Astros April 2018 MiLB Standouts

With the calendar turning from April to May, the minor league standings find three of the Astros four minor league affiliates in first place in their respective divisions. (Quad Cities is lagging, but is beginning to thaw from a cold, nasty season start.) Here are a few of the players who helped the teams get off to a good start.

Blue = league leader (qualified)
Red = leads the Astros minor league affiliates

FRESNO: 17-8

Kent Emanuel - April 2017

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Starters

• LHP Kent Emanuel: 2-1 in 4 starts, 1.66 ERA, 0.831 WHIP, 3 BB:20 K in 21.2 IP
• RHP Cy Sneed: 2-0 in 5 games/3 starts, 1.83 ERA, 1.271 WHIP, 12 BB: 19 K in 19.2 IP

Relief

• RHP James Hoyt: 0-0 in 6 games, 1.29 ERA, 1.143 WHIP, 2 BB: 8 K in 7 IP
• Brendan McCurry: 0-1 with 4 saves in 10 games, 4.73 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 3 BB:17 K in 13.1 IP

Position Players (ranked by OPS)

• C Tim Federowicz: 10 G, .447/.500/.737, 2 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 3 BB:8 K
• IF Tyler White: 24 G, .315/.431/.596, 7 2B, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 17 BB: 13 K, 0 SB:1 CS
• OF Drew Ferguson: 23 G, .351/.445/.543, 6 2B, 3 3B, 17 RBI, 13 BB:18 K, 3 SB:2 CS
• 1B/3B/OF J.D. Davis: 16 G, .359/.423/.531, 5 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 6 BB:14 K
• C Garrett Stubbs: 15 G, .361/.379/.508, 5 2B, 2 3B, 11 RBI, 2 BB:7 K, 2 SB:0 CS
• 2B/OF Tony Kemp: 24 G, .330/.424/.420, 5 2B, 2 3B, 14 RBI, 16 BB:13 K, 8 SB:0 CS
• OF Kyle Tucker: 22 G, .293/.371/.457, 9 2B, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 12 BB:22 K, 2 SB:2 CS

Tyler White also leads the Astros MiLB affiliates with 22 runs scored.

CORPUS CHRISTI: 15-9

Myles Straw - April 2018

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Starters

• RHP Brock Dykxhoorn: 2-0 in 4 games/3 starts, 1.53 ERA, 1.075 WHIP, 5 BB:17 K in 17.2 IP
• RHP Josh James: 0-0 with 1 save in 5 games/3 starts, 1.80 ERA, 1.110 WHIP, 6 BB: 34 K* in 20 IP
• LHP Ryan Hartman: 1-0 in 5 games/3 starts, 1.83 ERA, 1.068 WHIP, 4 BB:22 K in 19.2 IP
• LHP Cionel Perez: 1-1 in 4 games/3 starts, 2.16 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 8 BB:16 K in 16.2 IP

*Josh James is both the Texas League and Astros affiliate leader in strikeouts.

Relief

• RHP Ralph Garza: 3-0 in 6 games, 3.52 ERA, 1.109 WHIP, 4 BB:17 K in 15.1 IP

There are other relief pitchers with lower ERAs than Garza, but the lowest WHIP of the bunch is 1.400 ... lots of walks!

Position Players (ranked by OPS)

• 1B Taylor Jones: 19 G, .354/.463/.646, 10 2B, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 13 BB:16 K
• OF Myles Straw: 23 G, .361/.461/.458, 2 2B, 3 3B, 9 RBI, 15 BB:17 K, 14 SB*:2 CS
• OF Yordan Alvarez: 21 G, .280/.368/.500, 6 2B, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 12 BB:18 K, 5 SB:2 CS
• OF Carmen Benedetti: 18 G, .273/.392/.424, 4 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 13 BB:21 K, 4 SB:2 CS
• 3B Randy Cesar: 19 G, .329/.363/.447, 6 2B, HR, 12 RBI, 4 BB:20 K

Yordan Alvarez leads the Texas League with 21 runs scored.
*Myles Straw is both the Texas League and Astros affliate leader in stolen bases.

BUIES CREEK: 16-8

Josh Rojas - July 2017

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Starters

• RHP Corbin Martin: 2-0 with a save in 4 games/3 starts, 0.00 ERA, 0.579 WHIP, 7 BB:26 K in 19 IP
• RHP Carson LaRue: 1-0 in 4 games/3 starts, 0.46 ERA, 0.763 WHIP, 4 BB:20 K in 19.2 IP
• RHP Abdiel Saldana: 3-0 in 5 games/3 starts, 1.52 ERA, 1.014 WHIP, 5 BB:13 K in 23.2 IP
• RHP Brandon Bielak: 3-2 in 5 games/3 starts, 1.61 ERA, 1.075 WHIP, 7 BB:33 K in 22.1 IP
• LHP Brett Adcock: 1-0 with a save in 4 games/2 starts, 1.65 ERA, 1.980 WHIP, 10 BB:21 K in 16.1 IP
• RHP Hector Perez: 0-0 in 4 games/3 starts, 2.76 ERA, 1.163 WHIP, 12 BB:25 K in 16.1 IP
• RHP Brandon Bailey: 0-2 in 4 games/3 starts, 3.18 ERA, 1.059 WHIP, 9 BB:29 K in 17 IP

Relief

• RHP Justin Ferrell: 1-0 with 1 save in 6 games, 1.72 ERA, 0.574 WHIP, 4 BB:22 K in 15.2 IP
• RHP Carlos Sierra: 1-1 with 2 saves in 7 games, 2.87 ERA, 0.957 WHIP, 7 BB:12 K in 15.2 IP

Position Players (ranked by OPS)

• UTIL Josh Rojas: 24 G, .311/.410/.511, 11 2B*, 2 3B, HR, 10 RBI, 15 BB:13 K, 12 SB:0 CS
• 3B Abraham Toro: 24 G, .259/.386/.469, 8 2B, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 13 BB:17 K, 3 SB:0 CS
• 1B Troy Sieber: 13 G, .267/.365/.467, 6 2B, HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB:10 K
• SS Anibal Sierra: 22 G, .284/.385/.448, 5 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 9 BB:21 K, 2 SB:4 CS
• OF Chas McCormick: 22 G, .291/.367/.405, 7 2B, HR, 12 RBI, 8 BB:17 K, 4 SB:0 CS
• OF Ronnie Dawson: 23 G, .253/.392/.380, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 18 BB:27 K, 9 SB:5 CS

OF/2B Osvaldo Duarte leads the Astros system and the Carolina League with four triples.
*Josh Rojas is both the Carolina League and Astros affiliate leader in doubles.

QUAD CITIES: 10-12

Jonathan Arauz - August 2016

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Starters

• RHP Luis Garcia: 0-1 in 4 games/2 starts, 0.63 ERA, 0.907 WHIP, 5 BB:20 K in 14.1 IP
• RHP Cristian Javier: 1-0 with 1 save in 4 games/3 starts, 1.69 ERA, 1.375 WHIP, 12 BB:25 K in 16 IP
• LHP Parker Mushinski: 0-0 in 4 games/2 starts, 1.76 ERA, 1.239 WHIP, 7 BB:25 K in 15.1 IP

Relief

• RHP Tanner Duncan: 0-0 with 2 saves in 4 games, 1.23 ERA, 0.955 WHIP, 4 BB:12 K in 7.1 IP
• LHP Adam Bleday: 2-1 in 5 games, 2.70 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 6 BB:15 K in 10 IP

Position Players (ranked by OPS)

• OF J.J. Matijevic: 10 G, .306/.419/.611, 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 7 BB:9 K, 3 SB:0 CS
• OF Bryan de la Cruz: 19 G, .329/.365/.443, 6 2B, HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB:16 K, 1 SB:2 CS
• 1B Jake Adams: 15 G, .264/.361/.415, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 8 BB:20 K
• SS Jonathan Arauz: 21 G, .243/.364/.405, 3 2B, 3 3B, HR, 10 RBI, 14 BB:11 K, 4 SB:3 CS