Kevin Smith, JJ Bleday, Tyler Soderstrom Homer in Aviators' First Win of 2023

Three players Oakland A's fans are keeping an eye on to begin 2023 had huge days at the dish for the Las Vegas Aviators

Kevin Smith was one of the last players cut from the Oakland A's spring roster. Through three games with Las Vegas, the A's may be re-thinking their original decision.

Smith, starting at his natural shortstop for the Aviators this season, went hitless in the first game of the season, and started the second game of the season 0-for-3. Then in the eighth inning, in what ended up being his final at-bat of the game, Smith cranked a three-run homer in the eighth.

On Sunday, Smith struck out in his first at-bat, but then homered in three of his next four at-bats. He threw in a single in the fifth. He finished the game 4-for-6 with three homers, 7 rbi, 3 runs scored, and a strikeout. The A's managed five hits in their shutout loss to the Angels on Sunday. 

With Smith off to a hot start, he is making sure that the big league team doesn't forget about him down in Triple-A. All he has done since September is hit. Between that month and spring training, the 26-year-old Smith is 55-for-147 (.395) with a .469 OBP, 13 homers, 34 rbi, and three steals. 

His defense at third base with the A's last season was stellar, too. With Jace Peterson sitting against two left-handed starters this weekend in favor of Aledmys Díaz, the A's could instead potentially look to move Smith into that role at third base against lefties, and move Díaz to second in place of Kemp. 

The defense would be solid, and it could give the A's offense a little bit of a boost after they scored just three runs all weekend. It's never a good idea to jump to hard conclusions in the Pacific Coast League, but if he keeps this up much longer, it's going to be hard to keep him down. 

JJ Bleday, who was acquired in the A.J. Puk trade, is also off to a hot start with Las Vegas. On Sunday he hit two solo home runs of his own. He has hit safely in all three games this season, going 5-for-13 which also includes a triple. He has only struck out two times. 

The A's have him down in Vegas to get him acclimated to the new organization, and to allow him to really master Triple-A before giving him another shot in the big leagues. The A's love to have their minor leaguers really push their way up to the Majors, and after Bleday hit just .167 with a 28.2% strikeout rate, this time could serve him well. 

Tyler Soderstrom, the A's top prospect, also went deep on Sunday, his first home run of the season, and it was a no-doubter. 

A Soderstromian blast!@Athletics top prospect Tyler Soderstrom nearly reaching Stanton territory with the 466 ft/113.5 mph monster shot. pic.twitter.com/VVCkhtTwRp

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 2, 2023

Soderstrom is still just 21 years old, but he has pushed his way up to Triple-A with how well he has handled the opposing pitching at every level. His bat plays. 

Through two games (both at catcher) Soderstrom is 5-for-9 (.556) with a .600 on-base. He has one homer and three doubles. Playing in the Pacific Coast League is advantageous for hitters because the ball just travels in those parks, but Soderstrom's bat is no joke. He's going to keep A's fans excited for his arrival in the big leagues all season long. He could be making his debut some time in the second half. 

Luis Medina got the start in this one, and only went 2.1 innings, but he also didn't allow a hit. He did however, allow a run. One of the three walks he issued this outing came around to score in the third inning when Reno third baseman Buddy Kennedy took reliever Garrett Acton deep. Medina's line: 2.1 IP, 0 hits, ER, 3 BB, K. 

Billy Sullivan (1-0), whom the A's just brought over in the Cristian Pache deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, earned the win in this one, tossing one scoreless inning, while allowing and hit and a walk and striking out one. 

Chad Smith, another of the last players in A's camp that was cut, pitched the ninth and gave up two hits, but nothing else. 

Rico Garcia tossed two scoreless frames, allowing one hit and two walks, striking out one.