Astros Farm Report: 6/4

Catching you up on the latest Astros MiLB news ...

Happy (First) Draft Day!! Astros County is a great source for info on the players drafted by the Astros, but Dustin and I will try to keep you informed on the important stuff like twitter and/or instagram handles.

WISHING A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO

Hector Pérez - May 2018

Photo by Jayne Hansen

6/4: LHP Kent Emanuel (26)
6/4: 1B/C/OF José Álvarez (18)
6/5: OF Carlos Machado (20)
6/6: LHP Cristofer Mezquita (18)
6/6: RHP Hector Pérez (22)
6/9: 1B Yuli Gurriel (34)
6/10: RHP José Bravo (21)

ROSTER MOVES/TRANSACTIONS

For players assigned to the Dominican Summer League which started play on Saturday, see Dustin's great post with detailed info on each player.

6/3: 2B/SS Cody Bohanek assigned to Quad Cities from Fresno
6/3: OF Derek Fisher optioned to Fresno (after being activated from the MLB DL)
6/3: OF Josh Reddick sent to Corpus Christi for a rehab assignment
6/3: SS Antonio Nunez (Fresno) activated from the DL
6/1: LHP Carlos Hiraldo assigned to Corpus Christi from extended spring training
6/1: RHP Yoanys Quiala suspended for an undisclosed number of days
6/1: LHP Kit Scheetz assigned to Corpus Christi from Buies Creek
6/1: LHP Adam Bleday assigned to Buies Creek from Quad Cities
6/1: C Gerry Castillo assigned to the GCL from the DSL
6/1: SS Yorbin Ceuta assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: 3B Sean Mendoza assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: RHP Fredy Medina assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: RHP Manny Ramirez assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: 1B Rhandall Sanchez assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: RHP Angel Macuare assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: OF Wilyer Abreu assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: 2B Jeury Castillo assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: 2B Ronaldo Urdaneta assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: SS Freudis Nova assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: SS Deury Carrasco assigned to the GCL from the DSL
6/1: 3B Yeuris Ramirez assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: C Brandon Benavente assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: RHP Luis de Paula assigned to the GCL from the DSL

6/1: C Nerio Rodriguez assigned to the GCL from the DSL
6/1: LHP Jervic Chavez assigned to the GCL from the DSL
6/1: RHP Jose Alberto Rivera assigned to the GCL from the DSL
6/1: RHP Elian Rodriguez assigned to the GCL from the DSL
5/31: RHP Ralph Garza assigned to Fresno from Corpus Christi
5/31: RHP Oscar Severino (DSL) released (signed out of the Dominican Republic in July 2016)
5/30: RHP Angel Ortega (DSL) released (signed out of Venezuela in July 2016 for $180,000)
5/30: RHP Asael Uribe (DSL) released (signed out of the Dominican Republic in March 2016)
5/30: OF Kendy Moya (DSL) released (signed out of the Dominican Republic in March 2016)
5/30: LHP Denilson Lugo (DSL) released (signed out of Venezuela in July 2016)
5/29: C Tim Federowicz (Fresno) called up to Houston and placed on the 40-man roster
5/29: RHP Jorge Alcala assigned to Corpus Christi from Buies Creek
5/29: RHP Tyler Ivey assigned to Buies Creek from Quad Cities
5/29: 3B Adrian Tovalin (Quad Cities) activated from the DL (on since 5/12)
5/28: OF Derek Fisher sent to Fresno for a rehab assignment

Missed from last week:

5/24: RHP Lupe Chavez reinstated from the Voluntary Retired List
5/22: SS Hector Leon (DSL) traded to the Orioles for international bonus pool money (signed out of Venezuela in August 2017)

ASTROS MILB DISABLED LIST

6/3: RHP Andrew Thome (Fresno) placed on the 7-day DL (retroactive to 6/2)
6/1: LHP Yeremi Ceballos (DSL) placed on the 60-day DL
6/1: RHP Carlos Quintero (DSL) placed on the 60-day DL
6/1: RHP Dariel Aquino (Quad Cities) placed on the 7-day DL
5/29: RHP Matt Ramsey (Fresno) placed on the 7-day DL
5/27: OF Carmen Benedetti (Corpus Christi) placed on the 7-day DL
5/26: RHP David Paulino (Fresno) placed on the 7-day DL (retroactive to the 25th)
5/16: LF Yordan Alvarez (Corpus Christi) placed on the 7-day DL
5/12: RHP Akeem Bostick (Corpus Christi) placed on the 7-day DL
5/8: RHP Kevin Hill (Corpus Christi) placed on the 7-day DL
5/4: RHP Francis Martes (Fresno) placed on the 7-day DL
5/3+/-: RHP Gerardo Bojorquez had TJ surgery per Instagram post
5/2+/-: OF Patrick Mathis out for approx. 6 weeks per Instagram post
4/26: RHP J.B. Bukauskas (Quad Cities) placed on the 7-day DL
4/5: RHP Ryan Thompson assigned to Fresno (starting the season on the 7-day DL); according to Instagram Ryan has had surgery, but I don't know whether or not it was TJ
4/5: RHP Edgardo Sandoval (Quad Cities) placed on the 7-day DL
4/5: RHP Matt Ruppenthal assigned to Quad Cities (starting the season on the 7-day DL)
4/5: RHP Ángel Heredia (Corpus Christi) placed on the 7-day DL
4/5: RHP Nick Hernandez (Corpus Christi) placed on the 7-day DL (Tommy John)
4/5: RHP Jose Luis Hernández (Buies Creek) placed on the 7-day DL

I will be keeping track of all the releases, retirements, trades and signings for the 2018 season here.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Bennett got to watch his daddy pitch for the first time! (Not real sure if he saw any of it 😂) #BringYourKidToWorkDay pic.twitter.com/pLDegN5j82

— Brady Rodgers (@Rodg_20) May 29, 2018

ASTROS MILB STANDINGS
Up and down arrows represent increase/decrease in win percentage over the prior week.

FRESNO (Pacific Coast League)

🠉1st 34-23 .596 -.-GB W2

CORPUS CHRISTI (Texas League)

🠉2nd 33-23 .589 2.0GB L1

BUIES CREEK (Carolina League)

🠉1st 32-24 .571 -.-GB W1

QUAD CITIES (Midwest League)

🠉T1st 32-25 .561 -.-GB W2

DSL ASTROS (Dominican Summer League Northwest)
🠋T5th 0-1 .000 1.0GB L1

TRI-CITY (New York-Penn League)
Season starts 6/15/18

GCL ASTROS (Gulf Coast League)
Season starts 6/18/18

ASTROS MILB STANDOUTS FOR THE WEEK

Stats are for the week of 5/28 through 6/3. (Check out the May Standouts here.)

FRESNO

OF Derek Fisher: 6 games, .545/.600/.909 (hit for the cycle 6/1)
OF Jon Kemmer: 4 games, .450/.450/1.000
IF Jack Mayfield: 5 games, .429/.409/.762
OF Kyle Tucker: 6 games, .292/.379/.750 (13 RBI!)
IF Tyler White: 6 games, .320/.379/.560

Garrett Stubbs and Eduardo de Oleo hit a combined .440/.481/.600 out of the catcher's position.

RHP Josh James: 1 start, win, 1.29 ERA/1.000 WHIP, 7 IP (1 BB:9 K)
RHP Trent Thornton: 1 start, win, 1.50 ERA/0.667 WHIP, 6 IP
RHP Rogelio Armenteros: 1 start, win, 1.50 ERA/0.833 WHIP, 6 IP
RHP Mike Hauschild: 1 start, win, 1.50 ERA/1.167 WHIP, 6.0 IP (0 BB:8 K)
RHP Cy Sneed: 1 start, 2.57 ERA/1.286 WHIP, 7 IP
RHP James Hoyt: 4 perfect bullpen appearances, 2 saves, 3.1 IP
LHP Buddy Boshers: 2 bullpen appearances; 0.00 ERA/0.375 WHIP, 2.2 IP

CORPUS CHRISTI

OF Stephen Wrenn: 6 games, .417/.481/.875
1B Taylor Jones: 6 games, .381/.500/.667
SS Alex De Goti: 6 games, .375/.444/.667
C Jamie Ritchie: 3 games, .455/.538/.455
3B Randy Cesar: 6 games, .296/.345/.630 (26-game hitting streak)

LHP Cionel Perez: 1 start, 0.00 ERA/0.800 WHIP, 5 IP (1 BB:7 K)
RHP Yoanys Quiala: 1 game, win, 0.00 ERA/0.800 WHIP, 5 IP (1 BB:6 K)
RHP Riley Ferrell: 2 perfect bullpen appearances, 1 save, 2.1 IP
LHP Kit Scheetz: 2 bullpen appearances (between Buies Creek and Corpus Christi), win, 0.00 ERA/0.692 WHIP, 4.1 IP, 0 of 3 inherited runners scored

BUIES CREEK

OF Luis Payano: 5 games, .429/.529/.500
OF Ronnie Dawson: 5 games, .368/.429/.526
OF Chas McCormick: 6 games, .333/.360/.458

LHP Brett Adcock: 1 start, 0.00 ERA/0.400 WHIP, 5 IP (0 BB:6 K)
RHP Gabriel Valdez: 2 games/1 start, win, 1.13 ERA/0.750 WHIP, 8 IP
RHP Tanner Duncan: 1 bullpen appearance, save, 0.00 ERA/0.429 WHIP, 2.1 IP, 0 of 3 inherited runners scored
RHP Colin McKee: 1 bullpen appearance, win, 0.00 ERA/1.000 WHIP, 3 IP

QUAD CITIES

1B Jake Adams: 7 games, .357/.400/.786
OF Jake Meyers: 7 games, .321/.424/.536 (3 outfield assists)
SS Jonathan Arauz: 7 games, .333/.394/.400

LHP Patrick Sandoval: 2 games/1 start, 2 wins, 0.00 ERA/1.444 WHIP, 9 IP
RHP Cristian Javier: 1 game, 2.08 ERA/0.923 WHIP, 4.1 IP, 0 of 2 inherited runners scored
RHP Willy Collado: 1 game, 2.25 ERA/1.000 WHIP, 4 IP, 0 of 2 inherited runners scored (Quad Cities debut)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Josh James - April 2018

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Here is what I wrote about RHP Josh James coming in to the 2018 season:

I have long been a fan of James. He works hard, has a great pitcher's build and is aggressive on the mound. His 2017 season with AA Corpus Christi was a tale of two seasons. From April through July, James had a 2.81 ERA and a 1.203 WHIP in 67.1 innings and he earned a Texas League All-Star nod. Then, after missing the first two weeks of August, James only managed 8.2 innings over his final four appearances, going 0-4 with a 16.62 ERA and a 3.461 WHIP. It doesn't take a "rocket surgeon" to see that something was amiss with Mr. James at the end of the season. I don't have any recent notes regarding James's pitch repertoire, but I previously had him with a low to mid-90's fastball and a plus slider that may play up in a move to the bullpen. James, who was drafted in the 34th round in 2014 out of Western Oklahoma State College, recently turned 25 earlier this month.
Key: I honestly think that in this pitching-rich Astros organization, James's best opportunity may be a move to the bullpen. If that happens, as I think it may, he will need to embrace that opportunity.

Well, James is still in the rotation and after a successful start with AA Corpus Christi (2.49 ERA/1.246 WHIP in 6 games/4 starts), he was rewarded with a promotion to AAA Fresno in early May. In four starts at the higher level, James has a 3.38 ERA and a 1.125 WHIP with his last start being his most successful outing for Fresno thus far (7 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 9 K).

NEWS AND LINKS

Brian McTaggart gives a preview of the Astros MLB Draft.

Buies Creek RHP Tanner Duncan's great story.

A quick Q&A with Corpus Christi Hooks LHP Ryan Hartman.

And in case you missed any of these, here are my recent interviews:

OF Chas McCormick (Buies Creek)
OF J.J. Matijevic (Buies Creek)
RHP Brandon Bielak (Buies Creek)
LHP Brett Adcock (Buies Creek)
SS Alex De Goti (Corpus Christi)
1B Taylor Jones (Corpus Christi)
RHP Brock Dykxhoorn (Corpus Christi, since promoted to Fresno)

FORMER ASTROS UPDATE

Mike Foltynewicz - March 2013

Photo by Jayne Hansen

RHP Mike Foltynewicz was originally drafted by the Astros in the first round (19th overall) in 2010 out of Minooka HS in Minooka, IL. After five years in the Astros system (including 16 bullpen appearances for the Astros in late 2014), Folty was traded along with 3B Rio Ruiz and Andrew Thurman to the Braves for C Evan Gattis and RHP James Hoyt in January 2015. In his first three seasons with the Braves, he was 23-24 in 69 games with a 4.85 ERA and a 1.453 WHIP. In 12 starts so far in 2018, Folty is 5-3 with a 2.22 ERA and a 1.159 WHIP. His last appearances was a complete game 2-hit shutout (1 BB:11 K). In his last five appearances, he is 3-1 with a 0.56 ERA and a 0.938 WHIP. If Folty manages to put all the pieces together consistently (as is the case so far this season), he will indeed be a force to be reckoned with.

THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL

With last week being the 75th anniversary of the AAGPBL (All-American Girls Professional Baseball League) and the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup preliminary festivities, there have been a ton of links about women in baseball recently.

The Hidden Queer History Behind "A League of Their Own"

Decades after playing pro baseball, a lefty pitcher for the Fort Wayne Daisies gets a little help from the Midwest League Fort Wayne TinCaps.

And my personal favorite for the week, "If she's playing baseball, she must be a badass."