by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
March 21, 2025
Now that we’ve reached the final 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 long-time manager Fran Riordan, along with pitching coach Paul Abbott, assistant pitching coach Don Schulze, hitting coach Brian McArn and assistant hitting coach Kevin Kouzmanoff.
The Aviators are set to begin their season on Friday, March 28 at home against Reno. And while there still may be a few decisions left to be made, most of the Las Vegas roster is already coming into pretty clear focus. So, let’s take a position-by-position look at the likely 2025 Las Vegas Aviators opening day 28-man roster…
CATCHERS
With Jhonny Pereda in line to take over as catcher Shea Langeliers’ backup with the A’s in 2025, last year’s big league backup, Kyle McCann, is set to return to Las Vegas this season. He’ll be joined by minor league free agent signee Willie MacIver, who played for Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque last year. Former 1st-round pick Daniel Susac is also expected to join the catching corps at Vegas this season after serving as the starting catcher with Double-A Midland last year.
INFIELDERS
Once again, there should be plenty of versatility in the Las Vegas infield this season. Former 1st-round pick Max Muncy and Darell Hernaiz could end up splitting time at the shortstop position in Vegas, but they’re both expected to see plenty of time at third base as well as second this season to increase their versatility and their opportunities to break through with the big club if needed. After finishing last season with Las Vegas and then being selected by Cincinnati in the Rule-5 draft in the offseason, second baseman Cooper Bowman was recently returned to the A’s by the Reds and will now be a part of the Aviators infield mix. Minor league free agent signee Alejo Lopez has logged 170 big league at-bats with the Reds and had a good spring in the A’s camp. The switch-hitter has primarily played second base and third base throughout his career, but he may find most of his playing time coming at second this season in Las Vegas. After being claimed off waivers from the Royals late last season, CJ Alexander got a long look in the A’s big league camp this spring before recently being optioned to the Aviators. He’s spent plenty of time at both of the infield corners in his career and could see a little time in the outfield corners as well this year. The versatile Logan Davidson should once again see plenty of time all around the diamond as he has played every position in the infield and outfield, but first base may be where he ends up finding most of his playing time in Vegas this season. After suffering an oblique injury in the spring, third baseman Brett Harris appears likely to start the season on the injured list before returning to action for Las Vegas.
OUTFIELDERS
Since the speedy Esteury Ruiz failed to crack the A’s opening day roster, he’ll now start the season in the Aviators outfield. And now that he’s been added to the A’s 40-man roster, talented center field prospect Denzel Clarke finally looks set to make his Triple-A debut with Las Vegas this year. After leading all minor leaguers with 80 extra-base hits last season, slugger Colby Thomas should see plenty of time in right field for the Aviators this year. A pair of minor league free agent signees should also be in the team’s outfield picture. Drew Avans, who was signed to a minor league deal after spending the past four seasons with the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City, can play all three outfield positions and has had a good spring in the A’s big league camp. Carlos Cortes is another minor league free agent signee who’ll be in the Aviators outfield mix. He’s a former 3rd-round pick of the Mets who can slot into either of the corner outfield positions. Infielders Logan Davidson and CJ Alexander could end up seeing some time in the Las Vegas outfield as well.
STARTING PITCHERS
There should be a number of promising starting pitchers in the Las Vegas rotation this season. And there’s a very good chance that many of them could end up getting a chance to show what they can do in the big leagues at some point before the season is through. After making his big league debut with the A’s last season and competing for the fifth spot in the A’s rotation this spring, righty J.T. Ginn is set to lead the Las Vegas rotation this year and could be one of the first names called if reinforcements are needed on the big league staff. Righty Gunnar Hoglund, a former 1st-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2021, demonstrated extraordinary command during a dominant season for Double-A Midland in 2024. And after seeing an uptick in velocity this spring, he could be ready to put it all together in Vegas this year. Acquired from the Rays in the Jeffrey Springs trade, lefty Jacob Lopez has turned in a couple of solid seasons the past two years for Triple-A Durham while also making 8 appearances for Tampa Bay. The A’s believe Lopez possesses plenty of potential, and he’ll have the opportunity to show what he can do this season in Las Vegas. The A’s signed northern California native Jason Alexander to a minor league deal in the offseason to add some experience to the Triple-A rotation. He began his minor league career in 2017 and has appeared in 18 big league games for the Brewers. At 32, the righty is set to be the senior member of the Vegas rotation this season. One of the most promising young pitchers in the A’s system, righty Mason Barnett was acquired from Kansas City last summer in the Lucas Erceg trade and really impressed late last season for Double-A Midland. At 24, he’s set to be the Aviators’ youngest starting pitcher this season. Meanwhile, talented righty Jack Perkins, who looked sharp at Midland last season, would likely be next in line if a spot opens up in the Triple-A rotation, while righty Blake Beers, who finished last season with Las Vegas, is set to start the season on the 60-day injured list.
RELIEF PITCHERS
There should be plenty of interesting bullpen options available at Las Vegas this season. Righties Grant Holman, Ryan Cusick and Elvis Alvarado, all of whom are on the A’s 40-man roster, are set to headline the Las Vegas bullpen this season. Holman, who had an ERA of 0.55 in the minors last year and appeared in 18 games for the A’s late last season, would likely be the first to get the call if a spot opens up in the big league bullpen. Cusick is a former 1st-round pick for the Braves who looked strong after being moved to the bullpen in the second half last season, while Alvarado, who was claimed off waivers from the Pirates in January, averaged 13.2 K/9 for Miami’s Triple-A affiliate in Jacksonville last year. The bullpen in Las Vegas is also expected to include another trio of righties. Anthony Maldonado was claimed off waivers from the Marlins last November after making it into 16 big league games for Miami last year. A former 2nd-round pick for the Rays, Sacramento-area native Tanner Dodson, was signed as a minor league free agent by the A’s after spending last season working out of the bullpen for the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City. Big league veteran Dylan Floro was signed to a minor league deal in February, but was sidelined with an injury through the early part of spring training. He’s now throwing bullpen sessions at the minor league camp in Arizona and the hope is that he may be ready to start the season, bringing an arm with years of big league experience to the Aviators bullpen. Lefties Matt Krook, Ben Bowden and CD Pelham, all of whom the A’s signed as minor league free agents in the offseason, are also set to open the season in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, hard-throwing Cuban righty Pedro Santos would have been in line to start the year with the Aviators, but he’s been sidelined by injuries this spring and is now expected to start the season on the injured list.
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Jacob Lopez is my nephew. I hope he has a great season. Go Aviators.