Astros Farm Report: 11-13

Checking in on the Astros playing fall and winter ball plus an update on a former Astro, but first things first ...

WISHING A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO

Here are this week's birthdays. All November birthdays can be found here.

11-12: RHP Charlie Morton (34)
11-13: RHP Chris Devenski (27)
11-14: OF J.J. Matijevic (22)
11-14: LHP Nathan Thompson (24)
11-15: RHP Luis de Paula (21)
11-16: IF Alfredo Angarita (21)
11:16: C Juan Centeno (28)
11-17: OF Jon Kemmer (27)
11-18: C Anthony Hermelyn (24)
11-18: RHP Angel Ortega (18)
11-18: OF Ronaldo Urdaneta (19)

TRANSACTIONS/ROSTER MOVES

Here are the latest transactions. I have also started my ongoing offseason transaction post here and will keep that updated and linked on the front page of the blog.

11-6: 2B Colin Walsh (Fresno) elected free agency
11-6: C Eduardo de Oleo (Fresno) elected free agency
11-6: RHP Kevin Comer (Fresno) elected free agency
11-6: SS Reid Brignac (Fresno) elected free agency
11-6: OF Rico Noel (Fresno) elected free agency
11-6: RHP David Martinez (Fresno) elected free agency
11-6: RHP Jumbo Diaz (Fresno) elected free agency
11-6: RHP Jandel Gustave (Houston) activated from the 60-day DL
11-6: RHP Brady Rodgers (Houston) activated from the 60-day DL
11-6: RHP David Paulino (Houston) activated from the 60-day DL
11-2: RHP Tyler Clippard (Houston) elected free agency
11-2: LHP Francisco Liriano (Houston) elected free agency
11-2: DH Carlos Beltran (Houston) elected free agency
11-2: RHP Luke Gregerson (Houston) elected free agency
11-2: OF Cameron Maybin (Houston) elected free agency

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE (AFL)

Framber Valdez - August 2017

Photo by Jayne Hansen

The Mesa Solar Sox currently have the best record in the AFL at 15-10-1; they are in first place in the AFL East division, two and a half games in front of the Salt River Rafters with four games remaining in the season. If the standings hold, Mesa and Peoria would face off in the Championship game on Saturday.

Kyle Tucker is the only active Astros position player remaining active and, since I last wrote, he continued to scuffle until he (and the Solar Sox) broke out on Saturday, going 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored as Mesa stomped Salt River 16-2.

Framber Valdez had a very nice start on Thursday, contributing four shutout innings for Mesa. He allowed four hits and one walk while striking out two. Dean Deetz (1.0IP 2SO) and Riley Ferrell (2.0IP 1H 2BB 1SO) contributed one and two scoreless outings, respectively, since my last post.

RHP Dean Deetz - 7G 6.00 ERA/1.333 WHIP 9.0IP 3BB:19SO
RHP Riley Ferrell - 8G 4.15ERA/1.615 WHIP 8.2IP 9BB:6SO
RHP Brendan McCurry - 5G 4.05 ERA/1.350 WHIP 6.2IP 3BB:5SO (last played 10/30)
LHP Framber Valdez - 5G/5ST 3.45 ERA/1.723 WHIP 15.2IP 6BB:9SO
1B Yordan Alvarez - 4G .313/.353/.438 3B 1BB:6SO (last played 10/14)
3B/2B Nick Tanielu - 2G .000/.000/.000 (last played 10/16)
OF Kyle Tucker - 19G .222/.325/.319 5-2B 3B 9RBI 9BB:18SO 2SB:0CS

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE (LVBP)

Alfredo Angarita, a 20-year old Venezuelan signed by the Astros in November 2015, made it as far as the Gulf Coast League in 2017. Based on his ability to hit in the highly competitive LVBP, look for him to start rising a bit more rapidly in 2018! Over his last five appearances he is 6-for-18 with two RBI, four walks, four runs scored and a stolen base. He has hit safely in 17 of his 20 games.

Aguilas de Zulia (15-12 3rd place)
3B Arturo Michelena - Has not appeared yet
SS Kristian Trompiz - 10G .227/.320/.227 3BB:4SO (last played 10/28)
RHP Elieser Hernandez - 5G/5ST 2.11 ERA/0.844 WHIP 21.1IP 6BB:22SO (last played 11/6)

Bravos de Margarita  (10-18 8th place)
2B Alfredo Angarita - 20G .329/.420/.371 2B 3B 7RBI 11BB:17SO 4SB:3CS

Leones del Caracas (17-12 2nd place)
RHP Diosward Gonzalez - 2G 6.75 ERA/2.251 WHIP 1.1IP 2BB:0SO (last played 10/19)
RHP Yoanys Quiala - 4G/2ST 7.45 ERA/1.448 WHIP 9.2IP 5BB:8SO (last played 10/31)
C Gabriel Bracamonte - 3G .125/.125/.125 0BB:2O (last played 10/28)

MEXICAN WINTER LEAGUE (LMP)

Jacob Dorris - April 2017

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Jacob Dorris showed up in the LMP on Friday and was tagged with a run on an inherited runner after issuing a walk and hitting a batter, but he settled down in his second appearance Sunday, stranding a runner and contributing 1.1 scoreless innings. Akeem Bostick had an abbreviated outing on Wednesday, exiting the game after only one inning for what the game recap characterized as an injured foot.

Caneros de la Mochis (13-16 Tied for 6th)
RHP Akeem Bostick - 6G/6ST 2.78 ERA/1.103 WHIP 22.2IP 7BB:25SO

Naranjeros de Hermosillo (16-13 Tied for 2nd)
RHP Jacob Dorris - 2G 5.40 ERA/1.800 WHIP 1.2IP 1BB:1SO

Charros de Jalisco (15-14 Tied for 4th)
OF Rico Noel (Free Agent) - 2G .200/.200/.200 0BB:3SO (last played 10/12)

Yacquis de Obregon (11-18 8th place)
IF Reid Brignac (Free Agent) - 11G .206/.364/.265 2-2B RBI 7BB:11SO

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE (LIDOM)

No active Astros have played since my last post.

Gigantes del Cibao (14-9 Tied for 1st)
C Eduardo de Oleo (Free Agent) - has not played yet

Toros del Este (9-14 Tied for 5th)
RHP Angel Heredia - has not pitched yet
RHP Jumbo Diaz (Free Agent) - 7G 4SV 2.70 ERA/1.200 WHIP 6.2IP 2BB:4SO (last played 11/6)

PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE (LBPRC)

I haven't seen that the LBPRC winter season has been officially canceled yet, but with the devastation to that island from Hurricane Maria, I find it likely.

AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE (ABL)

The first game of the season will take place on 11/16. I have not seen official rosters yet, but Utility Player Rodrigo Ayarza who played for Quad Cities and Buies Creek in 2017 will appear on the Adelaide Bite roster. Ayarza, a 22-year old Panamanian switch-hitter, already made his mark by hitting a lead-off double for the Bite in their first exhibition game last week.

FORMER ASTRO UPDATE

Michael Dimock - June 2014

Photo by Jayne Hansen

As I have perused the winter league boxscores of late, I couldn't help but notice that Friend of the Blog Michael Dimock has been doing some good work in the Dominican Winter League. Since being traded by the Astros to San Diego in 2014, he has spent time with the Padres and Angels organizations, but currently finds himself to be a man without an MLB affiliation. It appears that he would like to change that and has been very impressive out of the bullpen for Toros del Este. In eight appearances, he is 1-0 with one save, a 0.00 ERA and a 0.750 WHIP. In 5.2 innings, he has allowed four hits and no walks, striking out six.