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New FSM Feature: Familiar Faces Returning to the Aviators After the Athletics’ Recent Roster Moves

Franchise Sports Media

The Athletics call up Colby Thomas and activate Shea Langeliers from the 10-day IL, optioning four back to Las Vegas as the Aviators look to stay hot against the Oklahoma City Comets.

JJ Bleday - Las Vegas Aviators — Photo Credit: Robert Edwards/Imagn Images

With the activation of catcher Shea Langeliers from the 10-day IL, and the recent call-up of Aviators’ outfielder, and the Athletics’ number-two prospect, Colby Thomas, Las Vegas will see a handful of familiar faces returning on options from the Athletics.

Center fielder J.J. Bleday, right-handed pitcher Justin Sterner, catcher Willie MacIver, and right-handed pitcher Tyler Ferguson will all be returning to the Aviators on options from the Athletics. According to MLB.com, MacIver and Bleday are active and will be playing in game one of the Aviators’ upcoming series against the Los Angeles Dodgers’ AAA-affiliate, the Oklahoma City Comets.

The Aviators add bullpen depth with the additions of Justin Sterner and Tyler Ferguson with J.J. Bleday looking to plug and play for Colby Thomas.

Justin Sterner - Las Vegas Aviators — Photo Credit: Associated Press

Sterner and Ferguson look to jump into an Aviators’ rotation that ranks near the top in almost every statistical category, allowing the least amount of runs(387) off the second-least amount of hits(669). With an MiLB-best team ERA of 4.44, Las Vegas has been on a tear lately, clinching a first-half Pacific Coast League title before taking off to a 5-1 record to start the second half of the season.

J.J. Bleday, who will likely fill in for Thomas in the outfield, will be a welcome addition next to reigning MiLB Player of the Week, Carlos Cortes, in the outfield. Bleday looks to keep up a .370 batting average amassed over six games with the Aviators. In 27 at-bats with Las Vegas, Bleday would record 10 hits to drive home six RBIs with one home run, scoring five runs himself thanks to the Aviators’ stout lineup.

Willie MacIver looks to pick up where he left off with Las Vegas after a 13-game hitting streak before his Athletics call-up.

With the option of catcher Willie MacIver back to Las Vegas, the Aviators are getting back a player who not only can make every play behind the plate, but is consistent at the plate as well, hitting a MiLB-leading .389 before his trip to Sacramento to play with the A’s. MacIver had not one, but two double-digit hitting streaks this season, hitting in 14 straight from April 2 to 23 before smacking another 13 straight from May 3 to his call-up on May 18. MacIver has even been known to moonlight as an emergency pitcher, throwing two scoreless innings for the Athletics while allowing four hits.

While roster shuffling is nothing new to the Aviators, especially with all of the recent call-ups to the Athletics over the past two months as they try to find their footing, Las Vegas has found a way to stay consistent through every transaction. Whether it be scoring runs in key situations, like their 5-1 series victory over Albuquerque that could have just as easily been a 5-1 series loss, or getting an inning-ending out with base runners ready to roll, the Aviators always put themselves in a position to win through stability and success at every facet of the game.

While Colby Thomas‘ big-league dreams of making it to the show are finally coming to fruition, the Aviators‘ goal remains the same: bring the first PCL title since 1988 to Las Vegas.