by Bill Moriarity / A’s Farm Editor
With the California League and the Midwest League All-Star breaks taking place this week and all the minor league affiliates right around the halfway points of their seasons, it’s the perfect time to take a step back and determine who the true standouts on the field have been in the A’s system in the first half of 2017. And with that in mind, it’s time to name A’s Farm’s 2017 Mid-Season Organizational All-Star Team!
Below you’ll find the primary starting players at each position for Triple-A Nashville, Double-A Midland, High-A Stockton and Class-A Beloit. Offensive players were selected from the primary starters at each position for each team, with notable players not leading in games played at a particular position listed in the designated hitter category. Starting pitchers for each club were selected from among the top starters for each team, while closers were selected from each team’s saves leader. Statistics listed are through games of Wednesday, June 21. And asterisks denote players with combined statistics from multiple minor league teams within the A’s system, but players’ major league statistics have not been included.
Outfielder Ryan LaMarre, who was recently released from the Nashville roster after being designated for assignment, is not included here since he is no longer in the A’s system. But Matt Chapman and Jaycob Brugman, who were recently promoted to the big leagues, are included since they were primary starters for Nashville and are still in the organization. Bruce Maxwell doesn’t appear here since, due to stints on the disabled list and with the A’s this season, he’s only started 19 games at catcher for Nashville this year. LHP A.J. Puk was recently promoted to Midland but spent most of his season with Stockton, while LHP Dalton Sawyer was recently promoted to Stockton but spent most of his season with Beloit, and RHP Corey Walter is currently with Nashville but made most of his starts with Midland and, consequently, all three pitchers are listed with the teams that they’ve made most of their appearances with this year.
Check out our list of All-Star candidates at each position. Then click on the link just below the list of contenders to find A’s Farm’s winning Organizational All-Stars at each position. The winners were determined based purely on performance, not potential. Remember, we’re not selecting the top prospects here, we’re choosing the top performers on the field so far this season. So take a good look at the candidates for yourself and then cast your vote in our poll for the top A’s Organizational All-Star!
–THE CANDIDATES–
CATCHER
Nashville – Ryan Lavarnway (158 AB / 4 HR / .266 AVG / .368 OBP / .392 SLG / .760 OPS)
Midland – Andy Paz (120 AB / 0 HR / .258 AVG / .323 OBP / .275 SLG / .598 OPS)
Stockton – Sean Murphy (145 AB / 8 HR / .297 AVG / .344 OBP / .524 SLG / .868 OPS)
Beloit – Collin Theroux (135 AB / 10 HR / .200 AVG / .294 OBP / .467 SLG / .761 OPS)
FIRST BASE
Nashville – Matt Olson (214 AB / 17 HR / .271 AVG / .365 OBP / .561 SLG / .926 OPS)
Midland – Viosergy Rosa (260 AB / 10 HR / .250 AVG / .327 OBP / .431 SLG / .757 OPS)
Stockton – Chris Iriart (189 AB / 8 HR / .206 AVG / .274 OBP / .370 SLG / .644 OPS)
Beloit – Miguel Mercedes (239 AB / 11 HR / .243 AVG / .300 OBP / .448 SLG / .748 OPS)
SECOND BASE
Nashville – Joey Wendle (212 AB / 6 HR / .274 AVG / .313 OBP / .453 SLG / .765 OPS)
Midland – Max Schrock (184 AB / 5 HR / .304 AVG / .340 OBP / .435 SLG / .775 OPS)
Stockton – Branden Cogswell (185 AB / 0 HR / .254 AVG / .325 OBP / .314 SLG / .639 OPS)
Beloit – Nate Mondou (228 AB / 0 HR / .289 AVG / .371 OBP / .377 SLG / .748 OPS)
SHORTSTOP
Nashville – Franklin Barreto (276 AB / 8 HR / .279 AVG / .321 OBP / .431 SLG / .752 OPS)
Midland – Richie Martin (163 AB / 3 HR / .233 AVG / .324 OBP / .344 SLG / .668 OPS)
Stockton – Eli White (245 AB / 1 HR / .265 AVG / .354 OBP / .363 SLG / .717 OPS)
Beloit – Eric Marinez (189 AB / 1 HR / .270 AVG / .347 OBP / .349 SLG / .697 OPS)
THIRD BASE
Nashville – Matt Chapman (175 AB / 16 HR / .257 AVG / .348 OBP / .589 SLG / .937 OPS)
Midland – Yairo Munoz (182 AB / 6 HR / .308 AVG / .338 OBP / .522 SLG / .860 OPS)
Stockton – Mikey White (200 AB / 7 HR / .235 AVG / .323 OBP / .420 SLG / .743 OPS)
Beloit – Trace Loehr (206 AB / 0 HR / .243 AVG / .286 OBP / .277 SLG / .563 OPS)
LEFT FIELD
Nashville – Renato Nunez (242 AB / 18 HR / .252 AVG / .315 OBP / .541 SLG / .856 OPS)
Midland – B.J. Boyd (256 AB / 1 HR / .316 AVG / .366 OBP / .430 SLG / .795 OPS)
Stockton – Tyler Ramirez (246 AB / 5 HR / .297 AVG / .394 OBP / .411 SLG / .805 OPS)
Beloit – Luke Persico (220 AB / 3 HR / .264 AVG / .329 OBP / .382 SLG / .711 OPS)
CENTER FIELD
Nashville – Jaycob Brugman (132 AB / 1 HR / .288 AVG / .373 OBP / .364 SLG / .737 OPS)
Midland – Brett Vertigan (239 AB / 1 HR / .280 AVG / .371 OBP / .381 SLG / .752 OPS)
Stockton – Skye Bolt (190 AB / 6 HR / .242 AVG / .344 OBP / .432 SLG / .775 OPS)
Beloit – JaVon Shelby (218 AB / 5 HR / .216 AVG / .304 OBP / .326 SLG / .629 OPS)
RIGHT FIELD
Nashville – Mark Canha (104 AB / 6 HR / .212 AVG / .339 OBP / .423 SLG / .762 OPS)
Midland – Tyler Marincov (247 AB / 9 HR / .275 AVG / .353 OBP / .470 SLG / .823 OPS)
Stockton – Seth Brown (260 AB / 11 HR / .238 AVG / .307 OBP / .412 SLG / .718 OPS)
Beloit – Luis Barrera (211 AB / 2 HR / .289 AVG / .332 OBP / .417 SLG / .749 OPS)
DESIGNATED HITTER
Nashville – Matt McBride (119 AB / 4 HR / .202 AVG / .263 OBP / .387 SLG / .650 OPS)
Midland – J.P. Sportman (264 AB / 6 HR / .284 AVG / .338 OBP / .417 SLG / .755 OPS)
Stockton – Brett Siddall (178 AB / 7 HR / .264 AVG / .328 OBP / .427 SLG / .755 OPS)
Beloit – Edwin Diaz (174 AB / 7 HR / .282 AVG / .371 OBP / .466 SLG / .837 OPS)
STARTING PITCHER
Nashville – Paul Blackburn (74 1/3 IP / 64 H / 25 ER / 25 BB / 54 K / 3.03 ERA / 1.20 WHIP)
Midland – Corey Walter (78 2/3 IP / 78 H / 24 ER / 21 BB / 52 K / 2.75 ERA / 1.26 WHIP) *
Stockton – A.J. Puk (68 IP / 48 H / 28 ER / 25 BB / 105 K / 3.71 ERA / 1.07 WHIP) *
Beloit – Dalton Sawyer (67 2/3 IP / 41 H / 17 ER / 26 BB / 72 K / 2.26 ERA / 0.99 WHIP) *
CLOSER
Nashville – Simon Castro (28 IP / 19 H / 14 ER / 20 BB / 48 K / 4.50 ERA / 1.39 WHIP / 3 SV)
Midland – Kyle Finnegan (29 IP / 29 H / 10 ER / 7 BB / 27 K / 3.10 ERA / 1.24 WHIP / 8 SV)
Stockton – Nolan Blackwood (28 2/3 IP / 24 H / 11 ER / 11 BB / 24 K / 3.45 ERA / 1.22 WHIP / 8 SV)
Beloit – Sam Sheehan (16 1/3 IP / 10 H / 5 ER / 9 BB / 21 K / 2.76 ERA / 1.16 WHIP / 3 SV)
Click here to see A’s Farm’s 2017 Mid-Season Organizational All-Star Team…
–A’s Farm’s Mid-Season Organizational All-Star Team–
CATCHER
Sean Murphy – Stockton Ports
(145 AB / 8 HR / .297 AVG / .344 OBP / .524 SLG / .868 OPS)
Last year’s 3rd-round draft pick for the A’s has always been valued for his strong throwing arm and his solid work behind the plate, but he’s also shown plenty of pop at the plate this year. The 22-year-old is currently sporting the best slugging percentage at Stockton and is also tied for the team’s best batting average.
FIRST BASE
Matt Olson – Nashville Sounds
(214 AB / 17 HR / .271 AVG / .365 OBP / .561 SLG / .926 OPS)
The A’s third overall draft pick in 2012 always has had plenty of power potential, but with some adjustments to his swing, he’s been wielding an even more potent bat this season. The 23-year-old is currently third in the Pacific Coast League home run race. He’s also the team leader in both walks and RBIs for Nashville, and is currently boasting a career-best batting average.
SECOND BASE
Max Schrock – Midland RockHounds
(184 AB / 5 HR / .304 AVG / .340 OBP / .435 SLG / .775 OPS)
Acquired last summer from Washington for LHP Marc Rzepczynski, Schrock was the Nationals’ 13th-round draft pick in 2015. His ability to make contact has always been his greatest strength, and the 22-year-old currently has the third-best batting average in the A’s minor league system.
SHORTSTOP
Franklin Barreto – Nashville Sounds
(276 AB / 8 HR / .279 AVG / .321 OBP / .431 SLG / .752 OPS)
Widely considered the A’s top hitting prospect, the 21-year-old is also the youngest member of A’s Farm’s Organizational All-Star Team. Barreto has been a productive player this year while frequently batting in the leadoff spot for Nashville. He’s hardly had a day off for the Sounds and has more at-bats than any other A’s minor leaguer so far this season. Barreto’s also accumulated the second-most base hits in the system and leads his team in triples.
THIRD BASE
Matt Chapman – Nashville Sounds
(175 AB / 16 HR / .257 AVG / .348 OBP / .589 SLG / .937 OPS)
After performing well during his first couple of months at Triple-A, the A’s top draft pick in 2014 recently got the chance to make his major league debut with the A’s. While always respected for his strong throwing arm and his defensive prowess at the hot corner, the 24-year-old was also averaging a home run every 11 at-bats at Nashville this season and had the best slugging percentage among A’s minor leaguers prior to his promotion.
LEFT FIELD
Renato Nunez – Nashville Sounds
(242 AB / 18 HR / .252 AVG / .315 OBP / .541 SLG / .856 OPS)
While making the move from third base to left field at Nashville this season, the 23-year-old has also managed to up his offensive output. The young slugger is currently tied for the league lead in home runs and also has more extra-base hits and total bases than any other A’s minor leaguer this season.
CENTER FIELD
Jaycob Brugman – Nashville Sounds
(132 AB / 1 HR / .288 AVG / .373 OBP / .364 SLG / .737 OPS)
The A’s 17th-round draft pick back in 2013, the over-achieving outfielder recently got the opportunity to make his major league debut with the A’s. Prior to his promotion, the 25-year-old had the second-best on-base percentage among A’s minor leaguers and also boasted the best batting average among Sounds regulars.
RIGHT FIELD
Tyler Marincov – Midland RockHounds
(247 AB / 9 HR / .275 AVG / .353 OBP / .470 SLG / .823 OPS)
Back for his second season in Midland, the slugging outfielder has been one of the RockHounds’ biggest run producers this year. The 25-year-old currently leads all A’s minor leaguers in doubles with 19 and is second in the system in RBIs, while also leading his team in total bases.
DESIGNATED HITTER
Edwin Diaz – Beloit Snappers
(174 AB / 7 HR / .282 AVG / .371 OBP / .466 SLG / .837 OPS)
While splitting time between shortstop and third base for the Snappers, the 21-year-old has emerged as one of the system’s top young sluggers this season while also improving his plate discipline. He’s currently tied for the team’s second-best on-base percentage while also boasting Beloit’s best OPS.
STARTING PITCHER
Dalton Sawyer – Beloit Snappers+Stockton Ports
(67 2/3 IP / 41 H / 17 ER / 26 BB / 72 K / 2.26 ERA / 0.99 WHIP) *
Last year’s 9th-round draft pick for the A’s has been the most consistently solid starter in the system this season. The 23-year-old has allowed more than 2 runs in a start just twice this year and has yet to allow more than 3 runs in any outing. The southpaw recently made his first start for Stockton and threw 5 2/3 scoreless frames for the Ports.
CLOSER
Kyle Finnegan – Midland RockHounds
(29 IP / 29 H / 10 ER / 7 BB / 27 K / 3.10 ERA / 1.24 WHIP / 8 SV)
The righty has been a reliable relief arm for the RockHounds this season. Taken in the 6th round back in 2013, the 25-year-old has registered 27 strikeouts in 29 innings while compiling a 3.10 ERA and recording 8 saves for the RockHounds.
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