Ports All-Time Home Run Duo Looks to Lead Nashville

Published on December 23, 2015 under California League (CalL1)
Stockton Ports News Release

2015 was certainly an exciting ride for Ports fans. What started out as a team that struggled early on, ultimately ended with a thrilling run to the playoffs and a clinching of the second-half championship in the North Division with an overall record of 72-66.

As impressive as 2015 may have been, just the year before in 2014, the Ports had one of the best regular season teams in franchise history. Led by a plethora of top prospects, the Ports finished 85-55 and clinched a second-half championship as well. Although the result ended in a first round playoff loss, fans were treated all season long to impressive on-field play, including remarkable performances from stars Matt Olson and Renato Nunez.

Known as the "Bash Brothers 2.0", Olson and Nunez led the power surge for the Ports that season and finished with a combined total of 66 home runs, the most in MiLB that season as well as all-time in the Ports' record books. Olson finished just shy of the Ports' all-time regular season home run record set by Chris Carter at 39, with two short at 37. Olson finished with 97 RBI that season as well as a total of 117 walks.

Nunez, on the other hand, got off to a bit of a slow start in the first half of the season but then turned it around and had one of the hottest second-halves in all of Minor League Baseball. By year's end, Nunez finished with a .279 average to compliment his 29 home runs and 96 RBI.

For a lot of players in the A's organization, making the transition from the hitter-friendly California League to the pitching-friendly Texas League can prove to be a difficult challenge. Olson and Nunez, however, proved otherwise.

For both players, their impact was certainly not as high as many would have expected in the early stages of the 2015 season playing for the Midland RockHounds. For a large part of the season, Olson could not seem to replicate the success he had in Stockton the year prior and was down in all areas. However, he continued to move forward and by season's end, finished with 17 home runs, 75 RBI, and again surpassed 100 walks by finishing with 105, a feat that an organization like Oakland, continues to value in their players.

Olson continued to be a threat at the plate all season long and fought through early inconsistencies to finish as one of the best offensive players on the squad.

Nunez had a much different path during the 2015 season with Midland. As opposed to Olson's 133 games played in 2015, injuries early on in the season kept the Venezuelan born prospect out for several games and he ended up playing in just 93 total games. Nunez, however, was able to capitalize by putting up remarkable numbers.

During those 93 games, Nunez put up 18 home runs, 61 RBI and finished with a .278 batting average and continued to be a hot bat for the RockHounds during the playoffs.

Matt Olson and Renato Nunez with the Stockton Ports

California League Stories from December 23, 2015

• Ports All-Time Home Run Duo Looks to Lead Nashville - Stockton Ports

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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