by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
July 3, 2022
LAS VEGAS AVIATORS (AAA)
Record: 43-34
Team OPS: .809 / Team ERA: 5.60
Las Vegas leads the Pacific Coast League West Division with a winning percentage of .558. Catcher Shea Langeliers, who was acquired from Atlanta in the Matt Olson trade, leads the team in home runs (14) and walks (34) while also doing solid work behind the plate. Outfielder Vince Fernandez, who was picked up in the minor league portion of the Rule-5 draft, is sporting the best slugging percentage (.542) and OPS (.930) of all Aviators with at least 100 at-bats. Outfielder Cristian Pache has performed well at the plate since his demotion, going 4 for 11 with 2 doubles and 2 walks in his first 3 games with Las Vegas. On the other hand, infielder Kevin Smith has hit .224 with just 1 extra-base hit in 67 at-bats since joining the Aviators. LHP Jared Koenig has been one of the best pitchers in the PCL this season, but he allowed 5 runs in 6 innings of work in his first start since returning to Las Vegas. RHP Adam Oller has posted a 3.91 ERA in 5 starts, while LHP Zach Logue has put up an ERA of 5.22 over 10 starts for the Aviators. RHP Jack Cushing, who was solid for Double-A Midland, has struggled since his promotion to Triple-A, allowing 18 runs in just 14 1/3 innings over his first 4 starts for Las Vegas. Meanwhile, RHPs Parker Dunshee (7.88 ERA), Brian Howard (6.57 ERA) and Grant Holmes (6.55 ERA) have all had a rough time of it this season. But RHP Garrett Acton has looked strong since his promotion from Midland, allowing no earned runs while striking out 9 in 6 2/3 innings of relief for Las Vegas.
MIDLAND ROCKHOUNDS (AA)
Record: 35-40
Team OPS: .783 / Team ERA: 5.20
Midland finished the first half in last place in the Texas League South Division. Second baseman/outfielder Max Schuemann has been the RockHounds’ most productive hitter this season and leads the team in walks (38), runs (52) and stolen bases (18) while also boasting the best batting average (.333), on-base percentage (.458) and OPS (.969) among all Hounds hitters with at least 100 at-bats. 21-year-old Colombian first baseman Jordan Diaz has been the team’s best power hitter and leads the team in home runs (12), doubles (24) and RBIs (44) while also sporting the best slugging percentage (.521) among those with at least 100-at bats. Third baseman Brett Harris, who got off to a great start with High-A Lansing, has performed well since his promotion to Double-A, slashing .294/.368/.437 in 31 games for Midland. Last year’s 2nd-round draft pick for the A’s, infielder Zack Gelof, was hitting .315 for the Hounds before suffering a shoulder injury in late May. Shortstop Logan Davidson, a former 1st-round pick, has hit 10 home runs but is batting just .236 in his second season in the Texas League. Outfielder Mickey McDonald has gone 10 for 24 with 3 doubles and 3 walks in 24 at-bats in his first 6 games since being sent down to Midland. Meanwhile, 23-year-old outfielder Austin Beck is hitting just .171 since being promoted to the Hounds. RHP Jeff Criswell has posted a 3.07 ERA in his first 3 starts since being promoted from Lansing, while LHP Hogan Harris has not allowed a run and has notched 17 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings since his arrival from Lansing. LHP David Leal was almost unhittable for the Lugnuts but has put up a 5.77 ERA in his first 9 starts for Midland. RockHounds RHP Colin Peluse got off to a good start but has now compiled an ERA of 5.91 over 12 starts this season. RHPs J.T. Ginn (6.48 ERA in 16 2/3 IP) and Ryan Cusick (8.13 ERA in 27 2/3 IP), both of whom were acquired in offseason deals, have been held back by injuries. Meanwhile, LHP Austin Briggs has posted a 2.61 ERA and notched 6 saves over 17 relief appearances, while RHP Chase Cohen has struck out 40 over 33 frames and put up an ERA of 3.27 while working out of the Midland bullpen. RHP Charles Hall has failed to allow a hit or a run in 3 innings of relief since arriving from Lansing, but hard-throwing RHP Wandisson Charles has issued 25 walks in 24 2/3 innings while compiling a 10.22 ERA out of the Midland bullpen this season.
LANSING LUGNUTS (A+)
Record: 28-47
Team OPS: .706 / Team ERA: 5.51
Lansing finished the first half in last place in the Midwest League East Division. 23-year-old Cuban outfielder Lazaro Armenteros hit 8 home runs while sporting a .510 slugging percentage over 102 at-bats before landing on the injured list in late June. Outfielder Lawrence Butler got off to a rough start but has turned things around and is now leading the team in doubles (15), triples (3), walks (33) and runs (41) while also compiling the best OPS (.797) of any Lugnuts hitter with at least 150 at-bats. Catcher Jared McDonald, a former 19th-round draft pick, has had a bit of a surprising season for Lansing, slashing .287/.358/.490 in 143 at-bats for the Lugnuts. Former 1st-round draft pick Tyler Soderstrom, who’s been splitting time between catcher and first base this season, leads the squad in home runs (13) and RBIs (49) but has also struck out 79 times in 265 at-bats. Outfielder Denzel Clarke has notched a pair of home runs and a pair of doubles in 48 at-bats since his arrival from Stockton, while outfielder Kevin Richards is batting just .154 in his first 8 games since his promotion from the Ports. RHP Blake Beers has performed well since being promoted from Stockton and currently leads all A’s minor leaguers with 83 strikeouts this season. RHP Grant Holman, last year’s 6th-round draft pick, put up a 3.43 ERA for the Lugnuts before landing on the injured list in May. LHP Mac Lardner, who was signed as a minor league free agent, has been solid for Lansing, striking out 30 in 32 1/3 innings while posting a 4.18 ERA for the Lugnuts. RHP Joey Estes, who was acquired from Atlanta in the offseason, has notched 51 strikeouts in 47 1/3 frames while posting a 4.94 ERA over 11 starts. RHP Stevie Emanuels has been a little inconsistent, striking out 60 but also walking 37 in 61 innings of work while compiling an ERA of 6.05 for Lansing. RHP Shohei Tomioka has struggled since returning from the injured list, allowing 21 earned runs in just 15 innings of work. Meanwhile, RHP Trayson Kubo has notched 6 saves and posted a 3.14 ERA over 20 relief appearances, while LHP Kumar Nambiar has been solid out of the Lansing bullpen, striking out 41 in 39 2/3 frames and putting up an ERA of 4.08 for the Lugnuts.
STOCKTON PORTS (A)
Record: 26-49
Team OPS: .684 / Team ERA: 6.04
Stockton finished the first half in last place in the California League North Division. Last year’s 1st-round draft pick for the A’s, 19-year-old shortstop Max Muncy, has gotten off to a great start with his first full-season team and leads the squad in hits (61), walks (46), home runs (15) and RBIs (49) while also boasting the best OPS (.818) among current Ports players with at least 100 at-bats. Outfielder Denzel Clarke was off to an impressive start before his promotion to Lansing, slashing .295/.420/.545 with 14 doubles and 14 stolen bases in 42 games for Stockton. Outfielder Kevin Richards was also solid before being sent to Lansing, hitting 8 home runs and slugging .457 while appearing in 48 games for the Ports. Catchers Shane McGuire (.419 OBP) and CJ Rodriguez (.372 OBP) have both done a great job of getting on base for Stockton, and Alexander Campos (.997 OPS) and Marcos Brito (.801 OPS) have both performed well since being promoted to the Ports late last month. But teenage Dominican prospects Pedro Pineda (.188 AVG) and Robert Puason (.185 AVG) both endured some struggles before being sent to the Arizona Complex League. RHPs Mitch Myers, Luke Anderson and Kyle Virbitsky has anchored Stockton’s starting rotation this season. Myers has issued just 19 walks in 70 2/3 innings, while Anderson has struck out 68 in just 59 frames, and Virbitsky has notched 76 strikeouts over 70 1/3 innings of work. LHP James Gonzalez performed well before recently landing on the injured list, posting an ERA of 4.32 while striking out 30 in 25 innings for Stockton. And LHP Jack Owen was solid out of the bullpen before being promoted to Lansing, putting up a 3.41 ERA while notching 48 Ks over 37 frames for the Ports.
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