Aviators Open Season with Decisive Victory

Las Vegas minor league team aims to build on 2025 championship run

Mar. 28, 2026 at 5:05am

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The Las Vegas Aviators, the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, opened their 2026 season with a dominant 12-1 win over the Salt Lake Bees in front of a sold-out home crowd. The Aviators are looking to build on their 2025 Pacific Coast League championship and make another run at the Triple-A title this year.

Why it matters

The Aviators have become a pipeline for top Athletics prospects, with several key players from last year's championship team returning in 2026. Their success is crucial for developing the next wave of talent for the big-league club.

The details

Aviators outfielder Colby Thomas launched a 434-foot three-run homer in the win, while fellow outfielder Henry Bolte, the A's No. 5 prospect, looks to build on a promising 2025 season. The team also returns several key pitchers, including Kade Morris, Jack Perkins, and 2025 PCL All-Star reliever Ben Bowden.

  • The Aviators claimed the 2025 Pacific Coast League championship.
  • The Aviators opened their 2026 season on March 27, 2026.

The players

Colby Thomas

An Aviators outfielder who batted .291 with 18 home runs in 2025 before getting called up to the Athletics in July.

Henry Bolte

The A's No. 5 prospect, who hit .300 in 34 games for the Aviators in 2025 and had a strong spring training.

Drew Swift

A shortstop returning from the Aviators' 2025 PCL championship squad, ranked as the best defensive infielder in the Athletics' organization by Baseball America.

Kade Morris

A right-handed pitcher and the A's No. 12 prospect, who looks to improve on his 7-7 record and 5.22 ERA with the Aviators in 2025.

Fran Riordan

The Aviators' manager, who was named the 2025 PCL Manager of the Year.

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What they’re saying

“If we're having fun, we're going to be winning a lot of games.”

— Colby Thomas, Aviators Outfielder

“There was a belief that we were going to win every game that we went out and played, and it was contagious. That carries over with the returning players, it carries over with the new players, and it's a special environment to be around.”

— Fran Riordan, Aviators Manager

What’s next

The Aviators will look to continue their strong start to the season as they aim to return to the Triple-A championship game and claim the title they narrowly missed out on in 2025.

The takeaway

The Aviators' mix of top prospects and experienced returning players has the team poised for another successful season, as they seek to develop the next wave of talent for the Oakland Athletics' major league roster.