Corpus Christi Hooks: Two Month Report Card

Two months into the minor league seasons, let's see how the Astros full season affiliates are shaping up. Today, we'll look at the AA Corpus Christi Hooks ...

Rogelio Armenteros - April 2017

Photo by Jayne Hansen

STANDINGS

29-29 (14-9 in April; 12-17 in May; 3-3 in June; 14-10 since 10-game losing streak in early May)

Tied for Second Place (out of four teams in the division; elimination number for winning first half at 9)

4 Games Behind

15-19 within the Division

16-14 at Home

13-15 on the Road

4-6 in Last 10 Games

TEAM BATTING

.242 AVG: 8th out of 8 teams

.330 OBP: 4th

.382 SLG: 6th

.712 OPS: T-5th

83 Doubles: 8th

7 Triples: 8th

57 Home Runs: 2nd

229 Walks: 1st

473 Strikeouts: 3rd

56 Stolen Bases: 1st

TEAM PITCHING

3.73 ERA: 3rd out of 8 teams

1.378 WHIP: 6th

41 Home Runs Allowed: 6th

175 Walks: T-5th

472 Strikeouts: 3rd

INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS

OF Drew Ferguson

.313 AVG: 7th in the Texas League

.412 OBP: 4th

.467 SLG: 10th

.879 OPS: T-5th

35 Runs: T-7th

17 Doubles: T-3rd

6 Home Runs: T-16th
29 Walks: T-4th

11 Stolen Bases: 4th (5 Caught Stealing)

3B J.D. Davis
.279 AVG: 18th
.345 OBP: 20th
.534 SLG: 2nd
.879 OPS: T-5th

32 Runs: 10th

14 Home Runs: 1st
30 RBI: 10th

54 Strikeouts: T-6th

1B Jon Singleton
.430 OBP: 2nd
.488 SLG: 7th
.918 OPS: 3rd
29 Runs: T-16th

11 Doubles: T-20th
10 Home Runs: 4th
37 RBI: T-7th
56 Walks: 1st
53 Strikeouts: T-9th

OF Ramon Laureano

2 Triples: T-11th
29 RBI: 11th
48 Strikeouts: T-19th
13 Stolen Bases: 3rd (4 Caught Stealing)

IF Jack Mayfield
5 Stolen Bases: T-18th (1 Caught Stealing)

RHP Rogelio Armenteros
1.60 ERA: 2nd
1.046 WHIP: 4th

RHP Kyle Smith
2.65 ERA: 5th
1.146 WHIP: 8th

LHP Kent Emanuel
4.47 ERA: 15th
1.511 WHIP: 20th

RHP Jacob Dorris
3 saves: T-11th

RHP Andrew Thome
3 saves: T-11th

It's highly doubtful that Corpus Christi can pull off a miracle and win the first half of the season with their magic number down to 9 games with over two weeks left in the first half of the season. But with that said, the team has shown a great deal of improvement in their pitching performances of late. Armenteros, RHP Dean Deetz (since promoted to Fresno) and RHP Josh James (whose 2.16 ERA and 1.104 WHIP would rank him among the league leaders with a few more innings under his belt) anchored the rotation in the early going while others struggled. But recent improvements from others, particularly RHP Kyle Smith who has had a 0.79 ERA and 0.824 WHIP in his last seven appearances, should help to keep the team in more games. And I fully expect RHP Akeem Bostick to continue to help the Hooks more and more as the season progresses.

The offense has been spotty as well in the first couple of months with the obvious exceptions of Ferguson and Davis, but Laureano's bat is showing signs of turning around, SS Antonio Nunez has outperformed expectations, and the infusion of outfielders Kyle Tucker and Jason Martin should prove to provide a boost to all aspects of the Hooks offensive game.

In short, look for the Hooks to contend in the second half with more stable pitching and the infusion of new talent from Buies Creek.