Las Vegas Aviators Opening Day Roster

by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
April 1, 2023

The Las Vegas Aviators, Oakland’s Triple-A team, began their season on Friday. And with that, the opening day roster of the A’s top affiliate became clear. Triple-A teams can carry 28 players on the active roster and, in addition to the injured list, players can also be placed on the team’s “player development list,” which serves as a sort of reserve list or taxi squad.

With that in mind, the Aviators opened the season with 16 pitchers and 12 position players on the active roster, with one more pitcher and two more position players on the player development list, as well as two pitchers and two position players on the injured list. The A’s other minor league affiliates in Midland, Lansing and Stockton are expected to announce their opening day rosters on Monday.

The Triple-A team’s catching corps consists of top prospect Tyler Soderstrom, who is also set to spend some time playing first base, and Kyle McCann, who led Double-A Midland with 20 home runs last season. Meanwhile, Yohel Pozo, who signed a minor league deal in the offseason, begins the year on the team’s player development list.

Familiar names Jonah Bride and Kevin Smith appear set to anchor the left side of the Las Vegas infield, at third base and shortstop, respectively. And with promising second base prospect Zack Gelof opening the season on the injured list with what’s considered a minor shoulder issue, Jordan Diaz is likely to get most of the starts at second in the early going. Once Gelof returns, Diaz is expected to spend plenty of time at both first base and third base as well. Slugger Dermis Garcia is also set to get his share of starts at first base, while minor league free agent signee Trenton Brooks, who can also play the outfield, is likely to see some time at first too. Minor league free agent signees Tyler Wade and Pablo Reyes both have big league experience and can play multiple positions. Wade has spent most of his time at second base and shortstop while Reyes has seen plenty of action at both second and third, and both are likely to find themselves moving around quite a bit. Meanwhile, power-hitting first baseman Kevin Cron, who was signed to a minor league deal in the offseason, begins the season on the team’s player development list.

JJ Bleday, Cal Stevenson and Cody Thomas appear set to get most of the starts in the Las Vegas outfield, with minor league free agent signee Trenton Brooks likely to get some starts in the corner slots when he’s not playing first base or serving as the designated hitter. Minor league free agent signees Pablo Reyes and Tyler Wade, both of whom are primarily infielders, may end up seeing a little time in the outfield as well. Meanwhile, Mickey McDonald opens the season on the injured list.

The Aviators are set to open the season with a starting rotation that includes LHP Hogan Harris and RHPs Luis Medina, Jack Cushing, Colin Peluse and recently-signed free agent Colton Eastman. Meanwhile, the 11-man bullpen is made up of LHPs Jake Fishman and Garrett Williams, both of whom were signed to minor league deals in the offseason, and RHPs Chad Smith, Austin Pruitt, Rico Garcia, Joe Wieland, Norge Ruiz, Miguel Romero, Garrett Acton, Bryce Conley and Billy Sullivan, who was recently acquired from Philadelphia in the Cristian Pache deal. RHPs Daulton Jefferies and Deolis Guerra both open the season on the team’s injured list, while RHP Parker Dunshee, who served as both a starter and a reliever for Las Vegas last year, starts the season on the team’s player development list, and RHP Drew Steckenrider, who signed a minor league deal in the offseason, is currently on the restricted list and is not expected to pitch for Las Vegas this season.

 
Las Vegas Aviators Complete Roster

 
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