Las Vegas Aviators pitcher Gage Jump has a elemental philosophy: triumph the day. Win the workout. Win the matchup.
Next up: Win the game.
Jump — whom MLB Pipeline ranks arsenic the Athletics’ No. 3 imaginable and No. 41 wide — is coming disconnected his champion commencement of his pro career, but has yet to ace the triumph file this season.
Against the Albuquerque Isotopes connected Wednesday astatine Las Vegas Ballpark, helium went 7 shutout innings, striking retired 9 and walking none. Though the Isotopes’ six-run ninth inning comeback gave them the win, erasing Jump arsenic the pitcher of record, the outing showed what the hard-throwing lefty is susceptible of.
That show earned Jump the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week grant — the 2nd Las Vegas (26-23) pitcher to gain that grant this season, aft Mason Barnett successful April.
“That was elite starting pitching and elite efficiency,” Aviators manager Fran Riordan said. “It was a look astatine the imaginable that helium possesses. … Seeing it really unfold successful beforehand of me, and the mode that helium was capable to enactment successful power the full outing and the mode helium was capable to repeat, it was truly amusive to watch.”
Jump leads the PCL successful strikeouts with 56. That’s owed successful ample portion to his fastball, which averaged 95.7 mph entering Wednesday’s start.
Jump’s fastball topped retired astatine 99 mph against Albuquerque, but the maturation of his different pitches has made the quality this season. While helium tin overpower hitters, he’s getting amended astatine commanding his off-speed pitches — not conscionable utilizing them to acceptable up the fastball, but to marque batters miss.
Of the 9 strikeouts successful his past start, 2 came arsenic batters whiffed connected the curveball, and 1 came looking connected a changeup.
Jump said the changeup — connected mean 8.5 mph slower than his fastball — is thing he’s trying to propulsion more.
“He’s a precise competitory feline — I emotion that connected the mound,” catcher Brian Serven said. “He wants the shot and helium wants to spell 9 innings each time. You person to respect that fire, that passion.”
Jump is ne'er 1 to shy distant from a challenge, and his vocation has had its share. After appearing successful 7 games arsenic a freshman astatine UCLA successful 2022, helium had Tommy John country connected his near elbow that summer. For the archetypal clip since helium started playing drawback astatine three, helium couldn’t propulsion a baseball.
Having to beryllium retired a play to retrieve gave Jump clip to bespeak connected the benignant of pitcher helium wanted to become, charting a way from assemblage to pro ball.
“How americium I going to get from constituent A to constituent B?” Jump said of his thought process. “I took a measurement backmost and tried to look astatine my crippled from a coach’s perspective.”
That’s wherever the “win the day” mantra truly took hold. Since helium couldn’t play, helium watched games and worked for small wins wherever helium could find them. He analyzed his mechanics, his transportation grips, his mentality, and his environment.
As overmuch arsenic the Southern California autochthonal enjoyed being a Bruin, Jump wanted a bigger challenge, transferring to SEC powerhouse LSU. He excelled arsenic a Tiger, and the A’s took him with the 73rd prime of the 2024 draft. Jump started good successful his archetypal play successful the minors, going 9-7 with a 3.28 ERA crossed High-A Lansing and Double-A Midland.
This play has challenged Jump, who has struggled to get past the 4th inning successful astir outings for Las Vegas. The strikeouts were ever there, but truthful were the hits, baserunners and runs. Jump kept battling done it.
On May 14 successful Reno, helium dealt similar an ace. Jump unopen retired the Aces for 4 innings earlier leaving with a calf cramp. It was a little glimpse into the committedness Jump has shown from time one.
The adjacent clip retired against Albuquerque, adjacent though the Aviators didn’t triumph the game, Jump won the day.
JKG’s blistery streak continues
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, the Athletics’ No. 10 imaginable per MLB Pipeline, is 1 of the hottest hitters successful the PCL close now. The versatile infielder is connected a nine-game deed streak, playing 2nd base, 3rd basal and shortstop.
As the Aviators divided the bid past week with the Isotopes, Kuroda-Grauer went 18 for 45 (.400 average) with 5 RBI and 2 steals. Since getting promoted from Midland connected May 12, he’s had a deed successful 11 of the 12 games he’s played for Las Vegas.
“He’s done thing but large things since he’s been here,” Riordan said.
Marlowe earns PCL honor
Cade Marlowe earned the PCL’s Player of the Week grant aft going 14 for 26 (.538) with 2 location runs, 13 RBI, 27 full bases and 2 steals, providing dependable defence successful halfway field.
Marlowe wreaked havoc connected the Isotopes. In Thursday’s 12-1 Las Vegas win, helium went 3 for 5 with six RBI and 8 full bases. Marlowe filled the container people connected Sunday, helping the Aviators triumph 6-5 by going 4 for 4 with a double, triple, 7 full bases, 2 RBI and his 12th bargain of the year.
Up next
Who: Aviators astatine Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners affiliate)
When: Tuesday-Sunday
Where: Cheney Stadium, Tacoma, Wash.
Aviators starter Tuesday: Gage Jump (0-2, 4.50 ERA)
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