Photo from Chris Creamer's SportsLogos.Net
SOCIAL MEDIA
Official website - cchooks.com
Twitter - @cchooks
Instagram - @cchooks
The Corpus Christi Hooks have been affiliated with the Houston Astros since the franchise's inception in 2005 and have played at Whataburger Field, one of the most scenic ballparks in the country, ever since.
The Hooks have always been the southernmost club in the Texas League, but with the San Antonio Missions moving up to the Pacific Coast League and the existing Texas League team relocating to Amarillo, it is now arguably the most isolated team in all of Minor League Baseball. Frisco, the closest team in the Texas League's South Division, is six hours away (definitely much longer via bus). The Texas League South consists of the four teams that are actually located in Texas: Corpus will take on Midland (A's), Amarillo (Padres), and Frisco (Rangers).
So, these are the men who will begin the 2019 baseball season in South Texas. How did they end up in the Astros organization and where did they play in 2018?
Most of these guys are moving up from Buies Creek; Erasmo Pinales is the only pitcher on the staff who spent all of 2018 in Corpus Christi, while Kit Scheetz is back after spending much of 2018 with the Hooks. J.B. Bukauskas is the headliner of the pitchers; he put the effects of a spring training car crash behind him in order to finish strong in an abbreviated 2018. In what should officially be his first full season, Bukauskas finds himself just four hours away from Minute Maid Park.
J.J. Matijevic brings big-time power from the left side, while Ronnie Dawson has been cited as a guy who has really elevated his game. Can he take the next step in his development? Osvaldo Duarte had a nice bounce-back year in 2018 after an awful 2017 with Quad Cities. The Texas League will be a big test for the versatile Dominican. With Matijevic, Abraham Toro, and Dawson, the Hooks will have some thump in the lineup in 2019.
Oldest: Lorenzo Quintana (born March 1, 1989)
Youngest: Abraham Toro (December 30, 1996)
PITCHERS
Asterisk - throws left-handed
Brett Adcock* - 4th round, 2016 draft (Michigan); played with Buies Creek and Corpus in 2018
Brandon Bailey - Acquired from A's via trade for Ramon Laureano, 2018; Buies Creek/Corpus
Brandon Bielak - 11th round, 2017 draft (Notre Dame); Buies Creek/Corpus
Ronel Blanco - International free agent (Dominican Republic), 2016; Buies Creek/Corpus
J.B. Bukauskas - 1st round, 2017 draft (North Carolina); played with 5 teams in 2018, topping out at Corpus
Justin Ferrell - 36th round, 2014 draft (Connors State College); Buies Creek/Corpus
Jose Luis Hernandez - International free agent (Mexico), 2015; Tri-City/Buies Creek
Tyler Ivey - 3rd round, 2017 draft (Grayson College); Quad Cities/Buies Creek
Carson LaRue - 14th round, 2016 draft (Cowley Community College); Buies Creek
Colin McKee - 18th round, 2016 draft (Mercyhurst); Quad Cities/Buies Creek
Erasmo Pinales - International free agent (Dominican Republic), 2013; Corpus
Kit Scheetz* - Undrafted free agent (Virginia Tech), 2017; Buies Creek/Corpus
Gabriel Valdez - International free agent (Panama), 2013; Buies Creek
POSITION PLAYERS
Asterisk - bats left-handed
Italics - switch hitter
Catchers
Lorenzo Quintana - International free agent (Cuba), 2018; Corpus
Chuckie Robinson - 21st round, 2016 draft (Southern Mississippi); Buies Creek
Infielders
Abraham Toro - 5th round, 2016 draft (Seminole State College [Oklahoma]); Buies Creek/Corpus
Osvaldo Duarte - International free agent (Dominican Republic), 2013; Buies Creek
Aníbal Sierra - International free agent (Cuba), 2016; Buies Creek/Corpus
Outfielders
Carmen Benedetti* - 12th round, 2016 draft (Michigan); Corpus
Ronnie Dawson - 2nd round, 2016 draft (Ohio State); Buies Creek/Corpus
Granden Goetzman - Minor league free agent, 2018; was playing in the Cardinals organization before being released. Goetzman appeared in two games with Tri-City after signing.
Chas McCormick - 21st round, 2017 draft (Millersville University of Pennsylvania); Buies Creek/Corpus
Stephen Wrenn - 6th round, 2016 draft (Georgia); Corpus
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