 among A’s minor leaguers.
–ERA–
RHP Parker Dunshee (MID/LV) 2.05
RHP Brian Howard (MID) 2.06
RHP Aiden McIntyre (BEL) 2.59
Picking up where he left off last season, Parker Dunshee has continued to be the most effective starter in the A’s minor league system. After making 6 starts for Midland this season, Dunshee was recently promoted to Las Vegas, where he made his first Triple-A start last week. The 24-year-old has allowed a total of just 10 earned runs and 2 home runs over his first 7 starts this season while striking out 43 in 44 innings of work. And much like Dunshee, Brian Howard has allowed just 10 earned runs and 2 home runs in 43 2/3 frames so far this season for Double-A Midland.
–WHIP–
RHP Logan Verrett (MID) 0.99
RHP Parker Dunshee (MID/LV) 1.02
RHP Bryce Conley (BEL) 1.09
Signed by the A’s to a minor league deal after he made 29 starts in Korea last year, Logan Verrett got off to a great start for Midland this season before landing on the injured list last week. The 28-year-old has issued just 4 walks while notching 33 strikeouts over 34 1/3 frames for the RockHounds. Meanwhile, Bryce Conley, who started a no-hitter for the Snappers last season, threw 6 hitless innings in his second-to-last start, and the 24-year-old has now allowed just 4 hits while throwing 12 scoreless innings over his last 2 starts for the Snappers.
–STRIKEOUTS–
RHP Mitchell Jordan (STK) 53
RHP Aiden McIntyre (BEL) 48
RHP Parker Dunshee (MID/LV) 43
A 7-run outing in April has inflated his ERA a bit, but 2016’s 10th-round draft pick for the A’s, Mitchell Jordan, has looked dominant at times for Stockton this season. The 24-year-old has notched 53 strikeouts in just 45 1/3 frames for the Ports, averaging 10.5 K/9. Meanwhile, last year’s 22nd-round draft pick for the A’s, Aiden McIntyre, has been lighting things up in the Midwest League lately. The 23-year-old has struck out at least 8 in each of his last 3 starts for the Snappers. And with 48 strikeouts in just 31 1/3 innings of work, McIntyre is currently averaging 13.8 K/9 while sporting a nifty 2.59 ERA for the Snappers.
* * *
Be sure to like A’s Farm’s page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AthleticsFarm. You can also get our exclusive A’s minor league newsletter e-mailed to you free by signing up here.