Astros Farm Report: 6-24

If you haven't been paying attention, Dustin has been killing it with his Astros MiLB game recaps and short season team intros. Ah, to be young again and to have that kind of energy. Anywho, let's check in on the latest happenings in the Astros system, plus an update on a former Astro third rounder.

TRANSACTIONS/ROSTER MOVES

6-23: OF Eury Perez traded from Fresno to Tampa Bay for cash
6-23: RHP Chad Donato assigned to the GCL (2016 11th round pick out of West Virginia University)
6-23: OF Kyle Tucker activated from the Quad Cities 7-day DL
6-23: RHP Kevin McCanna assigned from Quad Cities to Lancaster
6-22: RHP Juan Minaya (Fresno) claimed off waivers by the White Sox
6-22: 2B Ryne Birk assigned to Tri-City (2016 13th round pick out of Texas A&M)
6-22: RHP Willy Collado assigned to the DSL Astros Orange team
6-21: IF Chan Jong Moon assigned from Corpus Christi to Fresno
6-21: LHP Albert Minnis to Tri-City for a rehab assignment
6-21: RHP Kevin Hill assigned to Tri-City (2016 25th round pick out of the University of South Alabama)
6-20: RHP Brendan McCurry assigned from Corpus Christi to Fresno
6-20: RHP Ryan Thompson assigned from Lancaster to Corpus Christi
6-14: RHP Starlyn Taveras released

In addition, the Astros have signed several more players over the last few days from the 2016 draft, many of whom have been assigned to the Greeneville Astros team which Dustin covered in depth right here. And first round pick 1st round pick RHP Forrest Whitley (out of Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio) signed on Wednesday, but he won't be assigned to a team right away. The GCL Astros start play on Saturday and some of the recent draftees will be assigned to that team. Look for another team intro from Dustin on that team's makeup.

STANDINGS

It's been while 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, but they have gone 6-2 in the last 8 and are climbing closer to .500. Both the division-leading Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners) and second place Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) have gone 5-5 over that period. The Grizzlies trail the second place team by two games.

Similarly, the Hooks have gone 7-2 in their last nine. They handily won the first half championship, assuring that they will appear in the playoffs at the end of the season. They are currently tied for first place in the second half with Midland (Oakland) with both teams 2-1 to start the second half.

Lancaster has scuffled a bit since we last looked in on them (1-4), but came back from their All-Star break to win their first game of the second half. Although they may be seven and a half games back for the entire season, they are actually tied for first in the second half with Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers). A clean slate is a good thing!

Quad Cities first half was completely forgettable, so let's do that. They also get the opportunity for a do-over in the second half, but unlike Lancaster, they lost their first game of the second half. Hopefully, they will start playing stronger in the second half and get an opportunity for a playoff berth by virtue of their second half record.

The short season A Tri-City team is on a 3-game losing streak, but it is EARLY in the season so they will have a lot of opportunities to right that ship. Greeneville lost their season opener on Thursday.

The DSL Blue team is practically unbeatable. They are currently on an 11 game win streak. But the Orange team is 3-4 over their last seven games and have slipped into second place. But considering that the Orange team jockeyed for dead last most of the 2015 season, a second place ranking is very encouraging.

AAA Fresno 3rd 35-37 .486 5.5GB W4

AA Corpus Christi 1st 49-24 .671 0.0GB W1

A+ Lancaster 3rd 35-35 .500 7.5GB W1

A- Quad Cities 8th 31-39 .443 8.5GB L1

SSA Tri-City 4th 2-5 .286 5.0GB L3

Rk+ Greeneville T4th 0-1 .000 1.0GB L1

FRk DSL Blue 1st 15-1 .938 0.0GB W11

FRk DSL Orange 2nd 11-6 .647 2.0GB L2

The Gulf Coast League Astros team will start play tomorrow.

RANDOM FORMER ASTRO UPDATE

I went to find out how 2009 Astros 3rd round pick 1B Telvin Nash was doing playing for the York Revolution in the Atlantic (independent) League and he wasn't on the roster despite having hit .275/.385/.565 with 11 doubles and 15 home runs for York in 54 games this season. That's because his contract was purchased by the White Sox on Tuesday so he's back in affiliated ball! Here's the story. Nash will start with the Sox playing for their High A affiliate, the Winston-Salem Dash. We at WTHB wish Nash the best of luck as he continues his quest.

Telvin Nash - May 2015

Photo by Jayne Hansen