Edition 4: May 6 - May 11
Welcome to the 2025 Fourth Edition of Leading Off, the official publication of the Reno Aces Baseball Club. This season-long publication will release an updated edition before every homestand. Stay up-to-date with everything happening at Greater Nevada Field, and learn more about the opponent coming to town! Its logos and graphics are trademarks of the Reno Aces. All rights reserved—Aces photos provided by Aces Team Photographer David Calvert.
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Series Preview: Reno Returns to Greater Nevada Field for Silver State Showdown vs. Las Vegas
The Reno Aces (18–15) return to Greater Nevada Field this week to host a crucial six-game series against their Silver State rivals, the Las Vegas Aviators (23–10), the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Riding the momentum of eight wins in their last 10 games, the Aces have surged into third place in the Pacific Coast League and can climb even higher with a strong showing against the first-place Aviators.
Reno is coming off a successful road trip, having taken four of six games from the Sacramento River Cats. This will be the second of four meetings between the Aces and Aviators this season; the two teams opened the year with a three-game set.
The Aviators enter the series as the hottest team in the Pacific Coast League, riding a nine-game winning streak that includes last week’s series sweep against Tacoma. The Aces will provide a tougher challenge this week as the two clubs face off for the second of their four scheduled meetings.
Notable players on the Aviators’ roster include C Willie MacIver and OF Colby Thomas.
MacIver, a 2018 ninth-round pick by the Rockies, has been one of the PCL’s most dangerous bats this season. He leads the league with a .390 average and ranks second in on-base percentage (.468), trailing only teammate Logan Davidson (.481). MacIver was red-hot in last week’s series against Tacoma, going 7-for-17 (.438) with two home runs, seven RBIs, and two walks. In his lone appearance against Reno earlier this year, he went 1-for-3 with a two-RBI double. Over the Aviators’ nine-game win streak, he’s 11-for-24 (.458) with three doubles, a home run, and six RBIs.
Thomas, the Athletics’ No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, torched the Rainiers last week. He led the team with 19 total bases, going 10-for-24 (.417) with three doubles, two home runs, and 10 RBIs. He made his presence felt in the season-opening series against Reno, hitting .333 (3-for-9) with a home run, two RBIs, and three walks. Thomas enters the series slashing .296/.364/.504 with 15 extra-base hits, five homers, and 24 RBIs.
Reno counters with an exciting crop of young talent, led by super-prospect Jordan Lawlar, who has emerged as arguably the PCL’s most dynamic player. The 22-year-old leads the league in hits (45), OPS (1.084), extra-base hits (22), total bases (81), and runs scored (35). He ranks second in batting average (.357), slugging (.643), and RBIs (30). Lawlar was recently named Pacific Coast League Player of the Month for April after slashing .408/.487/.749 with six home runs and 30 RBIs, propelling the Aces to a 17-win month. He’ll look to keep his hot streak going against Las Vegas.
A.J. Vukovich is another young, talented bat in the Aces lineup who has been mashing this season. The outfielder is fresh off leading the Aces in RBIs (9) and total bases (16) against the River Cats in last week’s series. The 23-year-old has been on a tear, going 15-for-39 (.385) with six home runs and 18 RBIs over his last 10 games.
Reno’s bullpen will play a crucial role in their success against the Aviators. The ‘pen leads the PCL with a 3.21 ERA and has tallied 174 strikeouts—second-most in the league—while issuing just 50 walks across 151 1/3 innings. The group was dominant last week against Sacramento, allowing just six runs (four earned) over 31 1/3 innings. If the bullpen continues its stellar performance, Reno will have a strong chance to take down the first-place Aviators.
Lawlar Named Pacific Coast League Player of the Month for April
Following a scorching hot month at the plate, Reno Aces infielder Jordan Lawlar was named Pacific Coast Player of the Month for the month of April by Minor League Baseball on Monday.
Lawlar, the top prospect in the Diamondbacks organization, hit .408/.487/.749 and led the PCL in runs scored (31), hits (42), total bases (77), extra base hits (21), OPS (1.235) and slugging percentage, and tied for the league lead in RBI (30) in April. He also ranked second in doubles (15) and on-base percentage, and third in home runs (6) and stolen bases (12).
In 25 games, the Carrollton, Texas native recorded 14 multi-hit games including seven of the last eight, and nine of the last 11 games of the month. He hit safely in 22 of the 25 games overall and ended April on an 11-game hitting streak.
Lawlar’s 1.235 OPS is the highest by an Aces’ hitter in the month of April for Reno since Kevin Cron’s 1.249 OPS in 2019, and the highest of any month since Dominic Canzone posted a 1.237 OPS in June 2023.
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Lawlar from Jesuit Prep in Dallas, Texas as their first-round selection, sixth overall, in the 2021 MLB Draft.
Adrian Del Castillo was the last Aces player to garner the PCL Player of the Month award, winning it in May 2024. He would later go on to win the Pacific Coast League MVP award at the end of the season.
Last Series Recap: Aces Power Past River Cats, Take Four of Six in Sacramento
Sacramento, Calif. – The Reno Aces (18–15) defeated the Sacramento River Cats (16–17), the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, in a six-game series this past week at Sutter Health Park. The BLC-Nine took home four wins from Sacramento and have moved into third place in the Pacific Coast League.
The Aces entered Tuesday’s opener riding a four-game winning streak and extended it to five with a 7–3 victory, powered by Cristian Mena and Trey Mancini. Mena was a threat on the mound, turning in his third quality start of the season after limiting the River Cats to three runs with two walks and eight punchouts in six frames. Mancini got it done on the other side of the ball, crushing a go-ahead grand slam off a Kai-Wei Teng sinker. Jordan Lawlar continued his masterful 2025 campaign, extending his hitting streak to 10 games in the opener, going 2-for-3 with his sixth home run of the year.
Reno’s bats stayed hot in Wednesday’s 16–6 blowout win. The Aces were quiet early but later exploded for 14 runs over the final three innings to secure a consecutive win over Sacramento. A.J. Vukovich was the main contributor on offense, driving in seven runs after a three-hit night highlighted by a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the seventh. Reno and Sacramento went back and forth until the eighth frame, when the Aces pulled away for good with a five-run eruption. Aramis Garcia sparked the rally, roping a leadoff solo shot into deep left field. Blaze Alexander played a crucial role in the late surge, coming through with two RBI knocks to extend the Aces’ lead. He also crushed his third big fly of the year earlier in the contest, a solo shot in the sixth.
The momentum carried over to Thursday’s 3–2 extra-inning nailbiter. Tied through nine, the Aces capitalized on a Sacramento error and a wild pitch in the 10th, allowing Cristian Pache to score the go-ahead run. Kyle Amendt and the Aces bullpen were the heroes in the win, holding the River Cats scoreless through five combined innings. Amendt earned his first save of the year after a clean 10th inning, striking out one without issuing a walk. Yu-Min Lin sparkled in his season debut, limiting the River Cats to two runs across five sharp innings. Garcia continued to mash, belting two home runs off Carson Whisenhunt, including a game-tying shot in the seventh.
The Aces extended their winning streak to seven games after Thursday’s victory, but it came to an end in Friday’s 3–2 loss.
Saturday’s 5–1 victory sealed the series win for Reno. It was an unexpected bullpen day after Tommy Henry was scratched late, but the ‘pen held it down, allowing the River Cats to score one unearned run while striking out 12 without issuing a walk. Vukovich headlined the scoring, smashing his seventh home run off then–PCL ERA leader Carson Seymour. Jorge Barrosa made an impact in his return to the lineup after a five-game stint in the big leagues, putting the Aces on the board with a two-RBI double in the fourth frame.
Greater Nevada Field Set to Host Three Vitalant Blood Drives This Season
Throughout the 2025 season, the Reno Aces and Vitalant will host three blood drives at Greater Nevada Field beginning on Tuesday, April 15th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will be two additional days of blood drives at the ballpark on August 19-20 before the Aces’ home games against the Round Rock Express.
"Greater Nevada Field is a genuine hub for the community, and we're excited to partner with Vitalant for a blood drive that will support the people of Northern Nevada," said Reno Aces President Eric Edelstein. "This initiative highlights the spirit of our community, showing that we unite to save lives and create a meaningful difference."
Donators can give a Power Red or Whole Blood donation at the blood drive at Greater Nevada Field.
- Power Red—This donation collects red blood cells but safely returns platelets and plasma to the donor. Donors must meet eligibility requirements, including height and weight. The donor's blood type should be O-, O+, A-, or B-. The process takes 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Whole Blood donation—This is the most common way to give blood. It collects about a pint of blood and usually takes about 10 minutes; the entire process takes about an hour.
“April is National Donate Life Month, a time to recognize the critical role blood donations play in life-saving organ and marrow transplants. In some cases, doctors may transfuse 20 or more units of blood in a single transplant surgery,” said Vitalant Account Manager Aimee Guthrel. “The Reno Aces' partnership with us plays a vital role in helping to keep our blood supply replenished and our community safe. We are grateful for their continued support in making this blood drive a success and encouraging our community to give the gift of life this April.”
Spring and summer can be very challenging times to collect blood for many reasons, including high schools and colleges—the site of many blood drives—on break and routine donors away on vacation.
Walk-ins are welcome, but donation appointments are recommended. To schedule an appointment, call (877) 258-4825 or click HERE
Reno Aces Game will Honor Nevada’s Youngest-Ever Organ Donor
Audrey Jade Hope Sullenger was rushed to the hospital in May 2011 at just three days old. Although paramedics were able to restart her heart, she was declared brain dead after 48 hours. Her mother, Felicia Hill, decided to donate Audrey’s organs, which saved two lives.
Audrey’s cause of death remains unknown, and Hill believes her daughter was born to save lives. Her heart saved the life of then 3-week-old Addison McArthur, and her kidneys saved 38-year-old Hydee Efondo Lim.
“When I was approached by Donor Network West to see if I was willing to donate Audrey’s organs, it was an immediate yes––I knew the good that could come out of it,” said Hill. “We’re continuing to educate people on what Audrey was able to do with her tiny life 13 years later. It brings so much peace and comfort knowing that her life wasn’t lost for no reason.”
Hill and her two daughters, Olivia and Moriah, will honor Audrey by running the bases during the second inning at the Reno Aces’ Home Run for Life game, presented by Donor Network West, Friday, April 26, 2024, at Greater Nevada Field as the Reno Aces take on the Sugar Land Cowboys.
As a longtime Donor Network West ambassador, Hill uses her platform to destigmatize organ donation by sharing her daughter’s story and legacy.
One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation.
Donor Network West, northern Nevada’s only federally designated nonprofit organ procurement organization, is proud to support Home Run for Life baseball games during the Reno Aces’ 2024 season. Now in its third season, the partnership brings critical awareness about organ donation to the northern Nevada community, especially with nearly 700 Nevadans on the national waiting list hoping to receive life-saving organs.
“Audrey has deeply impacted the northern Nevada community through her legacy,” said Janice Whaley, president and CEO of Donor Network West. “It is an honor to recognize her and the decision her family made to give the gift of life to others. Donor Network West is proud to partner with the Reno Aces to commemorate northern Nevada’s donors and donor families.”
Six times per season, the Home Run for Life game series honors a northern Nevada community member who has either received a life-saving transplant, lost a loved one who gave the gift of life through organ donation or helped provide support and healing to those impacted by organ, eye and tissue donation.