by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
Daniel Gossett
This week, it’s time to take a look at the team leaders in some important statistical categories for each of the A’s affiliates. A young player’s ability to stand out amongst his peers is important, whatever level he’s playing at. And players like Daniel Gossett, Sean Murphy and Skye Bolt, as well as a plethora of Ports’ starting pitchers, have proven to be real standouts among each teams’ stat leaders so far this season.
You can find a rundown of some of the top statistical leaders for each affiliate below, and you can always stay up to date on the A’s top prospects and all the daily action in the A’s minor league system right here on Athletics Farm…
Click here for this week’s update on Nashville, Midland, Stockton & Beloit…
(based on a minimum of 75 at-bats and 25 innings pitched – all stats complete through Sunday, May 20)
NASHVILLE SOUNDS
Pacific Coast League – Triple-A
AVG: C Beau Taylor .286
OBP: OF-1B Nick Martini .428
SLG: OF Anthony Garcia .492
ERA: RHP Daniel Gossett 1.63
WHIP: RHP Daniel Gossett 1.09
K: RHP Daniel Gossett 42
Beau Taylor, who’s been in the A’s organization longer than any other player, has been wielding a productive bat, averaging .286 while shuttling between catching and serving in the designated hitter slot as he gets an extended look at Triple-A. The 28-year-old is also boasting a .412 OBP for the Sounds. The only player on the Nashville squad with a better OBP is free agent signee Nick Martini, who’s been getting on base at a .428 clip. Martini, who had been starting in the outfield but has mainly been playing first base since Slade Heathcott‘s release, leads the team in both walks and runs and has reached base in 30 consecutive games. Fellow free agent signee Anthony Garcia has been performing well as the Sounds’ latest cleanup hitter. Not only is the outfielder sporting a .492 SLG, but he also leads the team in doubles with 10 and home runs with 7. Daniel Gossett has clearly been the best of the Sounds’ starters, and his league-leading 1.63 ERA, as well as his 42 strikeouts in 38 2/3 frames, should be earning him a return to the A’s rotation this week.
MIDLAND ROCKHOUNDS
Texas League – Double-A
AVG: C Sean Murphy .312
OBP: OF Tyler Ramirez .401
SLG: C Sean Murphy .539
ERA: RHP Ben Bracewell 3.06
WHIP: RHP Ben Bracewell 0.96
K: RHP Ben Bracewell 38
Top catching prospect Sean Murphy has been one of the best-performing young players in the A’s system so far this season. The 23-year-old started off hot and hasn’t cooled down yet. Besides delivering solid defense behind the plate, Murphy boasts team bests with a .312 AVG and a .539 SLG and also leads the RockHounds with 18 doubles and 23 extra-base hits. 23-year-old Tyler Ramirez, who’s taken over as the team’s main center fielder since Skye Bolt’s demotion to Stockton, has also been part of a dynamic duo in the heart of Midland’s lineup along with Murphy. Not only is his .401 OBP the best on the squad, but he’s sporting a healthy .490 SLG as well. 27-year-old Ben Bracewell has been the best of Midland’s starters so far this season. He’s been doing a good job of keeping runners off base and his 0.96 WHIP is the second best in the Texas League, while his 3.06 ERA is good for seventh best in the league.
STOCKTON PORTS
California League – High-A
AVG: C Jonah Heim .294
OBP: OF Skye Bolt .436
SLG: OF Skye Bolt .506
ERA: RHP Jake Bray 2.27
WHIP: RHP Brian Howard 0.92
K: RHP Parker Dunshee 56
After struggling at Double-A with a .133/.220/.200 slash line in his first 11 games for Midland, center fielder Skye Bolt has been singing a different tune since being sent back to Stockton. The 24-year-old is slashing .287/.436/.506 for the Ports while also leading the team with 21 walks in just 25 games. Besides Bolt, catcher Jonah Heim has been the most productive hitter in the Ports’ lineup this season, slashing .294/.356/.425 while leading Stockton in hits, doubles, extra-base hits and RBIs. The 22-year-old backstop, who came to the A’s from Tampa Bay as the player to be named later in the Joey Wendle deal, also recorded a 19-game hitting streak for Stockton this season. Jake Bray, who arrived as the player to be named later from Baltimore in the Jaycob Brugman deal, has been performing well in the Ports’ starting rotation this season despite having started just one game in his entire pro career prior to this year. And the 25-year-old’s 2.27 ERA is currently the best among the Ports’ impressive array of starting pitchers. 6-foot-9 RHP Brian Howard has been dominant, striking out 50 in 45 2/3 innings while posting a 2.56 ERA to go along with his league-best 0.92 WHIP. RHP Parker Dunshee has been the other key piece in Stockton’s starting rotation this season, compiling a 2.66 ERA while striking out a team-best 56 in just 44 frames.
BELOIT SNAPPERS
Midwest League – Class-A
AVG: 1B Hunter Hargrove .321
OBP: OF Mickey McDonald .381
SLG: OF Logan Farrar .416
ERA: RHP Xavier Altamirano 3.05
WHIP: RHP Xavier Altamirano 0.97
K: RHP Wyatt Marks 53
Beloit’s lineup hasn’t exactly set the world on fire this season, but there have been a few high points. Hunter Hargrove, who joined the team from extended spring training when first baseman Miguel Mercedes went on the disabled list, started hitting as soon as he arrived and hasn’t stopped since. Not only is he boasting a team-best .321 AVG, but he also leads the team with a total of 10 doubles in just 30 games. Bay Area product Mickey McDonald has been doing a great job of getting on base for Beloit and he’s currently leading the squad with a .381 OBP. On the other side of the coin, outfielder Logan Farrar’s .250 OBP will let you know that he hasn’t been doing a great job of getting on base, but he is boasting a team-best .416 SLG while also leading the Snappers in extra-base hits. Last year’s top draft pick, center fielder Austin Beck, has put up a .295/.340/.383 slash line so far this season, while left fielder Lazaro Armenteros is slashing .280/.362/.460 in his first 13 games for the Snappers. 23-year-old RHP Xavier Altamirano has clearly been Beloit’s most effective starter, compiling team bests with a 3.05 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. 22-year-old Wyatt Marks’ 53 strikeouts are a team best and are good for second best in the Midwest League. But his strikeout total is even more impressive when you take into account the fact that he’s tallied that total in just 36 2/3 frames, and his 13K/9 is currently the best among all starters in the A’s system.
* * *
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.