by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
May 8, 2022
LAS VEGAS AVIATORS (AAA)
Record: 17-13
Team OPS: .747 / Team ERA: 4.31
The most impressive member of the starting rotation at Las Vegas in the early going has been one of the lesser-known names on the Triple-A roster. LHP Jared Koenig spent his career pitching in the independent leagues and in Australia before the A’s signed him a couple of seasons ago. The southpaw had a solid season last year at Double-A Midland, posting a 3.26 ERA while striking out 100 in 121 1/3 innings for the RockHounds. And in his first 26 1/3 innings for the Aviators this season, Koenig has notched 32 strikeouts, second-most among A’s minor leaguers, while putting up a 2.73 ERA at the Triple-A level. RHP Parker Dunshee has performed well, posting a 3.25 ERA through his first 27 2/3 innings. And RHP Brian Howard has been effective as a swingman, striking out 19 in 17 innings of work while compiling a 2.65 ERA, though he hasn’t actually started a game in the past three weeks. RHP Norge Ruiz has been surprisingly solid out of the bullpen, allowing just 1 run and striking out 8 in 8 1/3 innings, while LHP Sam Selman has allowed 2 runs and struck out 11 over 9 innings, and RHP Parker Markel has allowed 3 runs and notched 15 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings for the Aviators.
MIDLAND ROCKHOUNDS (AA)
Record: 13-14
Team OPS: .841 / Team ERA: 6.36
RHP Colin Peluse was one of the most effective starting pitchers in the A’s system last season, and he’s been keeping up the good work this year for the RockHounds. Peluse posted a 3.39 ERA while notching 109 strikeouts over 86 innings for High-A Lansing and 15 innings for Double-A Midland in 2021. The former 9th-round draft pick has been the Hounds most solid starter this season, and he currently leads all A’s minor leaguers with 4 wins while notching almost four times as many strikeouts as walks and putting up a 4.18 ERA over his first 5 starts for Midland. RHP Jack Cushing, who impressed last season, has also performed well, striking out 25 in 25 1/3 innings while positing a 4.26 ERA. Two new acquisitions, RHP J.T. Ginn (acquired from the Mets in the Chris Bassitt trade) and RHP Ryan Cusick (acquired from the Braves in the Matt Olson deal), have been a little inconsistent. Ginn has struck out 20 in just 14 2/3 innings but has given up 3 home runs and put up a 6.14 ERA and is currently on the IL, while Cusick has notched 18 strikeouts in 14 2/3 frames but has compiled an ERA of 9.20. Meanwhile, RHP Jack Weisenburger leads the squad with 3 saves while allowing just 2 runs, walking none and striking out 9 in 8 2/3 innings of relief for the RockHounds.
LANSING LUGNUTS (A+)
Record: 11-16
Team OPS: .705 / Team ERA: 5.55
Perhaps the best pitcher in the A’s minor league system so far this season has been anonymously toiling away in Lansing. LHP David Leal, who was the A’s 38th-round draft pick in 2019, has put on an impressive performance for the Lugnuts almost every time out. He started out the season in the bullpen but has gone 6 innings in each of his last 2 outings. On the season, the southpaw has allowed a total of 12 hits, issued just 3 walks and notched 27 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings while posting a 2.08 ERA, which is lowest among all A’s minor leaguers with at least 20 innings of work. Last year’s 6th-round pick for the A’s, RHP Grant Holman out of Cal, has also performed well, striking out 21 and walking just 3 over 21 innings while putting up a 3.43 ERA. 2020’s 2nd-round pick, RHP Jeff Criswell, has made big strides as well, striking out 25 and walking just 5 in 25 innings while compiling a 4.32 ERA for the Lugnuts. And prior to Sunday’s outing, where he was charged with 6 earned runs, RHP Angello Infante was the star of Lansing’s bullpen, but he’s still leading all A’s minor leaguers with 5 saves.
STOCKTON PORTS (A)
Record: 8-19
Team OPS: .697 / Team ERA: 5.84
The star of Stockton’s starting staff has been last year’s 19th-round pick for the A’s, RHP Blake Beers. The 23-year-old currently leads all A’s minor leaguers with 35 strikeouts and has issued just 6 walks while posting a 2.83 ERA over 28 2/3 innings of work. Last year’s 17th-round pick, RHP Kyle Virbitsky, has also performed well, notching 28 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings while putting up a 4.10 ERA for the Ports. Meanwhile, RHP Hunter Breault and LHP Jack Owen have been the big arms out of Stockton’s bullpen. Breault has struck out 13 in just 9 2/3 innings, while Owen has notched 22 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings for the Ports. Meanwhile, former 4th-round pick Skylar Szynski has walked 12 and allowed 16 earned runs in just 9 1/3 innings of relief, and former 2nd-round pick Tyler Baum was sent back to the A’s minor league complex in Arizona after issuing 12 walks in just 2 1/3 innings of work for Stockton.
(Photo: Michael Zagaris/Getty Images)
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