by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
April 10, 2023
LAS VEGAS AVIATORS (AAA)
Record: 2-7
Team OPS: .867 / Team ERA: 7.09
While the Las Vegas lineup has gotten off to a solid start, the pitching staff has struggled in the early going, with the second-worst ERA in the 10-team Pacific Coast League through the Aviators’ first 9 games. Shortstop Kevin Smith, who was just recalled by the A’s, leads the squad with 5 home runs, 12 RBIs and a 1.215 OPS, while outfielder Cody Thomas has slugged 4 home runs, drawn a team-high 6 walks and sports a .781 slugging percentage, and outfielder JJ Bleday has hit 3 homers and boasts a .425 on-base percentage. Former 1st-round pick Tyler Soderstrom, who’s started 5 games behind the plate and 3 games at first base, has 7 extra-base hits in 8 games with a .618 slugging percentage, and Jordan Diaz, who’s primarily been playing second base with Zack Gelof sidelined with a shoulder issue, has 5 doubles and a .531 slugging percentage. Over their first 2 starts, RHP Jack Cushing has surrendered 13 runs in 8 1/3 innings and RHP Colin Peluse has permitted 7 runs in 8 frames, while LHP Hogan Harris has allowed 3 earned runs and issued 9 walks in just 4 1/3 innings of work. In the bullpen, LHP Jake Fishman (24.00 ERA), RHP Norge Ruiz (9.64 ERA), LHP Garrett Williams (8.44 ERA), RHP Bryce Conley (8.44 ERA), RHP Joe Wieland (8.10 ERA) and RHP Garrett Acton (7.36 ERA) haven’t provided much relief. On the positive side, RHPs Miguel Romero and Billy Sullivan have combined to throw 8 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, and RHP Luis Medina allowed just 1 run and struck out 7 in 6 1/3 innings over his first 2 starts.
MIDLAND ROCKHOUNDS (AA)
Record: 2-1
Team OPS: .643 / Team ERA: 2.42
Midland’s pitching staff has performed well in the early going, enabling the RockHounds to get off to a solid start. RHP Mason Miller notched 8 strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings, while RHP Ryan Cusick struck out 5 over 3 2/3 scoreless frames. RHP Joey Estes allowed just 2 base runners in 4 innings of work, and RHP Royber Salinas struck out 2 while tossing 2 scoreless frames. Only 3 pitchers on the staff allowed earned runs over the team’s first 3 games, and relievers Chase Cohen, Calvin Coker, Trey Supak and Austin Briggs failed to allow a base runner in a combined 6 innings of work out of the bullpen. Outfielder Michael Guldberg hit a grand slam and leads the squad with a 1.091 OPS, while outfielder Greg Deichmann sports a team-best .545 on-base percentage, and third baseman Brett Harris boasts an on-base percentage of .500. Lawrence Butler is 2 for 13 while starting every game in center field. And somewhat surprisingly, with Darell Hernaiz getting most of the starts at shortstop, former 1st-round pick Logan Davidson has gotten most of the starts at first base so far this season. Another former 1st-round pick, outfielder Austin Beck, is expected to miss the entire season after tearing his ACL, and outfielder Denzel Clarke is currently on the team’s 7-day IL with what’s considered to be a mild shoulder issue.
LANSING LUGNUTS (A+)
Record: 3-0
Team OPS: .508 / Team ERA: 1.61
While Lansing’s lineup hasn’t provided much punch in the early going in the chilly Midwest League, the pitching staff has been impressive, which enabled the Lugnuts to start the season with a three-game sweep. The staff allowed just 5 earned runs over the team’s first 3 games. RHP Jack Perkins struck out 6 over 5 scoreless and hitless innings, while RHP Joelvis Del Rosario allowed just 1 hit and struck out 4 in 4 2/3 scoreless frames. RHP Blake Beers threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings, and RHP Jacob Watters allowed just 1 run and notched 3 strikeouts in 3 innings of work. The A’s 2021 1st-round pick, 20-year-old shortstop Max Muncy, leads the squad with 3 doubles and a 1.192 OPS, while last year’s top pick for the A’s, catcher Daniel Susac, is 2 for 9 with a pair of doubles, and fellow backstop CJ Rodriguez went 2 for 4 in his debut with Lansing. Outfielder Lazaro Armenteros is 0 for 6, but he drew 3 walks and swiped 4 bases in his first 2 games. Meanwhile, pitchers Grant Holman, Osvaldo Berrios and Brady Basso and infielder Drew Swift all opened the season on the team’s injured list.
STOCKTON PORTS (A)
Record: 0-3
Team OPS: .601 / Team ERA: 9.33
The Ports’ pitching staff has performed poorly in the early going, putting up the second-worst ERA in the 8-team California League, which led to Stockton suffering a three-game sweep to start the season. RHP Wander Guante surrendered 6 runs, LHP James Gonzalez gave up 4 runs, and RHPs Pedro Santos, Yehizon Sanchez and Dallas Woolfolk each allowed 3 runs in their first appearances of the season. On the positive side of the ledger, 21-year-old Venezuelan RHP Dheygler Gimenez allowed just 1 run and struck out 6 over 4 1/3 frames, and RHP Blaze Pontes notched 3 strikeouts while tossing 2 scoreless innings in relief. 20-year-old Dominican shortstop Robert Puason is 2 for 8 with a home run and a stolen base in his return to Stockton, while 20-year-old Colombian outfielder Brayan Buelvas, also making a return trip to the Ports, is 5 for 12 and leads all A’s minor leaguers with a 1.333 OPS. Outfielder Clark Elliott is 4 for 11, while outfielder Colby Thomas is 4 for 12 with a home run, and second baseman Brennan Milone boasts a team-best on-base percentage of .556. Meanwhile, promising pitching prospect Gunnar Hoglund opened the season on the Ports’ injured list.
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