In my ongoing season reviews of the various Astros minor league teams, the final team up is the High A Lancaster JetHawks.
The team finished with a 78-62 record (.557 win percentage), first place overall, won the first half of the season, swept the South Division playoffs and walked away from the Finals with some bling!
And the @JetHawks WIN the 2014 California League Championship! pic.twitter.com/EjFbSvDoIu
— JetHawksBooster (@suzieslick) September 16, 2014
Lancaster Team Batting
.285 BA - 2nd out of 10 teams
.366 OBP - 1st
.452 SLG - 2nd
They also led the league in doubles, triples and walks, and were last in the league in strikeouts.
They also led the league in doubles, triples and walks, and were last in the league in strikeouts.
Lancaster Team Pitching
4.75 ERA - 8th
1.381 WHIP - 3rd
1134 SO - 5th
391 BB - 9th
Now, on to individual achievements. Below I am indicating the player's current age as well as information as to how many years the player has been playing.
CATCHERS
Roberto Peña - 22; 5th season
Peña has long been called the best defensive catcher in the Astros system and for good reason. He had a .996 fielding percentage, 9.02 range factor and a 57% caught stealing rate in 93 games behind the dish in Lancaster this season. In those 93 games, he hit .249/.306/.414 with 19 doubles, 13 home runs, 54 RBI, and had 25 walks to 63 strikeouts. Peña was drafted by the Astros in the seventh round in 2010 out of Puerto Rico.
Jobduan Morales - 23; 6th season
Originally drafted by the Marlins in the 9th round in 2009, Morales came to the Houston system in the May 2012 Justin Ruggiano trade. He isn't quite the elite defensive catcher that Peña is, but he is a solid backstop and managed a very nice 35% caught stealing rate in his 56 games as catcher (18 at Quad Cities and 38 at Lancaster). In a total of 65 games at the plate, Morales hit .244/.318/.376 with 5 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 39 RBI. In Quad Cities, he hit .310/.390/.451 in 20 games prior to his promotion.
INFIELDERS
SS Carlos Correa - 19; 3rd season
Correa broke his fibula on June 21st and missed the remainder of the season, but what he did before that? Oy. The 2012 number one overall pick hit .325/.416/.510 with 16 doubles, six triples, six home runs and 57 RBI in only 61 games. He swiped 20 bags and was caught four times, walked 36 times and had 45 strikeouts. His range factor at shortstop was a whopping 5.32. Be still, my heart.
Correa broke his fibula on June 21st and missed the remainder of the season, but what he did before that? Oy. The 2012 number one overall pick hit .325/.416/.510 with 16 doubles, six triples, six home runs and 57 RBI in only 61 games. He swiped 20 bags and was caught four times, walked 36 times and had 45 strikeouts. His range factor at shortstop was a whopping 5.32. Be still, my heart.
3B Rio Ruiz - 20; 3rd season
Drafted by Houston in the 4th round in 2012, Ruiz had an extremely solid season defensively and at the plate at Lancaster. Ruiz hit over .290 every month from April through July before dropping off somewhat in August. For the season, he hit .293/.387/.436 with 37 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 77 RBI in 131 games. He walked 82 times and struck out 91 times. A left-handed hitter, Rio hit .286 against right-handed pitchers and .312 against his fellow lefties.
3B/1B Tyler White - 23; 2nd season
White played mostly third base in his time with Quad Cities (71 games) and mostly first base after his promotion to Lancaster (43 games), and handled both positions adeptly. In a total of 114 games, he had a .290/.410/.501 batting line, with 33 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 64 RBI. White collected 63 walks while striking out 67 times. White was the 33rd round pick in 2013.
SS/2B Chan Moon - 23; 5th season
Moon was called up to Lancaster from Quad Cities after the injury to Carlos Correa to fill in at short and handled the task well, although his defensive numbers at second base while in Quad Cities were superior to his numbers at short in Lancaster. In a total of 127 games between the two venues, Moon hit .283/.352/.401 with 18 doubles, 10 triples, six home runs and 60 RBI. He stole 35 bases (13 caught stealing) and walked 52 times while striking out 100 times. Moon was signed by the Astros out of South Korea prior to the 2010 season.
IF Jack Mayfield - 23: 2nd season
Mayfield played more of his games at second base, his best position defensively, but also spent time at short and third. He received his promotion from Quad Cities (39 games) in early June and played in an additional 66 games for Lancaster. In a total of 105 games, Mayfield hit .282/.341/.440 with 31 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 55 RBI. Mayfield signed with Houston as a non-drafted free agent in 2013.
2B Austin Elkins - 23; 3rd season
Elkins, a switch-hitter drafted in the 19th round in 2012, followed Mayfield from Quad Cities to Lancaster in late June. He missed approximately six weeks early in the season and only appeared in 62 games (26 at Quad Cities; 36 at Lancaster), hitting a combined .254/.369/340. In August, he was hitting his stride at the plate, hitting .309/.449/.400 for that month. He provided plus defense at second base.
1B/DH Chase McDonald - 22; 2nd season
The 12th round 2013 draft pick played all but one of his 103 games at Quad Cities, getting the call to California just in time for the playoffs. In 102 games with the River Bandits, he hit .279/.363/.481 with 25 doubles, 16 home runs, 67 RBI, 44 walks and 116 strikeouts. Often used as a DH, McDonald excelled defensively in the 65 games he played at first base. In the post season, McDonald hit .323/.364/.710.
3B/1B Tyler White - 23; 2nd season
White played mostly third base in his time with Quad Cities (71 games) and mostly first base after his promotion to Lancaster (43 games), and handled both positions adeptly. In a total of 114 games, he had a .290/.410/.501 batting line, with 33 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 64 RBI. White collected 63 walks while striking out 67 times. White was the 33rd round pick in 2013.
SS/2B Chan Moon - 23; 5th season
Moon was called up to Lancaster from Quad Cities after the injury to Carlos Correa to fill in at short and handled the task well, although his defensive numbers at second base while in Quad Cities were superior to his numbers at short in Lancaster. In a total of 127 games between the two venues, Moon hit .283/.352/.401 with 18 doubles, 10 triples, six home runs and 60 RBI. He stole 35 bases (13 caught stealing) and walked 52 times while striking out 100 times. Moon was signed by the Astros out of South Korea prior to the 2010 season.
IF Jack Mayfield - 23: 2nd season
Mayfield played more of his games at second base, his best position defensively, but also spent time at short and third. He received his promotion from Quad Cities (39 games) in early June and played in an additional 66 games for Lancaster. In a total of 105 games, Mayfield hit .282/.341/.440 with 31 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 55 RBI. Mayfield signed with Houston as a non-drafted free agent in 2013.
2B Austin Elkins - 23; 3rd season
Elkins, a switch-hitter drafted in the 19th round in 2012, followed Mayfield from Quad Cities to Lancaster in late June. He missed approximately six weeks early in the season and only appeared in 62 games (26 at Quad Cities; 36 at Lancaster), hitting a combined .254/.369/340. In August, he was hitting his stride at the plate, hitting .309/.449/.400 for that month. He provided plus defense at second base.
1B/DH Chase McDonald - 22; 2nd season
The 12th round 2013 draft pick played all but one of his 103 games at Quad Cities, getting the call to California just in time for the playoffs. In 102 games with the River Bandits, he hit .279/.363/.481 with 25 doubles, 16 home runs, 67 RBI, 44 walks and 116 strikeouts. Often used as a DH, McDonald excelled defensively in the 65 games he played at first base. In the post season, McDonald hit .323/.364/.710.
OUTFIELDERS
All of the following players are left-handed hitters.
Danry Vasquez - 20; 4th season.
Vasquez played his entire season with the JetHawks. In 114 games, he hit .291/.353/.407 with 30 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 47 RBI and 40 walks (to 68 strikeouts). Vasquez had better defensive numbers in left field than he did in right field (and having seen him play both, I will say that he looks more comfortable playing in left field). Vasquez came into the Astros system in the July 2013 trade with Detroit for Jose Veras. He is from Venezuela.
Brett Phillips - 20; 3rd season
Phillips was named the Astros minor league Player of the Year for good reason. In 130 games (103 with Quad Cities and 27 with Lancaster), Phillips put up a .310/.375/.529 batting line and collected 29 doubles, 14 triples, 17 home runs, 68 RBI, 23 stolen bases (14 caught stealing), and 50 walks (to 96 strikeouts). He had an outstanding season defensively with 10 outfield assists while playing right field and seven more in center. Phillips was drafted by Houston in the 6th round in 2012.
James Ramsay - 22; 2nd season
Another plus defensive outfielder, Ramsay received his promotion to Lancaster in late August, playing only five regular season games with the team. In a total of 123 games, the 7th round 2013 pick hit .246/.340/.374 with 27 doubles, 11 triples, three home runs and 34 stolen bases (caught stealing eight times).
Ronnie Mitchell - 23; 2nd season
The Astros 38th round 2013 draft pick received his call up to Lancaster at the end of July. In a total of 99 games between Quad Cities and Lancaster, Mitchell hit .274/.353/.466 with 17 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs, 57 RBI, and 41 walks to 85 strikeouts. Another very good defensive outfielder, his best numbers came in right field.
Jon Kemmer - 23; 2nd season
Drafted by Houston in the 21st round in 2013, Kemmer played in 52 games at Quad Cities before his July call up to Lancaster. In a total of 91 games, he hit .291/.345/.523 with 25 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs and 50 RBI. While in Quad Cities, Kemmer was tasked with playing first base for a number of games, a position that he handled extremely well. In Lancaster, he returned to the outfield and provided solid defense in right field. He suffered a broken fibula in late August and was shut down for the season.
Jordan Scott - 22; 5th season
The 14th round 2010 draft pick played all but four of his 62 games with Lancaster (four in Corpus Christi) before being shut down on July 16th for a thumb injury that eventually required surgery. Scott put up a .294/.350/.431 batting line with 13 doubles, seven triples, a home run and 31 RBI. On paper, his outfield defense appears to be more or less average.
Tanner Mathis - 23; 2nd season
Mathis was also shut down early due to a foot/ankle injury suffered on August 20th. Mathis started his season with Quad Cities (36 games) before earning an early June promotion to Lancaster. In a total of 76 games, he hit .259/.362/.371 with 14 doubles, four triples, two home runs and 26 RBI. He walked 38 times while striking out 46 times, and stole 10 bases with eight caught stealing. Mathis played all three outfield positions this season and had stronger defensive numbers in center and right than he did in left. Mathis signed with the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 2013.
Jordan Scott - 22; 5th season
The 14th round 2010 draft pick played all but four of his 62 games with Lancaster (four in Corpus Christi) before being shut down on July 16th for a thumb injury that eventually required surgery. Scott put up a .294/.350/.431 batting line with 13 doubles, seven triples, a home run and 31 RBI. On paper, his outfield defense appears to be more or less average.
Tanner Mathis - 23; 2nd season
Mathis was also shut down early due to a foot/ankle injury suffered on August 20th. Mathis started his season with Quad Cities (36 games) before earning an early June promotion to Lancaster. In a total of 76 games, he hit .259/.362/.371 with 14 doubles, four triples, two home runs and 26 RBI. He walked 38 times while striking out 46 times, and stole 10 bases with eight caught stealing. Mathis played all three outfield positions this season and had stronger defensive numbers in center and right than he did in left. Mathis signed with the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 2013.
LEFTY PITCHERS
Kent Emanuel - 22; 2nd season
Drafted by Houston in the third round in 2013, Emanuel started his season for Quad Cities with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.091 WHIP in six games (four starts). Following his early May promotion to Lancaster, Emanuel went 9-5 with a 4.59 ERA and a 1.275 WHIP in 21 games (14 starts). In his six appearances in August, he improved to a 3.09 ERA and a 1.250 WHIP. In 124 innings of work, he walked only 23 batters while striking out 93. Emanuel also has one of the best (if not the best) pick off moves in the system.
Brian Holmes - 23; 3rd season
Holmes played his entire season for Lancaster and went 5-2 with a 4.53 ERA (3.00 in August) and a 1.248 WHIP in 20 games (10 starts). He walked 23 batters and struck out 82 in 87.1 innings of work. Holmes was a 13th round draft pick in 2012.
Evan Grills - 22; 5th season
Grills started his season with Quad Cities, going 3-3 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.239 WHIP in 16 games (10 starts) and was promoted to Lancaster in early July. In 10 games (six starts) for the JetHawks, Grills was 2-3 with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.409 WHIP. For the season, he fared better in relief (2.67 ERA/1.099 WHIP). In 120.2 innings, he walked only 15 batters and struck out 73. Grills was drafted in the 10th round in 2010.
Chris Cotton - 23; 2nd season
Cotton only appeared with Lancaster three times at the end of the season (2.2IP) with forgettable results. In his 32 appearances with Quad Cities (including one spot start), Cotton had a 3.40 ERA and a 1.186 WHIP. In August, prior to his promotion, he had a 0.00 ERA and a 0.692 WHIP in six appearances. For the season, Cotton walked only 11 batters and struck out 50 in 58.1 innings. He was drafted in the 14th round in 2013.
RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS
Kyle Westwood - 23; 2nd season
Drafted in the 13th round in 2013, Westwood spent his entire 2014 season with Lancaster. He started out the season extremely well, but encountered some struggles in the middle of the season and ended with a 4.23 ERA and a 1.303 WHIP, 26 walks to 88 strikeouts in 132 innings.
Lance McCullers - 20; 3rd season
The Astros supplemental first round pick in 2012 also got off to a good start (2.51 ERA and 1.151 WHIP in April), but then encountered some turbulence to end the season with a 5.47 ERA and a 1.557 WHIP. When pitching the back half of a piggyback, McCullers fared much, much better. In relief he had a 2.16 ERA and a 1.240 WHIP, holding batters to a .191 average. He walked 56 batters and struck out 115 in 97 innings of work.
Vince Velasquez - 22; 4th season (DNP in 2011)
Velasquez is still one of the most exciting players to watch in the Astros system; he just needs to stay healthy! Velasquez missed over two months of the season with a groin injury. He ended the season with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.172 WHIP in 18 games (13 starts), including three rehab starts in the Gulf Coast League. In 64 innings, Velasquez walked 25 batters and struck out 91. He was drafted in the second round in 2010 and missed all of 2011 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Zach Morton - 24; 2nd season
Drafted in the 36th round in 2013, Morton was used exclusively as a reliever in his first 12 appearances of the season in Quad Cities, compiling a 2.86 ERA and a 1.182 WHIP. Following his promotion to Lancaster in mid May, he was used in both a starting role and relief (often long relief) and ended his regular season for the JetHawks with a 4.94 ERA and a 1.437 WHIP in 22 games (seven starts). By August, he had improved to a 2.91 ERA and a 1.292 WHIP in six games (three starts). For the season, Morton allowed 29 free passes while striking out 47 batters in 93 innings.
Gonzalo Sanudo - 22; 4th season
Obtained from the Twins in the March 2013 Mike Kvasnicka trade, Sanudo started his season appearing in seven games (two starts) for Quad Cities with a 1.14 ERA and a 0.887 WHIP. After his mid-May promotion to Lancaster, Sanudo struggled in several starts and worked solely from the bullpen for his final 11 appearances. In looking at his splits, it is abundantly obvious that Sanudo is not a fan of The Hangar. At home he had a 7.22 ERA and a 1.545 WHIP; on the road, he had a 3.86 ERA and a 1.179 WHIP. For the season, he ended with a 4.50 ERA, 1.250 WHIP and 15 walks to 55 strikeouts in 76 innings.
Daniel Minor - 23; 3rd season
Minor, the Astros 9th round draft pick in 2012, did not get off to a good start in 2014. In his first season with Lancaster and first season being used solely in relief, Minor got hammered in his first three appearances (30.86 ERA and 4.715 WHIP), but then turned around and gave the JetHawks 12 straight scoreless appearances. He ended the season with a 9-3 record, three saves, a 4.25 ERA and a 1.302 WHIP (2.45 ERA/0.727 WHIP in August/September) in 36 appearances. He walked 17 batters and struck out 51 in 53 innings. One of his saves was in a combined no-hitter on May 13th. He also played a huge role in the JetHawks post-season success.
Jamaine Cotton - 23; 5th season
Cotton pitched for Lancaster the entire season and ended with a 4.60 ERA and a 1.511 WHIP with 12 saves. Those numbers were inflated by a bad month in August. Prior to August, Cotton had a 3.38 ERA and a 1.392 WHIP. He walked 15 batters and struck out 29 in 45 innings. Cotton was the Astros 15th round draft pick in 2010.
Tyler Brunnemann - 23; 2nd season
This 40th round 2013 draft pick had a storybook season. After playing most of his season with Quad Cities, Brunnemann received a promotion to Lancaster for his final eight appearances of the regular season. For the season, he had a 1.90 ERA, 0.892 WHIP, 15 walks and 69 strikeouts in 61.2 innings (33 appearances). He pitched brilliantly in the postseason, leading to his being named MVP of the Championship Series.
Andrew Walter - 23; 4th season
Walter received his promotion to Lancaster in mid-August. In his first 33 appearances of the season with Quad Cities, he had a 3.21 ERA and a 1.259 WHIP. In 40 total appearances, he had a 3.46 ERA and a 1.354 WHIP with 12 saves, and 20 walks to 56 strikeouts in 54.2 innings of work. Walter was another integral part of the JetHawks post-season success. He signed with the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 2011.
Patrick Christensen - 23; 2nd season
Christensen split his season fairly evenly between Quad Cities and Lancaster. Unfortunately, his results in Quad Cities (2.39 ERA and 1.253 WHIP) didn't exactly translate well to Lancaster (5.60 ERA and 1.939 WHIP). All told, the 27th round 2013 draft pick ended the season with a 4.02 ERA, 1.602 WHIP and 18 walks to 46 strikeouts in 53.2 innings (30 appearances).
Drafted in the 13th round in 2013, Westwood spent his entire 2014 season with Lancaster. He started out the season extremely well, but encountered some struggles in the middle of the season and ended with a 4.23 ERA and a 1.303 WHIP, 26 walks to 88 strikeouts in 132 innings.
Lance McCullers - 20; 3rd season
The Astros supplemental first round pick in 2012 also got off to a good start (2.51 ERA and 1.151 WHIP in April), but then encountered some turbulence to end the season with a 5.47 ERA and a 1.557 WHIP. When pitching the back half of a piggyback, McCullers fared much, much better. In relief he had a 2.16 ERA and a 1.240 WHIP, holding batters to a .191 average. He walked 56 batters and struck out 115 in 97 innings of work.
Vince Velasquez - 22; 4th season (DNP in 2011)
Velasquez is still one of the most exciting players to watch in the Astros system; he just needs to stay healthy! Velasquez missed over two months of the season with a groin injury. He ended the season with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.172 WHIP in 18 games (13 starts), including three rehab starts in the Gulf Coast League. In 64 innings, Velasquez walked 25 batters and struck out 91. He was drafted in the second round in 2010 and missed all of 2011 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Zach Morton - 24; 2nd season
Drafted in the 36th round in 2013, Morton was used exclusively as a reliever in his first 12 appearances of the season in Quad Cities, compiling a 2.86 ERA and a 1.182 WHIP. Following his promotion to Lancaster in mid May, he was used in both a starting role and relief (often long relief) and ended his regular season for the JetHawks with a 4.94 ERA and a 1.437 WHIP in 22 games (seven starts). By August, he had improved to a 2.91 ERA and a 1.292 WHIP in six games (three starts). For the season, Morton allowed 29 free passes while striking out 47 batters in 93 innings.
Gonzalo Sanudo - 22; 4th season
Obtained from the Twins in the March 2013 Mike Kvasnicka trade, Sanudo started his season appearing in seven games (two starts) for Quad Cities with a 1.14 ERA and a 0.887 WHIP. After his mid-May promotion to Lancaster, Sanudo struggled in several starts and worked solely from the bullpen for his final 11 appearances. In looking at his splits, it is abundantly obvious that Sanudo is not a fan of The Hangar. At home he had a 7.22 ERA and a 1.545 WHIP; on the road, he had a 3.86 ERA and a 1.179 WHIP. For the season, he ended with a 4.50 ERA, 1.250 WHIP and 15 walks to 55 strikeouts in 76 innings.
Daniel Minor - 23; 3rd season
Minor, the Astros 9th round draft pick in 2012, did not get off to a good start in 2014. In his first season with Lancaster and first season being used solely in relief, Minor got hammered in his first three appearances (30.86 ERA and 4.715 WHIP), but then turned around and gave the JetHawks 12 straight scoreless appearances. He ended the season with a 9-3 record, three saves, a 4.25 ERA and a 1.302 WHIP (2.45 ERA/0.727 WHIP in August/September) in 36 appearances. He walked 17 batters and struck out 51 in 53 innings. One of his saves was in a combined no-hitter on May 13th. He also played a huge role in the JetHawks post-season success.
Jamaine Cotton - 23; 5th season
Cotton pitched for Lancaster the entire season and ended with a 4.60 ERA and a 1.511 WHIP with 12 saves. Those numbers were inflated by a bad month in August. Prior to August, Cotton had a 3.38 ERA and a 1.392 WHIP. He walked 15 batters and struck out 29 in 45 innings. Cotton was the Astros 15th round draft pick in 2010.
Tyler Brunnemann - 23; 2nd season
This 40th round 2013 draft pick had a storybook season. After playing most of his season with Quad Cities, Brunnemann received a promotion to Lancaster for his final eight appearances of the regular season. For the season, he had a 1.90 ERA, 0.892 WHIP, 15 walks and 69 strikeouts in 61.2 innings (33 appearances). He pitched brilliantly in the postseason, leading to his being named MVP of the Championship Series.
Andrew Walter - 23; 4th season
Walter received his promotion to Lancaster in mid-August. In his first 33 appearances of the season with Quad Cities, he had a 3.21 ERA and a 1.259 WHIP. In 40 total appearances, he had a 3.46 ERA and a 1.354 WHIP with 12 saves, and 20 walks to 56 strikeouts in 54.2 innings of work. Walter was another integral part of the JetHawks post-season success. He signed with the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 2011.
Patrick Christensen - 23; 2nd season
Christensen split his season fairly evenly between Quad Cities and Lancaster. Unfortunately, his results in Quad Cities (2.39 ERA and 1.253 WHIP) didn't exactly translate well to Lancaster (5.60 ERA and 1.939 WHIP). All told, the 27th round 2013 draft pick ended the season with a 4.02 ERA, 1.602 WHIP and 18 walks to 46 strikeouts in 53.2 innings (30 appearances).
>>>>>>><<<<<<<
Earlier season reviews ~
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.