by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
March 22, 2024
Now that we’ve reached the waning days of spring training, it’s a good time to take a look ahead at the potential opening day roster of the A’s top affiliate, the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. Leading the squad this year will be manager Fran Riordan, pitching coach Bryan Corey, assistant pitching coach Bronswell Patrick, hitting coach Brian McArn and assistant hitting coach Jason Camilli.
The Aviators are set to begin their season on Friday, March 29 at home against Reno. And while there are still some decisions to be made about the A’s opening day roster, which will obviously affect the opening day roster of the team’s Triple-A affiliate, there’s a lot about the Las Vegas roster that’s already coming into pretty clear focus. So, let’s take a position-by-position look at the likely 2024 Las Vegas Aviators opening day 28-man roster…
CATCHERS
There should be a few familiar names behind the plate for the Aviators this season. Former 1st-round pick Tyler Soderstrom and Yohel Pozo are set to return to the Triple-A catching corps. Either Carlos Perez or Kyle McCann will serve as Shea Langeliers’ backup in Oakland this season, and the other will wind up serving as the third catching option for the Aviators. And all of them will likely end up spending some time at first base and in the designated hitter spot for Vegas as well.
INFIELDERS
There should be plenty of versatility in the Las Vegas infield this season. Brett Harris appears set to get the majority of playing time at third base, but he may move around the infield a bit to help increase his versatility as well as his potential value to the big club. Free agent signee Armando Alvarez, who had a good spring with the A’s, has played third base and first base, but he could end up spending most of his time at first this season for the Aviators. After spending most of last season with Oakland, infielder Jordan Diaz, who’s on the A’s 40-man roster, has been optioned back to Las Vegas. He may have to spend most of his time at second base this season while moving around the infield and seeing a bit of action at first and third as well. If Darell Hernaiz starts the season back in Las Vegas, then he’ll serve as the team’s primary shortstop. But if he does end up making the A’s opening day roster, then former 1st-round pick Logan Davidson could return to the shortstop position, but he’ll undoubtedly end up spending time all around the infield again, making stops at first, second and third. The versatile Max Schuemann should once again see plenty of time all around the diamond as he can play every position in the infield and outfield. And if Hoy Park doesn’t make the A’s opening day roster then, just like Schuemann, he could move all around and play almost any position on the field.
OUTFIELDERS
If Lawrence Butler doesn’t end up making the A’s opening day roster, then he’ll be the top prospect in the Aviators outfield. And now that he’s finally been added to the A’s 40-man roster, Lazaro Armenteros looks set to make his Triple-A debut with Las Vegas this season. A trio of minor league free agent signees should be in the team’s outfield picture as well. Center fielder Daz Cameron, the son of former big leaguer Mike Cameron, should spend plenty of time patrolling center field in Las Vegas this year. Former Oakland outfielder Stephen Piscotty is back on a minor league deal after spending last season with the Triple-A affiliate of the White Sox in Charlotte. Jeisson Rosario is another minor league free agent signee who’s in the Las Vegas outfield mix, but if Butler ends up starting the season back in Las Vegas, then the ensuing roster crunch could potentially land Rosario in Midland to start the year. Max Schuemann will also see some time in the Las Vegas outfield, as will Hoy Park if he doesn’t end up making the A’s opening day roster.
STARTING PITCHERS
There should be a number of intriguing starting pitchers at Las Vegas this season. And if recent history is any indication, there’s a good chance that most of them may end up getting an opportunity to pitch in the big leagues at some point before the season is through. Adrian Martinez will be back for his third season with the Aviators, and he should be the most experienced pitcher in the projected six-man Triple-A rotation this year. After making his big league debut with the A’s last season, Joey Estes will be the most promising pitching prospect on the Las Vegas pitching staff this season. He‘ll also be the team’s youngest starting pitcher at just 22. At 28, Dominican righty Osvaldo Bido, whom the A’s signed as a free agent in the offseason, should be the oldest pitcher in the Las Vegas rotation this year. Lefty Hogan Harris, the A’s 3rd-round pick in 2018, is set to be back with Las Vegas after leading the Aviators with 14 starts last year. Promising young Australian southpaw Jack O’Loughlin, whom the A’s signed to a minor league deal in the offseason, is set to make his debut in the A’s system with Las Vegas this season. Meanwhile, righty Royber Salinas and lefty Brady Basso, both of whom were added to the A’s 40-man roster in November and outrighted to the Aviators earlier this month, are set to make their Triple-A debuts this season and could potentially form a tandem in the Las Vegas rotation since each threw fewer than 100 innings last year.
RELIEF PITCHERS
There will be plenty of interesting bullpen options available at Las Vegas this season. Freddy Tarnok just threw his first bullpen session of the spring this week, and it seems unlikely that he’ll be stretched out enough to work as starter at the beginning of the season so, if he’s healthy, he should start out the year in the Las Vegas bullpen. Righty Michael Kelly, whom the A’s claimed off waivers from Cleveland last November, looked impressive this spring and could be a potent weapon in the Las Vegas bullpen this season. He and Tarnok are currently on the A’s 40-man roster and could be a couple of the first names called if bullpen reinforcements are needed by the big club. Lefties Francisco Perez and Easton Lucas, both of whom spent a little time with the A’s last season, are set to return to the Aviators for a second season. The A’s also signed a number of righties to minor league deals who are likely to be weapons in the Las Vegas bullpen, including Tyler Ferguson, Vinny Nittoli, Gerardo Reyes, Gerson Moreno, Michel Otanez and Aaron Brooks. Other possible options for the Las Vegas bullpen include familiar names like Billy Sullivan, Shohei Tomioka, Chase Cohen and Colin Peluse.
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