by Brian Fonseca / A’s Farm Contributor
The wins continued to pile up for Las Vegas in July as the Aviators posted a 17-9 record for the month. And the team currently leads the Pacific Coast League in hits, runs, doubles and triples while also boasting the league’s best batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Outfielder Mark Payton
The veteran minor league outfielder put on an imposing power display in July by slugging a team-high 11 home runs during the month. The 27-year-old tallied a total of 19 extra-base hits in 24 July games while slashing an impressive .378/.440/.902 for Las Vegas. Payton finished the month particularly strong by going 10 for 21 with 3 home runs over his last 5 games in July, and his .662 slugging percentage on the season is good for third best in the league. The left-handed batter continues to hit right-handed pitching particularly hard, slashing .353/.415/.670 vs. righties this season.
Second Baseman Corban Joseph
The hits just keep coming for the 30-year-old second basemen, who continued his hot hitting this season by slashing .363/.404/.637 in July. Joseph displayed plenty of power during the month by slugging 15 extra-base hits in 25 games for the Aviators. On the season, the left-handed hitter’s 33 doubles and .381 batting average are both good for second best in the league.
Third Baseman Sheldon Neuse
After getting off to a good start in April and May, Neuse dialed things up a notch in June and July. While his strikeout rate increased a bit over the past month, his bat remained potent as he belted 6 home runs and collected 26 RBIs while slashing .345/.373/.566 in July. The right-handed hitter currently leads the team with 134 hits and 86 RBIs, and he continues to own lefties with a .376/.452/.642 slash line against southpaws. While primarily playing third base, Neuse has also seen a handful of starts at shortstop and second base and in left field this season.
Pitcher Paul Blackburn
Blackburn put together a stellar July for Las Vegas. The 25-year-old put up an impressive 2.42 ERA and a WHIP of just 1.08 while limiting opposing hitters to a .247 batting average in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. In 26 July innings, all on the road, Blackburn allowed just 1 home run while walking 5 and striking out 15 for the Aviators. The Bay Area native hurled 7 scoreless innings in his last outing on July 28 at El Paso.
Pitcher Sean Manaea
On the road to recovery and hopefully a return to Oakland, Manaea made a pair of starts for Las Vegas last month. In his first outing on July 24, Manaea struck out 7 in 4 1/3 frames, but 3 home runs led to 5 runs off the lefty. And in his last start on July 30 against New Orleans, Manaea flashed some of his old form, striking out 8 and allowing 2 earned runs on just 3 hits over 6 innings while throwing a total of 70 pitches, 48 for strikes. And after one more solid start for Las Vegas, Manaea could find himself back in the A’s rotation.
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If Neuse can play a decent second base I’m not sure why he hasn’t received a shot there for the big club. I really expected him to be moved at the trade deadline, so they must have some sort of idea for him.
Well Neuse has only played 3 games at 2B this year. And there’s still the offseason when it comes to wheelin’ and dealin’. I think the real question is why Pinder, who’s already on the roster and has spent plenty of time at second in his career, hasn’t been given a shot there.