A’s Farm’s 7th Annual Post-Season Organizational All-Star Team for 2018

by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor

With the 2018 minor league season now complete, it’s the perfect time to take a step back and determine who the true standouts on the field really were in the A’s system in 2018. So, with that in mind, it’s time to name A’s Farm’s 7th Annual Post-Season Organizational All-Star Team for 2018!

Below, you’ll find the primary starting players at each position for Triple-A Nashville, Double-A Midland, High-A Stockton, Class-A Beloit, Class-A Short-Season Vermont and the Rookie League Short-Season AZL A’s in 2018. Offensive players were selected from the primary starters at each position for each team over the course of the season, with notable players not leading in games played at a particular position listed in the designated hitter category. Starting pitchers for each club were selected from among the top starters for each team, while closers were selected from each team’s saves leader. Asterisks denote players with combined statistics from multiple minor league teams within the A’s system, but players’ major league statistics and statistics acquired while with other organizations have not been included.

Check out our list of All-Star candidates at each position. Then click on the link just below the list of contenders to find A’s Farm’s winning Organizational All-Stars at each position. The winners were determined based purely on performance, not potential. Remember, we’re not selecting the top prospects here, we’re choosing the top performers on the field this season. So take a good look at the candidates for yourself and then cast your vote in our poll for the top A’s Organizational All-Star of 2018!

 

–THE CANDIDATES–

 

CATCHER

Nashville – Beau Taylor (302 AB / 3 HR / .248 AVG / .360 OBP / .348 SLG / .707 OPS)

Midland – Sean Murphy (270 AB / 8 HR / .285 AVG / .361 OBP / .489 SLG / .850 OPS) *

Stockton – Jonah Heim (449 AB / 8 HR / .258 AVG / .319 OBP / .372 SLG / .691 OPS) *

Beloit – Jordan Devencenzi (282 AB / 1 HR / .266 AVG / .325 OBP / .330 SLG / .655 OPS)

Vermont – Jose Rivas (144 AB / 2 HR / .215 AVG / .288 OBP / .285 SLG / .572 OPS)

AZL A’s – Jorge Gordon (59 AB / 0 HR / .186 AVG / .286 OBP / .237 SLG / .523 OPS)

 

FIRST BASE

Nashville – Steve Lombardozzi (412 AB / 1 HR / .243 AVG / .323 OBP / .301 SLG / .624 OPS)

Midland – Seth Brown (502 AB / 14 HR / .283 AVG / .342 OBP / .454 SLG / .797 OPS)

Stockton – Sandber Pimentel (247 AB / 15 HR / .219 AVG / .313 OBP / .453 SLG / .767 OPS)

Beloit – Hunter Hargrove (469 AB / 9 HR / .290 AVG / .352 OBP / .407 SLG / .759 OPS)

Vermont – Alfonso Rivas (214 AB / 1 HR / .285 AVG / .397 OBP / .383 SLG / .780 OPS)

AZL A’s – Gio Dingcong (116 AB / 5 HR / .216 AVG / .311 OBP / .431 SLG / .742 OPS)

 

SECOND BASE

Nashville – Franklin Barreto (282 AB / 18 HR / .259 AVG / .357 OBP / .514 SLG / .872 OPS)

Midland – Eli White (504 AB / 9 HR / .306 AVG / .388 OBP / .450 SLG / .838 OPS)

Stockton – Nate Mondou (509 AB / 8 HR / .279 AVG / .356 OBP / .399 SLG / .754 OPS) *

Beloit – Trace Loehr (445 AB / 3 HR / .274 AVG / .331 OBP / .366 SLG / .698 OPS) *

Vermont – Marcos Brito (212 AB / 1 HR / .241 AVG / .325 OBP / .288 SLG / .613 OPS)

AZL A’s – Christopher Quintin (138 AB / 2 HR / .217 AVG / .275 OBP / .297 SLG / .572 OPS)

 

SHORTSTOP

Nashville – Jorge Mateo (470 AB / 3 HR / .230 AVG / .280 OBP / .353 SLG / .633 OPS)

Midland – Richie Martin (453 AB / 6 HR / .300 AVG / .368 OBP / .439 SLG / .807 OPS)

Stockton – Kevin Merrell (296 AB / 0 HR / .291 AVG / .335 OBP / .365 SLG / .700 OPS) *

Beloit – Nick Allen (460 AB / 0 HR / .239 AVG / .301 OBP / .302 SLG / .603 OPS)

Vermont – Jeremy Eierman (247 AB / 8 HR / .235 AVG / .283 OBP / .381 SLG / .664 OPS)

AZL A’s – Nick Ward (157 AB / 2 HR / .268 AVG / .394 OBP / .420 SLG / .814 OPS)

 

THIRD BASE

Nashville – Sheldon Neuse (499 AB / 5 HR / .263 AVG / .304 OBP / .357 SLG / .661 OPS)

Midland – Mikey White (225 AB / 6 HR / .218 AVG / .306 OBP / .324 SLG / .630 OPS)

Stockton – Brallan Perez (313 AB / 0 HR / .265 AVG / .347 OBP / .319 SLG / .667 OPS)

Beloit – Jesus Lopez (301 AB / 10 HR / .239 AVG / .293 OBP / .402 SLG / .695 OPS)

Vermont – Jonah Bride (200 AB / 3 HR / .280 AVG / .368 OBP / .410 SLG / .778 OPS) *

AZL A’s – Jordan Diaz (159 AB / 1 HR / .277 AVG / .371 OBP / .390 SLG / .761 OPS)

 

LEFT FIELD

Nashville – BJ Boyd (391 AB / 3 HR / .271 AVG / .322 OBP / .348 SLG / .669 OPS)

Midland – Tyler Ramirez (512 AB / 10 HR / .287 AVG / .370 OBP / .430 SLG / .800 OPS)

Stockton – Luke Persico (429 AB / 5 HR / .287 AVG / .351 OBP / .420 SLG / .771 OPS)

Beloit – Lazaro Armenteros (292 AB / 8 HR / .277 AVG / .374 OBP / .401 SLG / .774 OPS)

Vermont – Payton Squier (158 AB / 2 HR / .323 AVG / .400 OBP / .437 SLG / .837 OPS)

AZL A’s – Lawrence Butler (106 AB / 1 HR / .226 AVG / .339 OBP / .330 SLG / .669 OPS)

 

CENTER FIELD

Nashville – Dustin Fowler (229 AB / 4 HR / .341 AVG / .364 OBP / .520 SLG / .884 OPS)

Midland – Skye Bolt (454 AB / 19 HR / .260 AVG / .347 OBP / .474 SLG / .821 OPS) *

Stockton – Luis Barrera (444 AB / 3 HR / .297 AVG / .361 OBP / .426 SLG / .787 OPS) *

Beloit – Austin Beck (493 AB / 2 HR / .296 AVG / .335 OBP / .383 SLG / .719 OPS)

Vermont – Devin Foyle (142 AB / 0 HR / .169 AVG / .280 OBP / .218 SLG / .498 OPS)

AZL A’s – Kevin Richards (121 AB / 0 HR / .248 AVG / .298 OBP / .331 SLG / .628 OPS)

 

RIGHT FIELD

Nashville – Ramon Laureano (246 AB / 14 HR / .297 AVG / .380 OBP / .524 SLG / .905 OPS)

Midland – Tyler Marincov (325 AB / 14 HR / .225 AVG / .299 OBP / .394 SLG / .692 OPS)

Stockton – Dairon Blanco (313 AB / 1 HR / .291 AVG / .342 OBP / .406 SLG / .748 OPS)

Beloit – Mickey McDonald (391 AB / 2 HR / .284 AVG / .356 OBP / .353 SLG / .709 OPS)

Vermont – Noah Vaughan (160 AB / 2 HR / .194 AVG / .249 OBP / .313 SLG / .561 OPS)

AZL A’s – Danny Bautista (156 AB / 1 HR / .218 AVG / .330 OBP / .327 SLG / .657 OPS)

 

DESIGNATED HITTER

Nashville – Anthony Garcia (480 AB / 25 HR / .254 AVG / .357 OBP / .479 SLG / .836 OPS)

Midland – J.P. Sportman (435 AB / 14 HR / .274 AVG / .310 OBP / .446 SLG / .756 OPS) *

Stockton – Edwin Diaz (399 AB / 15 HR / .216 AVG / .298 OBP / .386 SLG / .684 OPS) *

Beloit – Logan Farrar (421 AB / 12 HR / .235 AVG / .316 OBP / .378 SLG / .694 OPS)

Vermont – Aaron Arruda (156 AB / 4 HR / .199 AVG / .298 OBP / .301 SLG / .600 OPS)

AZL A’s – Yhoelnys Gonzalez (91 AB / 0 HR / .242 AVG / .330 OBP / .253 SLG / .583 OPS)

 

STARTING PITCHER

Nashville – Chris Bassitt (81.2 IP / 86 H / 39 ER / 25 BB / 83 K / 4.30 ERA / 1.36 WHIP)

Midland – Jesus Luzardo (109.1 IP / 89 H / 35 ER / 30 BB / 129 K / 2.88 ERA / 1.09 WHIP) *

Stockton – Parker Dunshee (150.2 IP / 120 H / 39 ER / 31 BB / 163 K / 2.33 ERA / 1.00 WHIP) *

Beloit – Mitchell Jordan (124.2 IP / 110 H / 37 ER / 34 BB / 105 K / 2.67 ERA / 1.16 WHIP)

Vermont – Jhenderson Hurtado (64.2 IP / 52 H / 28 ER / 26 BB / 65 K / 3.90 ERA / 1.21 WHIP) *

AZL A’s – Richard Morban (67 IP / 51 H / 19 ER / 27 BB / 68 K / 2.55 ERA / 1.16 WHIP) *

 

CLOSER

Nashville – Liam Hendriks (25.1 IP / 21 H / 8 ER / 4 BB / 43 K / 2.84 ERA / 0.99 WHIP / 6 SV)

Midland – Kyle Finnegan (44.2 IP / 44 H / 24 ER / 19 BB / 48 K / 4.84 ERA / 1.41 WHIP / 14 SV) *

Stockton – Angel Duno (65.1 IP / 63 H / 19 ER / 17 BB / 66 K / 2.62 ERA / 1.22 WHIP / 15 SV)

Beloit – Seth Martinez (71.1 IP / 68 H / 26 ER / 18 BB / 58 K / 3.28 ERA / 1.21 WHIP / 15 SV)

Vermont – Slater Lee (33.2 IP / 27 H / 6 ER / 6 BB / 29 K / 1.60 ERA / 0.98 WHIP / 6 SV) *

AZL A’s – Daniel Martinez (26 IP / 19 H / 9 ER / 12 BB / 29 K / 3.12 ERA / 1.19 WHIP / 4 SV)

 

Click here to see A’s Farm’s 2018 Post-Season Organizational All-Star Team…

 

–A’s Farm’s Post-Season Organizational All-Star Team–

 

 

CATCHER

Sean Murphy – Midland RockHounds (+Nashville Sounds/AZL A’s)

(270 AB / 8 HR / .285 AVG / .361 OBP / .489 SLG / .850 OPS) *

 

Though his season was cut short by about a month and a half due to hamate bone surgery, Murphy still managed to turn in one of the best performances by an A’s minor league position player this season. 2016’s 3rd-round draft pick for the A’s has always been known for his strong throwing arm and his solid work behind the plate, but Murphy made major strides in his offensive game this year. He boasted the best slugging percentage and OPS among RockHounds regulars and looked solid in 3 late-season games for the Sounds.

 

 

FIRST BASE

Seth Brown – Midland RockHounds

(502 AB / 14 HR / .283 AVG / .342 OBP / .454 SLG / .797 OPS)

 

2015’s 19th-round draft pick for the A’s was the big bopper for Midland this season. The 26-year-old slugger led all A’s minor leaguers with 38 doubles while leading the RockHounds with 55 extra-base hits and 90 RBIs. With no clear first baseman set for Nashville next season, Brown could get a chance to show what he can do at Triple-A next year.

 

 

SECOND BASE

Franklin Barreto – Nashville Sounds

(282 AB / 18 HR / .259 AVG / .357 OBP / .514 SLG / .872 OPS)

 

The A’s top hitting prospect has gotten the chance to spend some time in Oakland this year, but he also started more games at second base for the Sounds than anyone else this season. Barreto belted 18 home runs, the second most on the team, in just 77 games for Nashville while also sporting a .514 slugging percentage. His season is even more impressive considering the fact that the Venezuelan slugger is still just 22. Barreto’s performance for the Sounds overshadowed an outstanding season turned in by RockHounds second baseman Eli White.

 

 

SHORTSTOP

Richie Martin – Midland RockHounds

(453 AB / 6 HR / .300 AVG / .368 OBP / .439 SLG / .807 OPS)

 

Ever since joining the A’s system, the team’s top pick in 2015 had consistently struggled at the plate. Prior to this year, Martin had never posted a batting average higher than .237 in a single season. But this year, after making some adjustments to his swing, the 23-year-old finished the season boasting with a batting average of .300, good for second best among RockHounds regulars. His 8 triples tied him for the team lead, and his 25 stolen bases tied him for the most among A’s minor leaguers.

 

 

THIRD BASE

Jonah Bride – Vermont Lake Monsters (+AZL A’s)

(200 AB / 3 HR / .280 AVG / .368 OBP / .410 SLG / .778 OPS)

 

With Matt Chapman now in the major leagues and Will Toffey dealt to the Mets this summer, the A’s minor league system is severely lacking in third base prospects but, fortunately, it looks like they might have gotten lucky with Jonah Bride. Taken in the 23rd-round of this year’s draft, Bride looks like he could be a real find. The 22-year-old led Vermont with 17 doubles and 34 RBIs in just 54 games for the Lake Monsters while putting up a solid slash line of .280/.368/.410 over 200 at-bats in his debut season.

 

 

LEFT FIELD

Tyler Ramirez – Midland RockHounds

(512 AB / 10 HR / .287 AVG / .370 OBP / .430 SLG / .800 OPS)

 

Ramirez has looked like a solid hitter ever since being drafted by the A’s in 7th round back in 2016. The 23-year-old was remarkably consistent while compiling the second-most hits and doubles in the A’s system this season. He also tied for the second-most walks in the system while boasting the second-best on-base percentage among RockHounds regulars. Unfortunately, his 148 strikeouts were also the second most among A’s minor leaguers this year.

 

 

CENTER FIELD

Dustin Fowler – Nashville Sounds

(229 AB / 4 HR / .341 AVG / .364 OBP / .520 SLG / .884 OPS)

 

While struggling a bit in his time with the A’s, Fowler was more than impressive while playing for the Sounds. The 23-year-old boasted the best batting average among all A’s minor leaguers with at least 200 at-bats, while his .520 slugging percentage was second only to Ramon Laureano in the A’s system, and his 13 stolen bases trailed only Jorge Mateo for the team-lead in Nashville. Fowler’s performance for the Sounds eclipsed a solid season turned in by RockHounds center fielder Skye Bolt.

 

 

RIGHT FIELD

Ramon Laureano – Nashville Sounds

(246 AB / 14 HR / .297 AVG / .380 OBP / .524 SLG / .905 OPS)

 

Once a highly-touted prospect, Laureano was acquired from the Astros in the offseason after a rather uninspiring performance at Double-A in 2017. The 24-year-old spent the first month and a half of the season on the disabled list. But when he returned to action, he really got going for the Sounds, and now A’s fans know just what the dynamic young outfielder is really capable of. Laureano’s .524 slugging percentage and .905 OPS were best among A’s minor leaguers with at least 200 at-bats this season.

 

 

DESIGNATED HITTER

Anthony Garcia – Nashville Sounds

(480 AB / 25 HR / .254 AVG / .357 OBP / .479 SLG / .836 OPS)

 

The A’s signed the slugging outfielder as a minor league free agent in the offseason, and he proved to be one of the most productive hitters for Nashville this year. The 26-year-old served as the Sounds’ cleanup hitter for much of the season and ended up leading all A’s minor leaguers in home runs, extra-base hits, walks and RBIs while also leading the Sounds in doubles this season.

 

 

STARTING PITCHER

Parker Dunshee – Stockton Ports (+Midland RockHounds)

(150.2 IP / 120 H / 39 ER / 31 BB / 163 K / 2.33 ERA / 1.00 WHIP) *

 

With all the attention on A’s top pitching prospect Jesus Luzardo, last year’s 7th-round draft pick for the A’s actually ended up turning in an even more impressive season on the field. Dunshee’s 2.33 ERA and his 1.00 WHIP were both bests among A’s minor league starting pitchers, while his 13 wins and 163 strikeouts both led all A’s minor leaguers. The 23-year-old split the season between Stockton and Midland, and his 10.5 K/9 for the Ports was tops among Stockton starters, while his 2.01 ERA and 0.90 WHIP for the RockHounds were both bests among Midland pitchers.

 

 

CLOSER

Angel Duno – Stockton Ports

(65.1 IP / 63 H / 19 ER / 17 BB / 66 K / 2.62 ERA / 1.22 WHIP / 15 SV)

 

The Venezuelan righty shifted from a starting role into a relief role this season for Stockton, and he couldn’t have made the move any more smoothly. The 24-year-old tied for the most saves in the A’s system with 15 while striking out 66 in 65.1 innings and providing a solid option at the back end of the bullpen for Stockton this season.

 

 

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