by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
This week, we wanted to take a look at some A’s prospects who are currently leading their leagues in some significant offensive categories. It’s one thing to put up solid numbers that look impressive in the abstract, but it’s another thing to outpace all yours peers playing in the same league. So, let’s see who’s been performing well above the competition this season. All stats are through games of Sunday, August 18.
But first…if you haven’t already, be sure to check out our latest A’s Farm podcast with A’s minor league pitching and hitting coordinators Gil Patterson and Jim Eppard for a late-season discussion of the team’s top prospects including Jesus Luzardo, A.J. Puk, James Kaprielian, Jorge Mateo, Sean Murphy, Sheldon Neuse and many more. You can hear it right here – A’s Cast.
1B-OF Seth Brown (Las Vegas) – PCL RBI Leader (101)
The 27-year-old former 19th-round draft pick may not have ranked high on A’s prospect lists, but he’s consistently put up big power numbers in the A’s system. The 6-foot-3 slugger led the California League with 30 home runs in 2017, led the Texas League with 38 doubles last year, and has led the PCL in home runs for much of this season. In addition to leading the league with 101 RBIs in 106 games, he’s currently second in the league with 35 homers and 68 extra-base hits, is fourth in the league with a .629 slugging percentage, and is ninth in the league with a .975 OPS. The left-handed hitter also boasts an OPS of 1.005 versus righties this season and has plenty of experience at first base and in the corner outfield spots.
3B Sheldon Neuse (Las Vegas) – PCL Hits Leader (149)
After struggling through much of last season during his first year at Triple-A, Neuse has been remarkably productive for Las Vegas this season, and he hasn’t slowed down a bit as the season has rolled on. The 24-year-old is currently sporting an OPS of 1.014 during the month of August. In addition to leading the 16-team Pacific Coast League with 149 hits in 117 games, he’s also tied for second in the league with 94 runs, is fifth in the league with 95 RBIs, is tied for eighth in the league with 30 doubles, and is eighth in the league with a .322 batting average. The right-handed hitter has an OPS of 1.152 versus lefties this season and, while starting 92 games at third base this year, he’s also started 8 games apiece at shortstop and second base and has even made 3 starts in left field for Las Vegas.
SS Jorge Mateo (Las Vegas) – PCL Triples Leader (14)
Much like Neuse, Mateo also struggled last year in his first taste of Triple-A, putting up an OPS of just .633 for Nashville. But he quickly turned things around this year by posting an OPS of .943 for Las Vegas in April. In addition to leading the PCL with 14 triples, the 24-year-old is also tied for fifth in the league with 138 hits in 104 games, is tied for sixth in the league with 22 stolen bases, and is also boasting a total of 57 extra-base hits on the season. The right-handed hitter is currently sporting an OPS of .896 versus lefties and, while he’s started 84 games at shortstop this season, he’s also made 14 starts at second base for the Aviators.
SS-3B Edwin Diaz (Midland) – TXL Doubles Leader (33)
After spending most of the season at third base, the 23-year-old former 15th-round draft pick out of Puerto Rico took over as Midland’s everyday shortstop after Kevin Merrell was traded to Kansas City a little more than a month ago. And the shift to short seems to have agreed with him as he’s put up an OPS of .944 in August. The right-handed hitter has really boosted his power output this season. In addition to leading the light-hitting Texas League with 33 doubles, he also leads the league with 52 extra-base hits, is tied for sixth in the league with 6 triples, is fifth in the league with 67 RBIs, is tied for eighth in the league with 47 walks, and is twelfth in the league with an OPS of .765. The versatile, 6-foot-2 infielder has split his time between third base and shortstop throughout most of his minor league career, but he’s also seen some time at second base as well as at first.
3B Jordan Diaz (Vermont) – NYPL RBI Leader (44)
After impressing in the Arizona League last year, the 19-year-old Colombian third baseman has been Vermont’s best hitter this season. In addition to leading the NY-Penn League with 44 RBIs in 59 games, he’s also third in the league with 17 doubles and 26 extra-base hits, is tied for the third in the league with 9 home runs, is tied for fourth in the league with 61 hits, is seventh in the league with a .445 slugging percentage, and is fifteenth in the league with an OPS of .747 for the light-hitting Lake Monsters. And the right-handed hitter has appeared exclusively at the hot corner for Vermont this season.
* * *
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.
Would love to see Brown, Neuse and Mateo in Oakland. We need more hitting and we need to see if they can play in the majors.
Think there’s a good chance you might get a look at Mateo, and maybe even Neuse, in September.