Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Former Astros Playing Independent/Foreign Baseball (2017 Edition)

Several more former Astros have shown up playing independent league and foreign league baseball. I'm updating my April post and adding a few select stats (as of 6/26-ish). If you know of a former Astro who didn't make this list, leave a comment and I'll make updates.

Conrad Gregor - April 2016
Photo by Jayne Hansen

JAPAN CENTRAL LEAGUE

Chunichi Dragons
LHP Raul Valdes (Astros 2014)

JAPAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
1B/DH Japhet Amador (2013-2014 Astros farm system)
IF Kaz Matsui (2008-2010 Astros)

Fukuoka Softbank Hawks
RHP Dennis Sarfate (2007 Astros)
It is Sarfate's 7th season playing in Japan; he has a 1.01 ERA and 0.788 WHIP in 27 bullpen appearances.

Chiba Lotte Marines
3B Matt Duffy (2011 20th round pick; 2011-2016 Astros system)
OF Jimmy Paredes (2010-2013 Astros system)

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
3B Brandon Laird (2012-2013 Astros system)

KOREAN BASEBALL ORGANIZATION

LG Twins
RHP Henry Sosa (2011-2012 Astros system)
Sosa is in his 6th season with the KBO.

SK Wyverns
IF Danny Worth (2016 Astros system)

Nexen Heroes
LHP Andy Van Hekken (2008-2011 Astros farm system)
Van Hekken has spent the last 6 years playing in Korea and Japan.

MEXICAN LEAGUE

Acereros del Norte
OF Willy Taveras (2004-2006 Astros system) - .304/.378/.483 in 69 games

Bravos de Leon
RHP Matt Nevarez (2009-2011 Astros system)

Leones de Yucatan
OF Leo Heras (2013-2016 Astros farm system) - .328/.404/.484 in 66 games

Pericos de Puebla
LHP Travis Blackley (2013 Astros system)
IF Nate Freiman (2012 Rule 5 draft pick; didn't stick with team)

Rieleros de Aguascalientes
RHP Jose Valverde (2008-2009 Astros) - 2.06 ERA/1.195 WHIP in 35 appearances

Rojos delAguila de Veracruz
Fernando Nieve (2001-2008, 2011 Astros system) - 2.45 ERA/1.057 WHIP in 28 appearances
Shockingly, Nieve is only 34 years old.

Saraperos de Saltillo
RHP J.C. Gutierrez (2007 Astros)
RHP Felipe Paulino (2003-2010 Astros system)
Had been playing for the Sugar Land Skeeters until his contract was purchased by Saltillo.

Sultanes de Monterrey
RHP Oscar Villarreal (2008 Astros)
C Luis Flores (2015 Astros farm system)
RHP Edgar Gonzalez (2012-2013 Astros)

Toros de Tijuana/Bravos de Leon
RHP Gera Sanchez (2012-2013 Astros farm system)

Vaqueros Union Laguna
IF Anderson Hernandez (2010-2011 Astros system) - .313/.359/.464 in 72 games
OF Brad Snyder (2012 Astros farm system)
IF Diory Hernandez (2012 Astros farm system)

CZECH REPUBLIC

Draci Brno
OF Terrell Joyce (2012-2014 Astros farm system) - .337/.404/.531 in 27 games AND a 3.27 ERA/1.545 WHIP in 6 bullpen appearances

ITALY

Fortitudo Unipol Bologna
LHP Rudy Owens (2012-2014 Astros system) - 5-1 in 8 starts, 1.15 ERA and 0.974 WHIP

Tommasin Padova
IF Carlos Perdomo (2013-2016 Astros system)
IF Luca Martone (2010-12 Astros system)

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

Bridgeport Bluefish
RHP David Carpenter (2011-2012 Astros) - 1.69 ERA/0.938 WHIP in 28 appearances
RHP Zac Grotz (2015 28th round pick, 2015 Astros farm system)

Long Island Ducks
LHP Eury de la Rosa (3 appearances with Fresno in 2016)
IF Nate Freiman (2012 Rule 5 draft pick; didn't stick with team); contract purchased 4/29 and sent to Mexican League
IF Marc Krauss (Part of 2012 Chris Johnson trade, 2012-2014 Astros system)

Lancaster Barnstormers
LHP Tommy Shirley (2010 9th round pick; 2010-2016 Astros farm system)

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
OF L.J. Hoes (2013-2015 Astros) - signed 6/23

Sugar Land Skeeters
RHP Travis Ballew (2012-2015 Astros system) - signed 5/13; released 5/23
RHP Mitch Talbot (2003-2006 Astros system)

York Revolution
OF Michael Burgess (2013 Astros farm system)
RHP Jay Gause (2014 10th round pick; 2014 Astros farm system)

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

Cleburne Railroaders
RHP Kyle Westwood (2013 13th round pick; 2013-2015 Astros farm system) - released 5-25

Gary Southshore Railcats
RHP Jorge de Leon (2006-2014 Astros system) - placed on the DL 5-16; released 6-22

Kansas City T-Bones
1B Chase McDonald (2013 12th round pick; 2013-2016 Astros farm system) - traded to Sussex in the Can-Am League 6-22
C Christian Correa (2015-2017 Astros system) - signed 5-16; contract purchased by the Rockies 6-4 (currently playing for the Boise Hawks)

Lincoln Saltdogs
LHP Zac Person (2015 9th round pick; 2015-2016 Astros farm system) - released 6-9

St. Paul Saints
RHP Mark Hamburger (2013 Astros farm system) - 2.94 ERA/1.212 WHIP in 8 starts

Sioux City Explorers
LHP Bryan Radziewski (2014 9th round; 2014-2016 Astros farm system) - inactive
RHP Kevin McCanna (2015 13th round; 2015-2016 Astros farm system)
RHP Alex White (2014-2015 Astros system)

Sioux Falls Canaries
LHP Joe Bircher (2012 10th round pick, 2012-2013 Astros farm system)

Texas Airhogs
RHP Jared Mortensen (Rule 5 draft pick in December 2016; appeared in 3 games for Fresno in April 2017) - signed 6-9, released 6-11 and re-signed 6-21
LHP Michael Freeman (2015 7th round; 2015-2017 Astros farm system) - signed 5-19

Winnipeg Goldeyes
OF Reggie Abercrombie (2008 Astros)
LHP Mitch Lambson (2011 19th round pick; 2011-2015 Astros farm system)
RHP Daniel Minor (2012 9th round pick; 2012-2105 Astros farm system)

Here's an interview that the Goldeyes did with Daniel Minor upon his signing.


CAN-AM LEAGUE

Les Capitales de Quebec
RHP Keegan Yuhl (2014 35th round; 2014-2017 Astros farm system) - signed 5-31; released 6-19

New Jersey Jackals
1B Conrad Gregor (2013 4th round pick; 2013-2016 Astros farm system) - .328/.451/.552 in 36 games

Ottawa Champions
RHP Austin Chrismon (2013 26th round pick, 2013-2015 Astros farm system)
IF Albert Cartwright (2007 36th round pick, 2007-2010 Astros farm system) - inactive

Rockland Boulders
C Marcus Nidiffer (2010 Astros farm system) - .284/.384/.490 in 29 games

Sussex County Miners
OF Jay Austin (2008 2nd round pick, 2008-2012 Astros farm system) - .336/.408/.458 in 33 games
1B Chase McDonald (2013 12th round pick; 2013-2016 Astros farm system) - traded from the Kansas City T-Bones in the American Association 6-22
RHP Eric Peterson (2014 37th round; 2014-2017 Astros farm system) - signed 5/28; released 5/31

Trois-Rivieres Aigles
RHP Chris Murphy (2015 24th round pick; 2015-2016 Astros farm system) - placed on DL 6-20

FRONTIER LEAGUE

Joliet Slammers
OF Edwin Gomez (2012-2013 Astros farm system) - .298/.380/.470 in 38 games
LHP Luis Cruz (2008 9th round; 2008-2015 Astros farm system) - signed June 9th
In three starts for Joliet, Cruz is 2-1 with a 1.13 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP.

Schaumberg Boomers
RHP Kyle Westwood (2013 13th round pick; 2013-2015 Astros farm system) - signed 6/3

Traverse City Beach Bums
3B  Bobby Wernes (2015 30th round; 2015-2016 Astros farm system) - Wernes was signed by Traverse City but never played for them as he was subsequently picked up by the Rockies organization. He is currently playing for the Asheville Tourists in the South Atlantic League.

Washington Wild Things
OF Justin Garcia (2015 17th round pick, 2015-2016 Astros farm system) - released 5/7
OF Hector Roa (2012-2016 Astros farm system)

PECOS LEAGUE

White Sands Pupfish
2B Cristopher Luciano (2014-2016 Astros farm system)

PACIFIC ASSOCIATION

Vallejo Admirals
RHP Sammy Gervacio (2005-2011 Astros system)

San Rafael Pacifics
C Ricky Gingras (2012 18th round; 2012-2014 Astros farm system)

2 comments:

  1. Deleon has resigned with the railcats. He was released because they went to Canada and needed that roster space. He isn't allowed to enter Canada

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the info, Marcus. I was wondering because he was pitching well, but they also had him on the DL so I wasn't sure if he was injured.

      Delete

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