Aviators look for success with experienced roster
Jonah Bride wasn’t with the Aviators for long last season, playing in 18 games with Las Vegas before the A’s called him up.
Bride is one of 14 players on the Aviators’ opening day roster who spent time in the big leagues last season and one of eight who played with Oakland. He believes the mix of players with big league experience and prospects in the A’s organization will help the Aviators to a successful season.
“This team is full of a bunch of guys that are going to compete to get to that next level, and that’s why it’s exciting to be around here,” Bride said. “We look forward to playing hard and winning a lot of games.”
The Aviators begin the season with a three-game road series against the Reno Aces at 2:05 p.m. Friday. Right-hander Colin Peluse will start for Las Vegas against Reno left-hander Tommy Henry.
Highlighting the Aviators’ roster is catcher Tyler Soderstrom, the A’s top prospect, according to MLB.com. The left-handed hitting catcher was the 26th overall selection in the 2020 MLB draft.
Soderstrom spent most of 2022 at High-A Lansing (Michigan) before appearing in 36 games at Double-A Midland (Texas) and nine games in Las Vegas at the end of the season. After getting a taste of Triple-A baseball last season, Soderstrom said he’s more comfortable being a contributor for the Aviators from the start.
“It’s not always hard, but sometimes it is to settle in and get comfortable with the new guys in the clubhouse and stuff like that,” Soderstrom said.
Touted for his power hitting across the field and strong arm behind the plate, Soderstrom could get the call from Oakland this season. While he said it’s the eventual goal, he said he’s focused on making an impact with the Aviators.
“You have to trust the process,” Soderstrom said. “You can’t look ahead and want to get there. You have to put in your time and take it day by day.”
It’s the same approach others on the team are taking, including outfielder Cody Thomas, who made his MLB debut last season. The 28-year-old missed most of the season recovering from Achilles surgery.
As a veteran on the team, he admitted it’s hard to ignore the thought of being called up, but said he’s focused on being the best where he’s at and helping set an example for younger players.
“It seems like every year they’re getting better and better,” Thomas said. “As an older guy, you’re trying to outwork everyone and trying to show these guys the right way to do it.”
Along with Thomas and Bride — who caught and played first, second and third base — Jordan Diaz, Dermis Garcia, Cal Stevenson and Kevin Smith are other notable returners for the Aviators.
“It’s a really good mix of a group that you put them all together, it’s going to be an exciting team to watch,” Bride said.
The Aviators will start the season without manager Fran Riordan, who is tending to a personal matter but is expected to return for the first home series, a six-game homestand against Oklahoma City beginning Tuesday. A’s director of player development Ed Sprague will help the Aviators coaching staff in Riordan’s absence.
The Aviators finished 71-79 and in third place in the Pacific Coast League’s West last season after being in first place in the middle of July. While they were in the top half of the league in hitting, the Aviators are looking to have a better season on the mound, as they finished ninth of 10 teams in ERA (6.11) and opponents batting average (.288).
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on Twitter.
Aviators schedule
All times 7:05 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Friday — at Reno, 2:05 p.m.
Saturday — at Reno, 4:05 p.m.
Sunday — at Reno, 1:05 p.m.
Tuesday — Oklahoma City
Wednesday — Oklahoma City
Thursday — Oklahoma City
April 7 — Oklahoma City
April 8 — Oklahoma City
April 9 — Oklahoma City, 12:05 p.m.
April 11 — Salt Lake City
April 12 — Salt Lake City
April 13 — Salt Lake City
April 14 — Salt Lake City
April 15 — Salt Lake City
April 16 — Salt Lake City, 12:05 p.m.
April 18 — at Sugar Land, 4:35 p.m.
April 19 — at Sugar Land, 4:35 p.m.
April 20 — at Sugar Land, 5:05 p.m.
April 21 — at Sugar Land, 4:05 p.m.
April 22 — at Sugar Land, 12:05 p.m.
April 25 — Tacoma
April 26 — Tacoma
April 27 — Tacoma
April 28 — Tacoma
April 29 — Tacoma
April 30 — Tacoma, 12:05 p.m.
May 2 — at Sacramento, 6:45 p.m.
May 3 — at Sacramento, 12:05 p.m.
May 4 — at Sacramento, 6:45 p.m.
May 5 — at Sacramento, 6:45 p.m.
May 6 — at Sacramento, 6:37 p.m.
May 7 — at Sacramento, 1:05 p.m.
May 9 — Albuquerque
May 10 — Albuquerque
May 11 — Albuquerque
May 12 — Albuquerque
May 13 — Albuquerque
May 14 — Albuquerque, 12:05 p.m.
May 16 — at Salt Lake City, 5:35 p.m.
May 17 — at Salt Lake City, 11:05 a.m.
May 18 — at Salt Lake City, 10:05 a.m.
May 19 — at Salt Lake City, 5:35 p.m.
May 20 — at Salt Lake City, 5:35 p.m.
May 21 — at Salt Lake City, 12:05 p.m.
May 23 — at Tacoma, 11:35 a.m.
May 24 — at Tacoma, 6:05 p.m.
May 25 — at Tacoma
May 26 — at Tacoma
May 27 — at Tacoma, 6:05 p.m.
May 28 — at Tacoma, 1:35 p.m.
May 30 — El Paso
May 31 — El Paso
June 1 — El Paso
June 2 — El Paso
June 3 — El Paso
June 4 — El Paso, 12:05 p.m.
June 6 — at Sacramento, 6:45 p.m.
June 7 — at Sacramento, 6:45 p.m.
June 8 — at Sacramento, 6:45 p.m.
June 9 — at Sacramento, 6:45 p.m.
June 10 — at Sacramento, 6:37 p.m.
June 11 — at Sacramento, 1:05 p.m.
June 13 — Reno
June 14 —Reno
June 15 — Reno
June 16 — Reno
June 17 — Reno
June 18 — Reno, 12:05 p.m.
June 20 — at Oklahoma City, 5:05 p.m.
June 21 — at Oklahoma City, 5:05 p.m.
June 22 — at Oklahoma City, 5:05 p.m.
June 23 — at Oklahoma City, 5:05 p.m.
June 24 — at Oklahoma City, 5:05 p.m.
June 25 — at Oklahoma City, 12:05 p.m.
June 28 — Round Rock
June 29 — Round Rock
June 30 —Round Rock
July 1 — Round Rock
July 2 — Round Rock, 6:05 p.m.
July 3 — Round Rock, 6:05 p.m.
July 4 — at El Paso, 5:35 p.m.
July 5 — at El Paso, 5:35 p.m.
July 6 — at El Paso, 5:35 p.m.
July 7 — at El Paso, 5:35 p.m.
July 8 — at El Paso, 5:35 p.m.
July 9 — at El Paso, 5:05 p.m.
July 14 — Reno
July 15 — Reno
July 16 — Reno, 6:05 p.m.
July 18 — at Salk Lake City, 5:35 p.m.
July 19 — at Salk Lake City, 5:35 p.m.
July 20 — at Salk Lake City, 5:35 p.m.
July 21 — at Salk Lake City, 5:35 p.m.
July 22 — at Salk Lake City, 5:35 p.m.
July 23 — at Salk Lake City, 5:35 p.m.
July 24 — at Salk Lake City, 5:35 p.m.
July 25 — Sugar Land
July 26 — Sugar Land
July 27 — Sugar Land
July 28 — Sugar Land
July 29 — Sugar Land
July 30 — Sugar Land, 6:05 p.m.
Aug. 1 — at Albuquerque, 5:35 p.m.
Aug. 2 — at Albuquerque, 5:35 p.m.
Aug. 3 — at Albuquerque, 5:35 p.m.
Aug. 4 — at Albuquerque, 5:35 p.m.
Aug. 5 — at Albuquerque, 5:35 p.m.
Aug. 6 — at Albuquerque, 5:05 p.m.
Aug. 8 — Sacramento
Aug. 9 — Sacramento
Aug. 10 — Sacramento
Aug. 11 — Sacramento
Aug. 12 — Sacramento
Aug. 13 — Sacramento, 6:05 p.m.
Aug. 15 — at Reno, 6:35 p.m.
Aug. 16 — at Reno, 6:35 p.m.
Aug. 17 — at Reno, 6:35 p.m.
Aug. 18 — at Reno, 6:35 p.m.
Aug. 19 — at Reno, 6:35 p.m.
Aug. 20 — at Reno, 1:05 p.m.
Aug. 22 — at Tacoma
Aug. 23 — at Tacoma
Aug. 24 — at Tacoma
Aug. 25 — at Tacoma
Aug. 26 — at Tacoma, 6:05 p.m.
Aug. 27 — at Tacoma, 1:35 p.m.
Aug. 29 — Salt Lake City
Aug. 30 — Salt Lake City
Aug. 31 — Salt Lake City
Sept. 1 — Salt Lake City
Sept. 2 — Salt Lake City
Sept. 3 — Salt Lake City, 6:05 p.m.
Sept. 5 — Sacramento
Sept. 6 — Sacramento
Sept. 7 — Sacramento
Sept. 8 — Sacramento
Sept. 9 — Sacramento
Sept. 10 — Sacramento, 6:05 p.m.
Sept. 12 — at Round Rock, 10:05 a.m.
Sept. 13 — at Round Rock, 5:05 p.m.
Sept. 14 — at Round Rock, 5:05 p.m.
Sept. 15 — at Round Rock, 5:05 p.m.
Sept. 16 — at Round Rock, 5:05 p.m.
Sept. 17 — at Round Rock, 11:05 a.m.
Sept. 19 — Reno
Sept. 20 — Reno
Sept. 21 — Reno
Sept. 22 — Reno
Sept. 23 — Reno
Sept. 24 — Reno, 12:05 p.m.
All home games at Las Vegas Ballpark. All times are Pacific.
