by Brian Fonseca / A’s Farm Contributor
The Las Vegas Aviators, the A’s new Triple-A affiliate, are off to a flying start, sporting a league-best record of 13-2 after Thursday’s victory. The team’s offense has been sparking the hot start, with the lineup averaging more than eight runs per game. Let’s take a look at some of the team’s most impressive performers over the first couple weeks of the season…
The New Guy: Outfielder Mark Payton
In Wednesday’s game, for the first time this season, Payton failed to collect a hit; however, he did manage to draw a walk, keeping alive his streak of reaching base in all 12 games he’s appeared in this season. Payton knows something about getting on base. As a junior and senior at the University of Texas, he reached base in 101 consecutive games. The former 7th-round draft pick of the Yankees was selected by the A’s in the minor league portion of the Rule-5 draft in the offseason. And the 27-year-old is off to a great start for Las Vegas this season, notching 5 home runs and 5 doubles while driving in 16 runs and slashing .409/.480/.864 for the Aviators. Payton’s hot start at Triple-A is reminiscent of the one that Nick Martini, who’s currently on the injured list, parlayed into a significant role with the A’s last season.
Big, Bad Brown: First Baseman Seth Brown
The left-handed hitting Brown walloped 5 homers and drove in 8 runs over a three-game span earlier this week. Brown is a former 19th-round pick who put together two fine campaigns over the past two seasons. In 2017 at Stockton, Brown led the California League with 30 homers and 109 RBIs. And last year at Midland, he led the Texas League with 38 doubles while putting up a .283/.342/.454 slash line. Brown currently leads the Aviators with 6 home runs and 17 RBIs while boasting a .327 batting average and an .816 slugging percentage.
Backstop of the Future: Catcher Sean Murphy
The former 3rd-round pick has been red hot of late, pounding out 12 hits in his last 7 games, and the 24-year-old is currently slashing a lofty .370/.463/.500 for Las Vegas. Known for his defensive prowess, Murphy’s fast offensive start may land him in Oakland sooner rather than later.
The Toolsy and Talented: Shortstop Jorge Mateo
Obtained from the Yankees in the Sonny Gray deal, Mateo’s speed has always been his best tool, but he’s off to a hot start with the bat this season. Mateo already has banged out 6 extra-base hits while sporting a .375/.403/.547 slash line, and he’s 5 for 8 thus far in stolen base attempts. The talented 23-year-old has, however, committed 4 errors while starting at shortstop in all but one of his games. Mateo is a promising prospect who might find his way to Oakland before long if he can just keep hitting and fine-tune his defensive skills.
Experienced Arms: RHP Ryan Dull & LHP Jerry Blevins
Righty Ryan Dull has been lights out thus far. In 9 2/3 innings, he has allowed a mere 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 14 and failing to surrender a run, earning himself a pair of holds and a pair of saves in the process. Lefty Jerry Blevins has also been tough on opposing batters, allowing a single run while issuing 2 walks and fanning 13 in 7 1/3 innings. If these two veterans can continue their impressive starts, there’s a good chance that they will find themselves back with the Green & Gold at some point in 2019.
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