Astros Farm Report: 6-16

Let's check in on the latest Astros minor league transactions, team standings and a little bit of news ...

TRANSACTIONS/ROSTER MOVES

6-14: RHP Juan Minaya (Fresno) designated for assignment
6-14: IF Danny Worth's contract selected by Houston from Fresno
6-13: RHP Gonzalo Sanudo activated from the Corpus Christi 7-day DL
6-13: LHP Brian Holmes placed on the Corpus Christi 7-day DL
6-13: RHP Juan Minaya activated from the Fresno 7-day DL
6-13: C Gabriel Bracamonte assigned from Lancaster to Tri-City
6-11: RHP Luidin Toribio (GCL) released

Those are in addition to all of the draft picks and free agents who are in the process of being signed. Dustin has the twitter and/or instagram info for those players here. And Astros County is keeping track of who has signed here.

STANDINGS

It's been 11 days since we last checked in on the standings. Let's see how things have gone for the farm crews. Fresno is still in third place after going 5-5 in their last 10 games, but they are currently on a 4-game win streak and have climbed a couple games closer to the division-leading Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners) who have gone 3-7 during that same span. However, the second place Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) have gone 7-3 over their last 10 and are lurking only one game behind the Rainiers.

The Hooks, on the other hand, have been hot, hot, hot, going 9-1 over their last 10 and increasing their lead over Frisco (Rangers) from a half game to 5.5 games. They need only one win over their next six games to clinch the first half division title.

Lancaster was on a great streak, going 12-2 before hitting a buzzsaw called the Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks). The North Division leading Visalia team swept the 'Hawks in a four-game series. Lancaster bounced back to win the next series against Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers), but their 5-5 record over their last 10 games resulted in their elimination in the first half race. High Desert (Rangers) currently leads the South Division.

Quad Cities has also been eliminated in the first half race, but they have gone 6-4 in their last 10 and 6-3 since this happened.

The DSL teams started play last Saturday and have been rolling along nicely. The Orange team was undefeated in their first 8 games before losing their last two and the Blue team is currently on a five game win streak. It is a testament to Director of International Oz Ocampo's hard work in shoring up the Astros international impact over the last few years.

AAA Fresno 3rd 29-35 .453 6.5GB W4

AA Corpus Christi 1st 42-22 .656 0.0GB W5

A+ Lancaster 3rd 34-31 .523 7.5GB W2

A- Quad Cities 8th 29-36 .446 8.0GB W1

FRk DSL Blue 1st 9-1 .900 0.0GB W5

FRk DSL Orange 1st 8-2 .800 0.0GB L2

Short season A Tri-City will start playing tomorrow and the rookie league teams start up next week.

NEWS AND LINKS

With Tri-City starting play tomorrow, one of the most compelling stories to follow will be that of LHP Ben Smith who will finally be making his professional debut two years after he was drafted by the Astros in the 17th round in 2014.

With minor league All-Star games coming up, the Hooks are boasting a division-leading 8 honorees while the JetHawks will have two players representing the team and the River Bandits have one representative.

One of those JetHawks representatives is C Garrett Stubbs who I interviewed recently. Another recent interview was with Fresno RHP Brady Rodgers who bested Tim Lincecum in a recent matchup.