by Brian Fonseca / A’s Farm Contributor
The Aviators compiled a .500 record in May, going 15-15 for the month. The bats have remained hot, and the Aviators currently boast the best on-base percentage in the Pacific Coast League with a .365 mark. When it comes to pitching though, Las Vegas remains right near the middle of the pack with a 5.12 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP, both good for ninth-best in the 16-team league.
Catcher Beau Taylor
Taylor was an on-base machine in May, reaching base at a team-leading .512 clip. The 29-year-old also leads the squad with 32 walks and an OBP of .470 for the season. Taylor, who made his major league debut with the A’s last September, carries extreme splits this year. While the minor league veteran has been a monster versus right-handed pitching (.364/.533/.571), he’s struggled versus lefties (.120/.241/.160).
Second Baseman Corban Joseph
Joseph, who appeared in 14 big league games for the Orioles last season, currently leads the Aviators with a .338 batting average after hitting at a .364 clip in May. The former fourth-round pick of the Yankees in 2008 has been mashing right-handed pitching this season, slashing .391/.433/.670 against righties. His brother, Caleb, is currently a catcher for Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate in Reno.
Infielder Franklin Barreto
Barreto quietly put together a solid May with a .273 batting average to go along with a .379 OBP. On the season, he’s second on the team in walks (29), runs (40) and stolen bases (7). The 23-year-old’s walk total marks a stark improvement over 2018, when he managed 40 walks in a combined 109 games for Nashville and Oakland. Barreto had a big game on May 28, when he collected 4 hits and 9 total bases in Las Vegas’s victory over Reno.
Outfielder Nick Martini
After returning to action from a knee injury on May 8, the left-handed hitting Martini picked right up where he left off last season, batting .327 while compiling a .418 OPB in 15 games last month. Martini has fared particularly well against right-handed pitching so far this season, putting up a .355 average and a .476 OPB versus southpaws. On May 29 in Sacramento, Martini reached base 5 times, rapping out 4 hits and drawing a walk.
Pitcher Paul Blackburn
Blackburn allowed more than 2 earned runs just once in his 5 May starts for the Aviators. On May 23, the right-hander twirled an absolute gem against Albuquerque, allowing a single hit while fanning 7 over 7 scoreless innings. On the season, Blackburn leads all current Las Vegas starters with 5 wins, a 4.30 ERA and a WHIP of 1.20.
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