by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
slugger Seth Brown
With the 2019 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 2019. And with that in mind, it’s time to name A’s Farm’s 8th Annual Post-Season Organizational All-Star Team for 2019!
Below, you’ll find the primary starting players at each position for Triple-A Las Vegas, Double-A Midland, High-A Stockton, Class-A Beloit, Class-A Short-Season Vermont and the Rookie League Short-Season AZL A’s Green and Gold squads in 2019.
Position 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. And only one player from the Arizona League A’s Green and Gold squads was selected to represent each position.
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. A few players listed below – infielders Corban Joseph and Kevin Merrell and outfielders Dairon Blanco and Jameson Hannah – are no longer in the A’s system.
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 2019!
–THE CANDIDATES–
CATCHER
Las Vegas – Beau Taylor (191 AB / 8 HR / .257 AVG / .408 OBP / .461 SLG / .869 OPS)
Midland – Collin Theroux (324 AB / 12 HR / .179 AVG / .291 OBP / .333 SLG / .625 OPS) *
Stockton – Jordan Devencenzi (228 AB / 1 HR / .254 AVG / .316 OBP / .394 SLG / .610 OPS) *
Beloit – Skyler Weber (343 AB / 4 HR / .195 AVG / .278 OBP / .286 SLG / .564 OPS)
Vermont – Jose Rivas (191 AB / 1 HR / .204 AVG / .303 OBP / .288 SLG / .591 OPS)
AZL A’s – Hansen Lopez (110 AB / 1 HR / .236 AVG / .277 OBP / .355 SLG / .632 OPS)
FIRST BASE
Las Vegas – Seth Brown (451 AB / 37 HR / .297 AVG / .352 OBP / .634 SLG / .986 OPS)
Midland – Mikey White (399 AB / 11 HR / .261 AVG / .337 OBP / .409 SLG / .746 OPS) *
Stockton – Alfonso Rivas (463 AB / 9 HR / .292 AVG / .387 OBP / .423 SLG / .810 OPS) *
Beloit – Nick Ward (338 AB / 6 HR / .237 AVG / .349 OBP / .343 SLG / .692 OPS) *
Vermont – Lawrence Butler (192 AB / 4 HR / .177 AVG / .276 OBP / .286 SLG / .562 OPS)
AZL A’s – Gavin Jones (192 AB / 1 HR / .208 AVG / .290 OBP / .255 SLG / .546 OPS)
SECOND BASE
Las Vegas – Corban Joseph (383 AB / 13 HR / .371 AVG / .421 OBP / .585 SLG / 1.006 OPS)
Midland – Nate Mondou (427 AB / 5 HR / .248 AVG / .344 OBP / .333 SLG / .677 OPS)
Stockton – Trace Loehr (386 AB / 5 HR / .295 AVG / .352 OBP / .407 SLG / .759 OPS) *
Beloit – Joseph Pena (336 AB / 1 HR / .241 AVG / .364 OBP / .295 SLG / .659 OPS)
Vermont – Yerdel Vargas (196 AB / 4 HR / .158 AVG / .240 OBP / .245 SLG / .485 OPS)
AZL A’s – Wilson Alvarez (220 AB / 0 HR / .286 AVG / .364 OBP / .345 SLG / .709 OPS)
SHORTSTOP
Las Vegas – Jorge Mateo (532 AB / 19 HR / .289 AVG / .330 OBP / .504 SLG / .834 OPS)
Midland – Kevin Merrell (289 AB / 2 HR / .246 AVG / .292 OBP / .339 SLG / .631 OPS)
Stockton – Jeremy Eierman (501 AB / 13 HR / .208 AVG / .270 OBP / .357 SLG / .627 OPS)
Beloit – Marcos Brito (204 AB / 2 HR / .181 AVG / .260 OBP / .250 SLG / .510 OPS)
Vermont – Logan Davidson (205 AB / 4 HR / .239 AVG / .345 OBP / .332 SLG / .676 OPS)
AZL A’s – Elvis Peralta (177 AB / 2 HR / .282 AVG / .398 OBP / .379 SLG / .777 OPS)
THIRD BASE
Las Vegas – Sheldon Neuse (498 AB / 27 HR / .317 AVG / .389 OBP / .550 SLG / .939 OPS)
Midland – Edwin Diaz (471 AB / 14 HR / .231 AVG / .314 OBP / .427 SLG / .741 OPS) *
Stockton – Jonah Bride (411 AB / 10 HR / .277 AVG / .368 OBP / .414 SLG / .782 OPS) *
Beloit – Cobie Vance (293 AB / 1 HR / .232 AVG / .328 OBP / .304 SLG / .631 OPS)
Vermont – Jordan Diaz (277 AB / 9 HR / .264 AVG / .307 OBP / .430 SLG / .736 OPS)
AZL A’s – Joshwan Wright (191 AB / 0 HR / .330 AVG / .386 OBP / .419 SLG / .805 OPS)
LEFT FIELD
Las Vegas – Mark Payton (395 AB / 30 HR / .334 AVG / .400 OBP / .653 SLG / 1.053 OPS)
Midland – Chase Calabuig (449 AB / 5 HR / .283 AVG / .388 OBP / .365 SLG / .753 OPS) *
Stockton – Lazaro Armenteros (459 AB / 17 HR / .222 AVG / .336 OBP / .403 SLG / .739 OPS)
Beloit – Devin Foyle (327 AB / 6 HR / .235 AVG / .347 OBP / .355 SLG / .702 OPS)
Vermont – Shane Selman (144 AB / 0 HR / .194 AVG / .297 OBP / .257 SLG / .553 OPS) *
AZL A’s – Matt Koehler (169 AB / 1 HR / .249 AVG / .342 OBP / .361 SLG / .703 OPS)
CENTER FIELD
Las Vegas – Dustin Fowler (556 AB / 25 HR / .277 AVG / .333 OBP / .477 SLG / .810 OPS)
Midland – Dairon Blanco (301 AB / 7 HR / .276 AVG / .342 OBP / .468 SLG / .811 OPS)
Stockton – Austin Beck (338 AB / 8 HR / .251 AVG / .302 OBP / .411 SLG / .714 OPS)
Beloit – Lester Madden (391 AB / 2 HR / .212 AVG / .263 OBP / .297 SLG / .559 OPS)
Vermont – Kevin Richards (254 AB / 4 HR / .228 AVG / .263 OBP / .350 SLG / .613 OPS)
AZL A’s – Brayan Buelvas (160 AB / 3 HR / .300 AVG / .392 OBP / .506 SLG / .899 OPS)
RIGHT FIELD
Las Vegas – Skye Bolt (305 AB / 11 HR / .269 AVG / .350 OBP / .459 SLG / .809 OPS)
Midland – Greg Deichmann (301 AB / 11 HR / .219 AVG / .300 OBP / .375 SLG / .675 OPS)
Stockton – Jameson Hannah (375 AB / 2 HR / .283 AVG / .341 OBP / .381 SLG / .723 OPS)
Beloit – Anthony Churlin (328 AB / 4 HR / .259 AVG / .332 OBP / .345 SLG / .676 OPS)
Vermont – Noah Vaughan (211 AB / 5 HR / .171 AVG / .228 OBP / .308 SLG / .536 OPS) *
AZL A’s – Rafael Rincones (185 AB / 2 HR / .265 AVG / .369 OBP / .346 SLG / .715 OPS) *
DESIGNATED HITTER
Las Vegas – Franklin Barreto (373 AB / 19 HR / .295 AVG / .374 OBP / .552 SLG / .926 OPS)
Midland – Tyler Ramirez (396 AB / 8 HR / .225 AVG / .347 OBP / .346 SLG / .693 OPS) *
Stockton – Nick Allen (288 AB / 3 HR / .292 AVG / .363 OBP / .434 SLG / .797 OPS)
Beloit – Max Schuemann (340 AB / 3 HR / .256 AVG / .339 OBP / .374 SLG / .713 OPS)
Vermont – Kyle McCann (218 AB / 9 HR / .211 AVG / .312 OBP / .404 SLG / .716 OPS) *
AZL A’s – Dustin Harris (209 AB / 1 HR / .325 AVG / .403 OBP / .407 SLG / .810 OPS) *
STARTING PITCHER
Las Vegas – Paul Blackburn (132.2 IP / 133 H / 64 ER / 34 BB / 92 K / 4.34 ERA / 1.26 WHIP)
Midland – Brian Howard (144.1 IP / 165 H / 69 ER / 47 BB / 134 K / 4.30 ERA / 1.47 WHIP) *
Stockton – Mitchell Jordan (144.2 IP / 144 H / 72 ER / 43 BB / 135 K / 4.48 ERA / 1.29 WHIP) *
Beloit – Reid Birlingmair (123 IP / 108 H / 55 ER / 50 BB / 120 K / 4.02 ERA / 1.28 WHIP)
Vermont – Richard Morban (70.2 IP / 63 H / 21 ER / 26 BB / 69 K / 2.67 ERA / 1.26 WHIP)
AZL A’s – Dennis Herrera (47.1 IP / 37 H / 19 ER / 27 BB / 46 K / 3.61 ERA / 1.35 WHIP)
CLOSER
Las Vegas – Brian Schlitter (42.2 IP / 51 H / 22 ER / 11 BB / 31 K / 4.64 ERA / 1.45 WHIP / 11 SV)
Midland – Kyle Finnegan (50.2 IP / 39 H / 13 ER / 19 BB / 72 K / 2.31 ERA / 1.14 WHIP / 14 SV) *
Stockton – Nick Highberger (63.2 IP / 61 H / 31 ER / 36 BB / 46 K / 4.38 ERA / 1.52 WHIP / 6 SV)
Beloit – Eric Marinez (61.1 IP / 45 H / 28 ER / 35 BB / 85 K / 4.11 ERA / 1.30 WHIP / 11 SV) *
Vermont – Jose Mora (27.1 IP / 8 H / 7 ER / 15 BB / 47 K / 2.30 ERA / 0.84 WHIP / 11 SV)
AZL A’s – Jack Weisenburger (15 IP / 7 H / 5 ER / 10 BB / 28 K / 3.00 ERA / 1.13 WHIP / 4 SV)
Click here to see A’s Farm’s 2019 Post-Season Organizational All-Star Team…
–A’s Farm’s 2019 Post-Season Organizational All-Star Team–
CATCHER
Beau Taylor – Las Vegas Aviators
(191 AB / 8 HR / .257 AVG / .408 OBP / .461 SLG / .869 OPS)
The 29-year-old veteran minor leaguer has always had a knack for getting on base, and he posted an impressive on-base percentage of .408 for the Aviators this season. Taylor spent much of the summer shuttling between Las Vegas and Oakland before being claimed off waivers by Toronto in August. But the A’s thought enough of Taylor to reacquire him and put him back on the big league roster in September.
FIRST BASE
Seth Brown – Las Vegas Aviators
(451 AB / 37 HR / .297 AVG / .352 OBP / .634 SLG / .986 OPS)
Before his promotion to the big leagues, the former 19th-round draft pick was one of the biggest boppers in the A’s system this season. And even though he was called up to Oakland during the last week of August, the 27-year-old still ended up leading all A’s minor leaguers in home runs, extra-base hits, RBIs and runs while sporting the second-best slugging percentage in the system. Brown led the Texas League with 38 doubles last year and led the California League with 30 home runs in 2017.
SECOND BASE
Corban Joseph – Las Vegas Aviators
(383 AB / 13 HR / .371 AVG / .421 OBP / .585 SLG / 1.006 OPS)
The minor league Rule-5 draftee turned out to be one of the best hitters in the A’s system this season. The 30-year-old minor league veteran boasted the best batting average among all A’s minor leaguers, while his OPS was the second-best in the system, and his 35 doubles led all Las Vegas hitters. Joseph made it into 11 games for the A’s in August before being claimed off waivers by the Giants.
SHORTSTOP
Jorge Mateo – Las Vegas Aviators
(532 AB / 19 HR / .289 AVG / .330 OBP / .504 SLG / .834 OPS)
After struggling in his first season at Triple-A last year, Mateo really started hitting on all cylinders this season. The talented 24-year-old led all A’s minor leaguers with 14 triples while also compiling a total of 62 extra-base hits and leading Las Vegas with 24 stolen bases in 119 games this season.
THIRD BASE
Sheldon Neuse – Las Vegas Aviators
(498 AB / 27 HR / .317 AVG / .389 OBP / .550 SLG / .939 OPS)
Neuse turned out to be one of the most consistent hitters in the A’s minor league system this season. The 24-year-old led all A’s minor leaguers in hits while compiling the second-most runs and RBIs in the system and leading Las Vegas with 56 walks. Neuse turned in a particularly impressive second half before the organization gave him the chance to make his big league debut with the A’s at the end of August.
LEFT FIELD
Mark Payton – Las Vegas Aviators
(395 AB / 30 HR / .334 AVG / .400 OBP / .653 SLG / 1.053 OPS)
The minor league Rule-5 draftee proved to be one of the most productive hitters in the A’s minor league system this year. The 27-year-old boasted the best slugging percentage and OPS among all A’s minor leaguers while notching the second-most home runs and extra-base hits in the system this season.
CENTER FIELD
Brayan Buelvas – AZL A’s
(160 AB / 3 HR / .300 AVG / .392 OBP / .506 SLG / .899 OPS)
The 17-year-old Colombian center fielder made an impressive debut in the A’s system this season. Buelvas managed to make it into 44 games after joining the Arizona League A’s Green squad at the start of July, and he ended up leading the team in hits, home runs, triples, RBIs and stolen bases while also boasting a team-best slugging percentage and OPS.
RIGHT FIELD
Skye Bolt – Las Vegas Aviators
(305 AB / 11 HR / .269 AVG / .350 OBP / .459 SLG / .809 OPS)
The former 4th-round draft pick really came into his own at Las Vegas this season and even earned the opportunity to make his big league debut with the A’s in May. Some minor injuries slowed him down late in the season, when the 25-year-old spent a couple of stints on the injured list, but Bolt still ended up slashing .269/.350/.459 on the season for Las Vegas.
DESIGNATED HITTER
Franklin Barreto – Las Vegas Aviators
(373 AB / 19 HR / .295 AVG / .374 OBP / .552 SLG / .926 OPS)
Barreto got off to a slow start this season, but he really caught fire in June before earning a promotion to Oakland. The 23-year-old struggled during his month in the big leagues, but he turned in another big month after being sent back to Las Vegas at the start of August. On the season, Barreto compiled 29 doubles and 19 home runs in just 98 games for the Aviators while sporting a .552 slugging percentage and splitting time between second base and shortstop for Las Vegas.
STARTING PITCHER
Richard Morban – Vermont Lake Monsters
(70.2 IP / 63 H / 21 ER / 26 BB / 69 K / 2.67 ERA / 1.26 WHIP)
Morban may have been the best pitcher you’ve never heard of in the A’s minor league system this season. The 21-year-old Dominican righty was Vermont’s most consistent starter while finishing in the top ten in the New York-Penn League in both ERA and strikeouts. Morban also impressed in the Arizona League last season as a 20-year-old, turning in a 1.92 ERA in 13 appearances for the AZL A’s.
CLOSER
Kyle Finnegan – Midland RockHounds
(50.2 IP / 39 H / 13 ER / 19 BB / 72 K / 2.31 ERA / 1.14 WHIP / 14 SV) *
The veteran minor league reliever split the season between Midland and Las Vegas, but he notched 9 of his saves for the RockHounds while recording 5 of his saves for the Aviators. The 28-year-old averaged 12.8 K/9 this season and, after being drafted in the 6th-round back in 2013, Finnegan finally seemed to come into his own this season, But unless he’s added to the 40-man roster, Finnegan is set to become a minor league free agent in the offseason.
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