When third baseman Max Muncy — the Athletics’ first-round draft pick in 2021 — was optioned to the Las Vegas Aviators this month, the organization gave him a clear assignment: Limit swings outside of the strike zone, and learn to play left field.
Muncy wasted no time showing he can do both. This season with the A’s, the 23-year-old averaged a strikeout every 2.65 at-bats. Since rejoining the Aviators (57-37) on July 11, he has struck out three times in five games — a pace of once every 6.66 ABs.
Aviators manager Fran Riordan is also impressed with how Muncy has manned left field, a position he hasn’t played since high school.
“He’s been outstanding out there,” Riordan said. “He looks really natural, and his movements are good. His actions are good. Max is such a great energy, and he’s such a great player.
“To have him in our lineup for however long it is, is a huge plus.”
This isn’t the first time Muncy has made a shift to the outfield. The Athletics drafted Muncy as a shortstop out of Thousand Oaks High School near Los Angeles, where he was teammates with current A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson. With the varsity team having a surplus of infielders his freshman year, Muncy moved to the outfield.
The following year, Muncy staked his claim at shortstop and starred for the Lancers. The Athletics selected him 25th overall in 2021, and he quickly moved his way through the minor league system. After hitting .277 for Las Vegas in 2024, Muncy made the A’s opening day roster in 2025, primarily playing third base in the majors.
Muncy split last season between the Aviators and Athletics, but struggled to consistently hit big league pitching. He hit .214 in 63 games with the A’s last year, striking out 68 times in 206 at-bats.
This season with the Athletics, Muncy’s woes continued, hitting .227 in 46 games and missing time with a fracture in his left hand. His performance — combined with outfielder Tyler Soderstrom’s return from the injured list and the emergence of versatile infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer — led to the A’s decision to option Muncy to Triple-A on July 8.
“He’s got to improve on his swinging out of the zone,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said then. “He’s very talented. We feel that he could be a big part of this thing. …
“When he swings at the ball that’s in the zone, he does damage. I think that’s going to be a big part of his growth.”
The Aviators activated Muncy on July 11, and he went 3-for-4 with a home run that day in a win over the Tacoma Rainiers. Though Las Vegas lost two of three last weekend to the Round Rock Express in a short road series, Muncy notched hits in every game, including a home run Saturday.
Riordan admired how Muncy has taken this challenge head-on, putting in the work to get back to the A’s.
“He’s doing a great job of controlling the strike zone, and I know that’s something that he wants to get better at,” Riordan said. “He’s working really hard. He’s got a great attitude about it, and he’s here with the right mindset.”
Buelvas keeps bashing
Since July 4, outfielder Brayan Buelvas has provided plenty of offense for the Aviators, hitting .333 with three home runs.
“The more comfortable he gets, the more at bats he gets, the more confidence he gets,” Riordan said. “When you have that confidence that you think you’re going to do great things, a lot of times, the production and the performance follows.”
In the fourth inning of Sunday’s 5-4 loss to Round Rock, Buelvas gave Las Vegas a 4-3 lead on a 387-foot two-run homer — his fifth with the Aviators and eighth total this year.
Las Vegas’ previous homestand against Tacoma was Buelvas’ best series since getting promoted from Double-A Midland in May. On July 10 against the Rainiers, he launched two long balls — the latter of which cleared the Las Vegas Ballpark scoreboard, going 444 feet.
Aviators flex defensive versatility
After Cade Marlowe exercised an opt-out clause in his contract, becoming a free agent on Thursday, Las Vegas lost not just a prominent bat — Marlowe hit .317 with a team-best 24 steals — but a capable outfielder, too.
The Aviators’ roster currently has just two full-time outfielders: Buelvas and Jared Dickey.
Riordan has a handful of players who can field multiple positions, though. Muncy isn’t the only career infielder spending time in the outfield, as both Drew Swift and Michael Stefanic have played there, too. Catcher Bryan Lavastida has also played left field and both corner infield positions in his pro career.
“They feel comfortable whether it’s infield or outfield, and they just kind of embrace the opportunity on any given day,” Riordan said. “It’s just a matter of what they can do to help the team win.”
Up next
Who: Las Vegas Aviators vs. El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres affiliate)
When: Tuesday-Sunday
Where: Las Vegas Ballpark
Promotions: Tuesday — Copa de la Diversión; Wednesday — Bark on the Berm; Thursday — $2 beer night; Friday — Harry Potter four house hat giveaway; Saturday — Harry Potter pinstripe jersey giveaway
