AVIATORS TOP FIVE OF THE WEEK

1.

Aviators West in Oakland: Pitcher Ken Waldichuk and outfielder Cody Thomas were called up by the A’s on Thursday, upping the number of promotions from Las Vegas to the parent club to 25 — enough to fill an entire major league roster before the onset of COVID.

2.

Nationals 7, Aviators West (plus 1) 5: With the exception of Tony Kemp, every player in the A’s starting lineup in Thursday’s game against Washington had played for the Aviators this season, last season or in the inaugural season of 2019. Following Kemp in the lineup: Sean Murphy (DH), Seth Brown (RF), Dermis Garcia (1B), Vimael Machin (3B), Shea Langeliers (C), Cody Thomas (LF), Nick Allen (SS), Cal Stevenson (CF), Ken Waldichuk (P).

3.

And Tony, too: As noted, Tony Kemp was the only member of the A’s starting lineup Thursday that has not played for the Aviators. But he has played at Las Vegas Ballpark. The veteran infielder collected five hits in eight at-bats to lead the A’s to a pair of victories over the Cleveland Guardians when they still were the Indians during the first of two 2020 Big League Weekends before COVID hit.

4.

Who are these guys? With the A’s plucking so much talent from the Aviators, only two players — outfielder Mickey Mcdonald and second baseman Nate Mondou — who were in the starting lineup for Las Vegas on opening night at Las Vegas Ballpark, also were in it for Friday’s 5-2 victory over the Reno Aces at Greater Nevada Field.

5.

Bring the parkas: It was announced this week the Aviators will open the 2023 Pacific Coast League season on March 31 at Reno where the average high temperature for March is 58 degrees with a low of 31 — and where the Aces beat the Aviators 4-3 in freezing rain and snow on April 31, 2019.

By Ron Kantowski Las Vegas Review-journal