A’s Nunez among prospects making waves in winter leagues

After finishing the 2016 season in the big leagues with the Athletics, Renato Nunez is making a strong case for an extended look next spring with his impressive offseason campaign in the Venezuela Winter League.

The A’s’ No. 5 prospect is currently tied for the league lead with eight home runs after reaching the total in his first 20 games for Tigres de Aragua. Five of those homers came in consecutive games for the 22-year-old third baseman, from Nov. 15 to Nov. 22, and have helped to fuel his ongoing 10-game hitting streak.

Overall, Nunez is hitting .342/.414/.684 with 15 runs scored and 20 RBIs.

Here’s a look at some of the top prospects currently making waves in the offseason winter leagues.

Australia

• Kevin Padlo, 3B, Rays — Padlo batted just .229 but showed plenty of promise during his 2016 full-season debut — also his first as a member of the Rays — at Class A Bowling Green. The 20-year-old third baseman posted a .771 OPS thanks to a Midwest League-leading 79 walks and finished tied for third with 16 home runs. Now playing in the ABL for a second straight offseason, Padlo, the Rays’ No. 20 prospect, owns a .368/.429/.737 battling line, with four extra-base hits and five RBIs, in his first five games for the Brisbane Bandits.

Dominican Republic

• Manny Margot, OF, Padres — The Padres’ No. 2 prospect (No. 26 overall) has fared well so far this offseason, hitting .277/.315/.396 in 25 games for Torres del Este. Margot has swung the bat particularly well of late, collecting multiple hits — highlighted by his second home run — in three of his last four games. On top of that, Margot, 22, owns a share of the league lead with his 28 …

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