Astros Minor League Snapshot

We are now five weeks in to the minor league season (is that all?!?!). Let's take a look at where things stand.

OKLAHOMA CITY

2nd    18-16    .529    1.5GB    L1

The Redhawks are currently one and a half games behind the first place Iowa Cubs and two games ahead of third place Colorado Springs Sky Sox (all in the American Northern Division). They play two more at home against the third place American Southern Division Memphis Redbirds (16-17) before continuing the homestand with four games against Colorado Springs (15-17). That will be followed by Oklahoma City's second off day of the season next Wednesday. The RedHawks are 3-3 against Memphis and 2-2 against Colorado Springs in their encounters this season.

Despite being in a bit of a slump, Jon Singleton is still in the top 10 in the league in slugging percentage, runs scored, walks and is tied for first place with his 10 home runs. Austin Wates is still in the top 10 in stolen bases despite a prolonged DL list stint. Rudy Owens and Nick Tropeano are in the top 10 in WHIP and Tropeano comes in just outside the top 10 with an 11th place ERA. The newly promoted Josh Zeid is in the top 10 in saves.

Here is how cumulative team stats stack up in the league in a few major categories:

BA - 8th (out of 16 teams)

OBP - 9th

SLG - tied for 8th

ERA - 4th

WHIP - 2nd

CORPUS CHRISTI

3rd    17-15    .531    3.0GB    W2

In the South Division, the Hooks trail Frisco by three games and Midland by two and a half games. After an abbreviated off day followed by an overnight bus ride, the Hooks will play four games on the road against Frisco (20-12) starting today, followed by four games in San Antonio against the 4th place Missions (13-18). Corpus Christi has a 3-5 record against Frisco and a 3-1 record against San Antonio this season.

The top 10 list of league leaders in offensive categories is littered with Hooks players ... Preston Tucker (BA, SLG, R, H, RBI, T1st in 2B, T2nd in HR); Andrew Aplin (BA, OBP, R, H, RBI, 1st in BB); Nolan Fontana (OBP, T1st in 2B, BB); Matt Duffy (2B, RBI); Leo Heras (BB, T1st in 3B); and Delino DeShields (SB). Tommy Shirley, Luis Cruz and Brady Rodgers are all top 10 ERA leaders. Cruz and Shirley are also in the top 10 in WHIP, with Rodgers closely trailing in 11th place. Shirley and Rodgers are in the top 10 in strikeouts as well.

Here is how cumulative team stats stack up in the league in a few major categories:

BA - 2nd (out of 8 teams)

OBP - 1st

SLG - 1st

ERA - 2nd

WHIP - 3rd

LANCASTER

T1st    20-14    .588    -.-GB    W2

With last night's win against Lake Elsinore, Lancaster moved into a tie for first (in the South Division) with that team. They play one more game in the current series at Lake Elsinore who they currently lead 7-4 in the season series before heading to High Desert (19-15) for a weekend series. High Desert trails Lancaster in the standings by only one game. Lancaster and High Desert are tied 5-5 in their season series. After a well-deserved off day on Monday, Lancaster will play three at home against the red-hot Bakersfield Blaze. The Blaze are tops in the North Division with a 26-8 record and have won their last seven games in a row. It will be the two teams first meeting of the season.

The JetHawks team is well-represented on the top 10 list in offensive categories ... Tony Kemp (BA, OBP, H, 3B, BB, SB, 1st in R); Teoscar Hernandez (SLG, R, RBI, SB, 1st in 3B); Rio Ruiz (H, 2B); Danry Vasquez (2B); and Carlos Perdomo (3B). Josh Hader and the recently promoted Kyle Smith are in the top 10 in ERA and WHIP, and are joined by Kyle Westwood in the latter category. Hader, Lance McCullers and Chris Devenski are in the top 10 in strikeouts. Jamaine Cotton is in the top 10 in saves.

Here is how cumulative team stats stack up in the league in a few major categories:

BA - 4th (out of 10 teams)

OBP - 2nd

SLG - 6th

ERA - 6th

WHIP - 1st

QUAD CITIES

T6th    14-18    .438    8.5GB    W2

Quad Cities is currently tied with Wisconsin for sixth place in the 8-team division, eight and a half games out of first. Kane County leads the pack with a fairly comfortable four-game lead in the Western League. The River Bandits will face off against 8th place Beloit (13-19) in a three-game series at home starting tonight; they are 1-2 against Beloit in their previous encounters. After a day off on Sunday, they will head to Wisconsin for three games. It will be the first meeting of the two teams this season.

Top 10 offensive leaders in the league include Chan Moon (BA, OBP, R, 3B); Tyler White (BA, OBP); Tanner Mathis (OBP); James Ramsay (3B); Brett Phillips (3B); and Conrad Gregor (BB). None of the Quad Cities pitchers appear in the top 10 in ERA or WHIP, but look for that to change as Gonzalo Sanudo (0.86 ERA and 0.810 WHIP) gets stretched out and amasses enough innings to qualify as a league leader. Andrew Thurman is the top strikeout artist on the team and is tied for 12th place in the league in that category.

Here is how cumulative team stats stack up in the league in a few major categories:

BA - 1st (out of 16 teams)
OBP - 1st
SLG - 1st
ERA - 6th
WHIP - 9th