Welcome to the 2025 Thirteenth and final 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.
Following a series loss in Tacoma, the Reno Aces (19-44, 56-82) will return home to Greater Nevada Field for their final homestand of the 2025 campaign, taking on their Silver State rival, the Las Vegas Aviators (29-34, 78-60), the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.
Las Vegas comes in fresh off a series win against the Sacramento River Cats, taking four of six on the road. The Aviators clinched a playoff spot after a dominant first half in which they went 49-26, though they’ve cooled in the second half and currently sit in eighth place.
The season series between Reno and Las Vegas has been tightly contested, with the Aviators holding a slight advantage by taking eight of 15 matchups. AJ Vukovich has been one of Reno’s top performers against Las Vegas this season, hitting .283/.377/.500 with four doubles, two home runs, and eight RBI across 12 games.
The Aviators’ lineup features dangerous bats, led by C/DH Daniel Susac and veteran outfielder Nick Martini.
Susac has been a thorn in the Aces’ side, torching their pitching staff with 16 hits in 48 at-bats (.333), including six doubles, three home runs, and eight RBI in 12 contests. He’s been swinging a hot bat since mid-August, batting .310 (18-for-58) with three doubles, three homers, and 12 RBI in his last 14 appearances.
Martini has also fared well against Reno, going 10-for-31 (.323) with four doubles, one homer, and five RBI in six games. He put together a productive August, slashing .270/.289/.554 with three doubles, six home runs, and 17 RBI.
For Reno, Kristian Robinson enters the homestand riding an eight-game hitting streak. The outfielder was locked in against Tacoma, going 7-for-18 (.389) with three doubles, two home runs, and two RBI. Over his last eight games, he’s 13-for-32 (.406) with five doubles, a triple, three home runs, and nine RBI, finding his rhythm at the Triple-A level.
Andy Weber has also been a key contributor down the stretch. The infielder is hitting .423 (22-for-52) with four extra-base hits and seven RBI across his last 12 games. Weber has been especially strong at Greater Nevada Field this season, where in 37 games he owns a .336/.383/.503 line with six doubles, three triples, four home runs, and 20 RBI.
The Aces will look to finish their 2025 season on a high note with a series victory over Las Vegas.
During their two-week road trip, the Reno Aces have welcomed a lot of new faces to the roster whether it was by way of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ trade deadline moves or call-ups from Double-A Amarillo. Among them are some of the D-backs’ top ranked prospects and some organizational fan favorites.
#7 Tommy Troy | Position: 2B/SS | Hometown: San Jose, CA
Troy was called up from Double-A Amarillo just over a week ago, on August 2, and made an immediate impact in the Aces’ lineup recording six hits in his first 13 at-bats including four extra-base hits. A first-round selection in the 2023 MLB Draft, he spent most of his life in Northern California growing up in San Jose, Calif. and playing college baseball at Stanford University. While playing at Stanford, he was a first-team All-American and all-PAC 12 recipient, helping the Cardinal to back-to-back conference titles in 2022 and 2023. The 23-year-old ranks as the Diamondbacks’ No. 5 prospect in the organization according to MLB Pipeline and earned his promotion after hitting .286 with a .875 OPS this season in Amarillo.
#60 Ivan Melendez | Position: 1B/DH | Hometown: El Paso, TX
Melendez got the promotion to Reno at the same time as Tommy Troy and wasted no time showing off his raw power at the plate. In his Triple-A debut in Las Vegas, the Texas native launched a grand slam as part of a multi-hit performance in his first game with Reno. The right-handed slugger became Double-A Amarillo’s all-time home run leader earlier this year launching 50 homers in parts of three seasons with the Sod Poodles. A second-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Melendez had a tremendous career at the University of Texas, winning the Golden Spikes Award (best collegiate player) and breaking the BBCOR single-season collegiate home run record in 2022.
#57 Kristian Robinson | Position: OF | Hometown: Nassau, Bahamas
Robinson was moved from Amarillo to Reno on July 26 and brings a unique combination of speed and power to the Aces’ lineup. At the age of 16, he was signed as an international free agent in 2017 and skyrocketed through the D-backs’ system becoming the organization’s No. 1 prospect in 2020 and 2021. Following personal mental health issues during the COVID-pandemic, he was sidelined for three years and remained out of the game until May 2023. With his career back on track, he looks to become just the 10th player from the Bahamas to make it to the big leagues.
#49 Kohl Drake | Position: Starting Pitcher | Hometown: Orem, UT
Drake was the premier piece of the Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly trade with the Texas Rangers at the July 31 MLB trade deadline. The left-handed pitcher started his season in Double-A Frisco before a promotion to Triple-A Round Rock brought him to the Pacific Coast League. In four games with the Express, he pitched to a 5.19 ERA none of which came against the Aces. In his organizational debut, the 7th-ranked Arizona prospect turned a solid outing picking up a win over Las Vegas on August 2. A 11th round selection in the 2022 MLB Draft from Walters State Community College, the Drake helped lead his team to back-to-back NJCAA Division I World Series appearances in 2021 and 2022.
Two new arms will also be coming out of the bullpen at Greater Nevada Field in #61 Brandyn Garcia and #23 Juan Burgos. Burgos (25th ranked prospect) and Garcia (20th ranked prospect) were both acquired in trades with the Seattle Mariners at the end of July.
The Reno Aces (19-44, 56-82) dropped their six-game set against the Tacoma Rainiers (41-22, 79-59), the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, this past week at Cheney Stadium, coming away with two wins.
Reno opened the series in dominant fashion on Tuesday, cruising to an 11-1 blowout victory. The bats came alive with three home runs, starting with Tristin English’s 13th of the season in the third inning. Tommy Troy provided the biggest swing of the night, blasting a three-run shot in the fourth to break the game open. Kristian Robinson joined the power surge with his fourth homer of the year in the fifth. On the mound, Yu-Min Lin turned in a strong outing, limiting Tacoma to one run across five innings with three walks and five strikeouts.
The Aces didn’t find their next win until Sunday’s finale, when Lin once again earned the victory. The left-hander held Tacoma to one run over five innings with one walk and two strikeouts, finishing the week 2-0 against the Rainiers while allowing three runs and striking out seven across 10 total frames. Reno’s offense backed him with a four-run seventh inning to put the game out of reach in the 8-1 win. Matt Mervis sparked the rally with a two-run double to right after earlier launching his third home run of the season, a solo shot in the third. Ivan Melendez capped off the frame with a two-run single.
Kristian Robinson enjoyed a dominant week at the plate against Tacoma, going 7-for-18 (.389) with three doubles, two home runs, and two RBI. The outfielder has settled in at the Triple-A level, carrying an eight-game hitting streak into Reno’s upcoming homestand. During that stretch, he’s gone 13-for-32 (.406) with five doubles, one triple, three home runs, and nine RBI.
The Aces now return home to Greater Nevada Field to open their final homestand of the season against the Las Vegas Aviators, the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. The six-game series begins Tuesday, September 9, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. PST.
Avriel Price grew up in Gardnerville, Nevada with her twin sister, Kayla Price, and two brothers, Trevor and Jared Price. Her quick wit and lively sense of humor brought the fun wherever she went. Kayla said people didn’t want to miss an opportunity to see Avriel, stating, “You knew that if you were with her, you’d have a great time.”
Avriel was 34 years old when she died in December 2022. As a registered organ donor, she gave the gift of life to five people in need of lifesaving organ transplants.
“After losing Avriel, I realized what an incredible impact organ donation makes on people,” said Susan Price, Avriel’s mother. “Organ donation is an incredible gift. It’s a gift I didn’t want her to have to give, but it’s an honor to see her be recognized for her generosity.”
Organ donors and recipients remain anonymous during the donation process. However, donor families can choose to connect with their loved one’s recipients—it’s a connection that can offer comfort and healing. Following Avriel’s death, Susan wrote a letter to the woman who received her heart. Donor Network West, Nevada’s only federally designated nonprofit organ procurement organization, facilitated the communication with Kristie Halsey, a mother of three. In 2023, Susan and Kayla met Kristie and listened to the heartbeat that saved her life.
“If we could’ve chosen who received Avriel’s heart, we would’ve chosen Kristie,” said Susan. “She’s an incredible person, and I feel like she’s family and I’m thrilled we have a close relationship. Avriel would have loved Kristie.”
Susan will round the bases during the second inning at the Reno Aces’ Home Run for Life game, presented by Donor Network West, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Greater Nevada Field as the Reno Aces take on the El Paso Chihuahuas.
Donor Network West is proud to support Home Run for Life baseball games during the Reno Aces’ 2025 season. In its fourth year, the partnership brings critical awareness about organ donation to northern Nevada, where the need is great—nearly 700 Nevadans are on the national waiting list.
“Lifesaving transplantation is possible because organ donors like Avriel said yes to organ donation,” said Matthew Graves, vice president of donor operations, Donor Network West. “Donor Network West is honored to partner with the Reno Aces to highlight northern Nevada’s organ donor heroes and their families, sharing their stories to further their legacies and raise awareness of organ, eye and tissue donation.”
“The Home Run for Life series has brought meaningful moments of remembrance, celebration and gratitude to Greater Nevada Field as fans and players have honored those impacted by organ, eye and tissue donation,” said Reno Aces President Eric Edelstein. “The Reno Aces are proud to support Donor Network West’s mission to heal and save lives.”
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. This is the third Home Run for Life game of the 2025 season.