by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
May 2, 2022
LAS VEGAS AVIATORS (AAA)
Record: 13-11
Team OPS: .775 / Team ERA: 4.87
Catcher Shea Langeliers, who was acquired from Atlanta in the Matt Olson trade, has been the early hitting star for the Aviators. The 24-year-old backstop leads Las Vegas in home runs (9), extra-base hits (12), walks (13), runs (17), RBIs (21), on-base percentage (.422), slugging percentage (.711) and OPS (1.133). 26-year-old outfielder Vince Fernandez, who was acquired in the minor league portion of the Rule-5 draft, has performed extremely well in part-time duty. The left-handed hitter has collected 7 extra-base hits and compiled a .649 slugging percentage in 37 at bats this season. 24-year-old first baseman Dermis Garcia, who was signed as a minor league free agent in the offseason, is currently boasting the second-best on-base percentage (.415) on the squad. The right-handed hitter spent his entire career in the Yankees system and had never played above the Double-A level before this season. 28-year-old infielder Vimael Machin, who’s been splitting time between shortstop and third base, leads Las Vegas in hits (26), is tied for the team lead in doubles (6) and boasts the squad’s best batting average (.333). And 26-year-old outfielder Luis Barrera is tied for the team lead in doubles (6) while collecting 10 extra-base hits and posting a .297 batting average and a slugging percentage of .597.
MIDLAND ROCKHOUNDS (AA)
Record: 10-11
Team OPS: .819 / Team ERA: 5.97
Newly-minted catcher Jonah Bride was the system’s hottest-hitter before landing on the injured list on April 27. But the 26-year-old’s 17 RBIs still lead the squad while his batting average (.348), slugging percentage (.652) and OPS (1.098) are all team bests. The versatile Max Schuemann leads the RockHounds in walks (13), runs (22) and stolen bases (9) while also boasting the team’s best on-base percentage (.453). The 24-year-old has played second base, shortstop and all three outfield positions for Midland this season. Shortstop Logan Davidson, who was Oakland’s top draft pick in 2019, has been wielding a big bat in his second season in the Texas League. The 24-year-old has collected 8 extra-base hits in 58 at-bats while posting a slugging percentage of .569. Meanwhile, last year’s 2nd-round pick for the A’s, 22-year-old third baseman Zack Gelof, is batting .333 through his first 19 games for the RockHounds.
LANSING LUGNUTS (A+)
Record: 7-14
Team OPS: .668 / Team ERA: 5.39
Lansing’s lineup has been slow to heat up in the chilly Midwest League in the early going. But a couple of the squad’s outfielders have been performing very well in limited action. 22-year-old Lazaro Armenteros leads the team with 4 home runs in just 35 at-bats while also sporting the Lugnuts’ best slugging percentage (.657) and OPS (1.016). And Gabriel Maciel, who was picked up from the Minnesota organization in the minor league portion of the Rule-5 draft, boasts the team’s best batting average (.387) and on-base percentage (.472) while appearing in just 9 games, but the 23-year-old Brazilian outfielder landed on the injured list on April 30. 20-year-old catcher Tyler Soderstrom, who was the A’s top draft pick in 2020, leads the squad with 7 extra-base hits despite batting just .167, while 21-year-old Lawrence Butler, who’s primarily been starting in right field this season, leads the team with 16 walks and 3 stolen bases despite putting up a paltry OPS of just .535.
STOCKTON PORTS (A)
Record: 6-15
Team OPS: .689 / Team ERA: 5.82
Stockton’s biggest hitting star this season has been last year’s 4th-round draft pick for the A’s, outfielder Denzel Clarke. The 22-year-old possesses above-average speed and power and leads the Ports in hits (26), doubles (8), extra-base hits (12), runs (21) and stolen bases (9) while also boasting the team’s best batting average (.325), slugging percentage (.575) and OPS (.994). The A’s top draft pick last year, shortstop Max Muncy, has also made a good impression in the early going. The 19-year-old currently leads the squad in home runs (5), walks (17) and RBIs (17). Meanwhile, 21-year-old outfielder Danny Bautista’s 6 doubles and .309 batting average are both second-best on the team, and he’s also posted a healthy on-base percentage of .397 for the Ports.
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