Carlos Cortes and Mason Barnett gave the Athletics’ system a clean sweep of weekly recognition.
Cortes was named American League Player of the Week on Monday after carrying the A’s offense through series wins over Seattle and Texas. Meanwhile, Barnett was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week after a dominant start for Triple-A Las Vegas.
Cortes keeps forcing the issue
Cortes has moved well beyond a quiet depth story.
The 28-year-old outfielder went 13-for-24 last week, hitting .542 with two doubles, a triple, three home runs and seven RBIs. Because of that surge, he helped the Athletics win four of six games and stay on top of the AL West.
Notably, Cortes entered the week with one homer and six RBIs in 16 games this season. Then he matched that homer total three times over and nearly doubled his RBI count.
His biggest statement came in Texas. Cortes homered twice and drove in four runs Friday, then delivered the two-run triple Sunday that held up in a 2-1 series-clinching win.
Barnett answers in Las Vegas
Barnett did his part one level down.
The right-hander threw five shutout innings Saturday against Salt Lake at Las Vegas Ballpark. He allowed one hit, walked two and struck out seven on 72 pitches. Then the Aviators finished the job in a 4-0 win, giving the pitching staff its second shutout of the season.
Barnett is now 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA through four starts for Las Vegas. He has struck out 21 batters in 19 2/3 innings while holding opponents to a .203 average.
Also, his week came with some roster movement. The Athletics promoted Barnett on April 18, and he threw two scoreless relief innings against the White Sox on April 19. He was optioned back to Las Vegas the next day.
A good week upstairs and down
The awards hit different parts of the organization.
Cortes is producing in the majors right now, not waiting for a long runway. Through 22 games this season, he is hitting .377 with four home runs, 13 RBIs and a 1.122 OPS.
Barnett, meanwhile, remains one of the more notable arms in the system. The A’s acquired him from Kansas City in the Lucas Erceg trade in 2024, and he made his major league debut last season.
In the end, Monday’s honors gave the organization two clean markers of momentum. Cortes is helping the A’s win games in the standings. Barnett is making sure Las Vegas has another arm worth watching.
Up next
The Athletics are back home Tuesday night, and this one comes with a little more weight.
After an off day Monday, the A’s open a series against the Kansas City Royals at 6:40 p.m. PT. They enter at 15-13, sitting first in the AL West and looking to build on a series win in Texas.
Kansas City arrives at 11-17 and still searching for consistency, but there is enough offense here to test a pitching staff that has been uneven at times.
Aaron Civale gets the ball for the Athletics.
The right-hander is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA over 25 2/3 innings. He has allowed 27 hits, struck out 21 and walked seven. Meanwhile, Kris Bubic starts for Kansas City. The left-hander is 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings.
This matchup leans on execution more than overpowering stuff.
Offensively, Shea Langeliers continues to anchor the A’s lineup. He leads the club with eight home runs and is hitting .304. Tyler Soderstrom has driven in a team-best 18 runs, even while hitting .215.
Kansas City brings a different profile.
Carter Jensen leads the Royals with six home runs and 16 RBIs, while Bobby Witt Jr. is hitting .294 at the top of the order. As a team, the Royals are hitting .239 with a .321 on-base percentage.
The Athletics hold a slight edge in most team categories.
They have scored 119 runs compared to Kansas City’s 117. They also have more home runs, 31 to 27, and a slightly better team ERA at 4.42.
Still, this series is less about numbers and more about maintaining position.
It is late April, but the AL West has already tightened. The A’s created a one-game cushion with Sunday’s win in Texas. Now they have a chance to build on it at home.
Down in Tacoma: Aviators stay hot
The Las Vegas Aviators head back out on the road riding momentum.
At 14-11, they have won three straight and open a six-game series Tuesday night against Tacoma. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. PT at Cheney Stadium.
Both teams sit near each other in the PCL West standings, so this is an early measuring stick.
Taj Bradley Morris is scheduled to start for Las Vegas. He is 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA and 24 strikeouts. Randy Dobnak goes for Tacoma, entering at 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA.
After that, the Aviators will try to keep their pitching rolling following a strong week that included Mason Barnett’s Pitcher of the Week performance.
Now, both clubs are back in action with a chance to carry momentum into the final days of April.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
