Astros Farm Report: 7-1

Bringing you the latest news from down on the farm ...

In case you missed it, here are the player interviews I rolled out last week. Come back soon as I'll have two more coming out this week!

Nivaldo Rodriguez (recently added to MLB Pipeline's Top 30 list for the Astros) and Enmanuel Valdez
Colton Shaver
Brett Conine

Also, you may want to watch this video interview with Jose Urquidy again since he is slated to join the Astros on Tuesday!

Dustin pulled together all of the twitter info for the new draft picks. I have updated this to indicate which players have officially signed to date.

ROSTER MOVES/TRANSACTIONS

Here are the latest roster moves. An ongoing list of all of the 2019 season transactions and roster moves can be found here.

Dustin broke down the initial Gulf Coast League Astros roster for us.

7-1: OF Jordan Brewer (3rd round pick) expected to sign Monday
7-1: RHP Kevin Holcomb (13th round 2019) assigned to the GCL Astros
6-30: LHP Cionel Perez (Round Rock) placed on the 7-day IL
6-30: RHP Riley Ferrell assigned to Corpus Christi from Round Rock
6-30: C Carlos Canelon (Corpus Christi) placed on the 7-day IL
6-?: 2B Bryan Arias (28th round pick) signed according to Baseball America
6-?: 2B Dexter Jordan (16th round pick) signed according to Baseball America
6-29: RHP Tanner Duncan assigned to Round Rock from Fayetteville
6-29: RHP Cole McDonald assigned to Tri-City from the GCL
6-29: SS Jonathan Arauz (Fayetteville) activated from the IL
6-29: RHP Blair Henley (7th round 2019) assigned to the GCL
6-28: LHP Reymin Guduan recalled to Houston from Round Rock
6-28: OF Marty Costes (Fayetteville) placed on the 7-day IL
6-28: LHP Yeremi Ceballos assigned to Fayetteville from the GCL
6-28: 3B Juan Pineda (Tri-City) released
6-28: RHP Johangel Ramirez assigned to the DSL
6-28: RHP Carlos Quintero (DSL) released
6-27: RHP Cy Sneed called up to Houston from Round Rock
6-27: RHP Brady Rodgers (Round Rock) activated from the IL
6-27: LHP Framber Valdez optioned to Round Rock
6-27: 1B J.J. Matijevic assigned to Corpus Christi from Fayetteville
6-27: OF Ramiro Rodriguez assigned to Quad Cities from Corpus Christi
6-27: SS Jeremy Pena assigned to Fayetteville from Quad Cities
6-27: RHP Kyle Serrano sent to the GCL for a rehab assignment
6-26: RHP Kyle Serrano assigned to Quad Cities (had been on IL all season)
6-25: RHP Humberto Castellanos assigned to Fayetteville from Round Rock
6-25: OF Austin Dennis assigned to Quad Cities from Round Rock
6-25: RHP Corbin Martin placed on the 7-day IL
6-25: RHP Joe Smith sent to Round Rock on a rehab assignment
6-25: RHP Willy Collado assigned to Corpus Christi from Fayetteville
6-25: C Orlando Marquez (Quad Cities) placed on the 7-day IL
6-25: RHP Shea Barry (22nd round 2019) assigned to Tri-City
6-24: LHP Reymin Guduan optioned to Round Rock
6-24: RHP Rogelio Armenteros optioned to Round Rock
6-24: SS Jonathan Arauz (Fayetteville) placed on the 7-day IL retroactive to 6-22)
6-24: RHP Willy Collado assigned to Fayetteville from Corpus Christi
6-24: C Alejandro Flores (Fayetteville) released (had been picked up by the Astros in the MiLB phase of the Rule 5 Draft last December)
6-24: C Jose Alvarez assigned to the GCL from the DSL
6-24: RHP Jherson Pereira assigned to the GCL from the DSL
6-24: RHP Chandler Casey (26th round 2019) assigned to the GCL
6-24: RHP Danny Cody (17th round 2019) assigned to the GCL
6-24: LHP Kevin Dickey (27th round 2019) assigned to the GCL
6-24: RHP Cole McDonald (15th round 2019) assigned to the GCL
6-24: RHP Diosmerky Taveras assigned to the GCL
6-24: RHP Heitor Tokar assigned to the GCL
6-24: OF Colin Barber (4th round 2019) assigned to the GCL
6-24: OF Abraham Castillo assigned to the GCL
6-24: OF Adonis Giron assigned to the GCL
6-24: LHP Whit Drennan signed by the Astros and assigned to the GCL
6-24: RHP Jairo Lopez assigned to the GCL
6-24: 1B Victor Mascai assigned to the GCL
6-24: OF Luis Guerrero (8th round 2019) assigned to the GCL
6-23: OF Wilyer Abreu assigned to Tri-City
6-23: RHP Danny Subero assigned to the DSL
6-23: LHP Jervic Chavez assigned to the GCL from Tri-City
6-23: RHP Felipe Paulino assigned to Round Rock
6-23: RHP Riley Ferrell assigned to Round Rock (Rule 5 pick returned by Marlins)
6-22: LHP Brayan de Paula assigned to the GCL from Tri-City
6-22: C Lorenzo Quintana assigned to Corpus Christi from Round Rock
6-22: RHP Hunter Brown (5th round 2019) assigned to Tri-City
6-22: RHP Garrett Gayle (12th round 2019) assigned to Tri-City
6-22: RHP Derek West (14th round 2019) assigned to Tri-City
6-22: SS Luis Santana assigned to Tri-City from extended spring training
6-22: RHP Franny Cobos assigned to the GCL from Tri-City
6-22: OF Yefri Carrillo assigned to the GCL from Tri-City
6-22: 3B Yeuris Ramirez assigned to the GCL from Tri-City
6-22: OF Hector Martinez (Tri-City) released
6-22: RHP Jamie Melendez assigned to the DSL (17-year old from Mexico signed 4-30)
6-22: OF Jairo Jose assigned to the DSL (17-year old Dominican signed July 2018)
6-22: 1B Enmanuel Morrillo (DSL) released
6-22: C Jonarkys Lopez (DSL) released
6-22: RHP Shea Barry (22nd round) signed
6-21: LHP Reymin Guduan recalled to Houston from Round Rock
6-21: RHP Hunter Martin assigned to Quad Cities from Round Rock
6-21: IF Jack Mayfield optioned to Round Rock from Houston
6-21: C Garrett Stubbs optioned to Round Rock from Houston
6-21: LHP Brett Adcock (Corpus Christi) placed on the 7-day IL
6-21: 1B J. J. Matijevic activated from the restricted list and assigned to Fayetteville
6-21: LHP Yeremi Ceballos assigned to the GCL from Quad Cities
6-21: 2B Yorbin Ceuta assigned to the GCL from Tri-City
6-21: OF E.P. Reese (25th round 2019) assigned to Tri-City
6-20: RHP Justin Ferrell assigned to Corpus Christi from Round Rock
6-20: OF Austin Dennis assigned to Round Rock from Quad Cities
6-20: RHP Joe Smith sent to Corpus Christi for a rehab assignment
6-20: OF George Springer sent to Corpus Christi for a rehab assignment
6-20: RHP Layne Henderson assigned to Quad Cities from Corpus Christi
6-20: SS Grae Kessinger (2nd round 2019) assigned to Tri-City
6-20: C C. J. Stubbs (10th round 2019) assigned to Tri-City
6-20: RHP Michael Horrell (30th round) assigned to Tri-City
6-20: RHP Brayan de Paula assigned to Tri-City
6-20: RHP Felipe Paulino signed (contract purchased from the Sugar Land Skeeters)
6-19: LHP Cionel Perez optioned to Round Rock from Houston
6-18: C Max Stassi sent to Corpus Christi for a rehab assignment (activated from IL 6-21)
6-18: OF Matthew Barefoot (6th round) assigned to Tri-City
6-18: OF Preston Pavlica (24th round) assigned to Tri-City
6-18: SS A. J. Lee (34th round) assigned to Tri-City
6-18: RHP Peyton Battenfield (9th round 2019) assigned to Tri-City
6-18: 1B Zach Biermann (23rd round) assigned to Tri-City
6-18: OF Yimmi Cortaberria assigned to the GCL from Tri-City
6-18: OF Franklin Pinto assigned to the GCL from Tri-City
6-17: SS Anibal Sierra assigned to Corpus Christi from Round Rock
6-17: SS Luis Santana assigned to extended spring training from Corpus Christi
6-17: RHP Nick Hernandez (Corpus Christi) placed on the 7-day IL retroactive to 6-15
6-17: RHP Willy Collado assigned to Corpus Christi from Fayetteville
6-17: RHP Collin McHugh sent to Corpus Christi on a rehab assignment
6-17: RHP Peyton Battenfield (9th round 2019) signed
6-16: C Korey Lee (1st round 2019) assigned to Tri-City
6-16: RHP Brendan McCurry (Round Rock) activated from the IL
6-16: RHP Brady Rodgers (Round Rock) placed on the 7-day IL
6-16: C Lorenzo Quintana (Round Rock) activated from the IL
6-16: C Oscar Campos assigned to Quad Cities from Round Rock
6-16: 3B/1B/C Colton Shaver assigned to Corpus Christi from Fayetteville
6-16: C Ruben Castro assigned to Fayetteville from Quad Cities
6-16: SS Javier Bermudez assigned to the GCL from Corpus Christi
6-15: OF Corey Julks (Fayetteville) activated from the IL
6-15: RHP Ronel Blanco (Round Rock) placed on the 7-day IL
6-15: RHP Humberto Castellanos assigned to Round Rock from Quad Cities
6-15: OF Jonathan Lacroix (Quad Cities) activated from the IL
6-14: RHP Hunter Martin assigned to Round Rock from Quad Cities
6-14: 2B Jose Altuve sent to Round Rock on a rehab assignment (activated from the IL 6-19)
6-14: RHP Collin McHugh sent to Round Rock on a rehab assignment
6-14: RHP Rogelio Armenteros called up to Houston from Round Rock
6-14: OF Wilyer Abreu assigned to extended spring training from Quad Cities
6-14: RHP Hansel Paulino activated from the IL and assigned to Tri-City
6-14: OF Alex McKenna (Quad Cities) activated from the IL
6-14: LHP Yeremi Ceballos assigned to Quad Cities from extended spring training
6-14: 3B Joe Perez assigned to Tri-City from the GCL
6-14: 2B Yorbin Ceuta assigned to Tri-City from the GCL
6-14: RHP Christian Mejias assigned to Tri-City from the GCL
6-14: C Juan Paulino assigned to Tri-City from the GCL
6-14: RHP Franny Cobos assigned to Tri-City
6-14: RHP Lupe Chavez assigned to Tri-City
6-14: RHP Valente Bellozo assigned to Tri-City
6-14: OF Franklin Pinto assigned to Tri-City from the DSL
6-14: OF Hector Martinez assigned to Tri-City from extended spring training
6-14: 3B Yeuris Ramirez assigned to Tri-City from the GCL
6-14: RHP Ernesto Jaquez (Tri-City) placed on the 7-day IL
6-14: LHP Jervic Chavez assigned to Tri-City from the GCL
6-14: RHP Angel Macuare assigned to Tri-City from the GCL
6-14: RHP Manny Ramirez assigned to Tri-City from extended spring training
6-14: RHP Jayson Schroeder assigned to Tri-City from extended spring training
6-14: 3B Juan Pineda assigned to Tri-City from extended spring training
6-14: SS Grae Kessinger signed (2nd round 2019)
6-14: OF Colin Barber signed (4th round 2019)
6-14: OF E. P. Reese signed (25th round 2019)
6-13: C Max Stassi sent to Round Rock on a rehab assignment
6-13: OF Derek Fisher optioned to Round Rock from Houston
6-12: RHP Derek West signed (14th round 2019)
6-12: C Korey Lee signed (1st round 2019)
6-12: SS A. J. Lee signed (34th round 2019)
6-12: LHP Kevin Dickey signed (27th round 2019)
6-12: OF Preston Pavlica signed (24th round 2019)
6-12: RHP Danny Cody signed (17th round 2019)
6-12: RHP Blair Henley signed (7th round 2019)
6-12: OF Matthew Barefoot signed (6th round 2019)
6-12: RHP Chandler Casey signed (26th round 2019)
6-12: RHP Alex Palmer signed (20th round 2019)
6-12: 1B Zach Biermann signed (23rd round 2019)
6-12: OF Luis Guerrero signed (8th round 2019)
6-12: C C. J. Stubbs signed (10th round 2019)
6-12: RHP Cole McDonald signed (15th round 2019)
6-11: OF Chas McCormick assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
6-11: OF Austin Dennis assigned to Quad Cities from Round Rock
6-11: OF Bryan de la Cruz assigned to Corpus Christi from Fayetteville
6-11: RHP Michael Horrell signed (30th round 2019)
6-10: RHP Garrett Gayle signed (12th round 2019)
6-10: RHP Kevin Holcomb signed (13th round 2019)
6-10: RHP Hunter Brown signed (5th round 2019)
6-10: RHP Luis Vega assigned to the DSL
6-10: RHP Johangel Ramirez assigned to the GCL from the DSL
6-9: OF Yordan Alvarez called up to Houston from Round Rock
6-9: OF Austin Dennis assigned to Round Rock from Quad Cities
6-9: LHP Reymin Guduan optioned to Round Rock from Houston
6-8: OF Hector Martinez assigned to extended spring training from Corpus Christi
6-8: OF Ronnie Dawson (Corpus Christi) activated from the IL
6-8: C Lorenzo Quintana (Round Rock) placed on the 7-day IL
6-8: C Cesar Salazar (Quad Cities) activated from the IL
6-8: LHP Julio Robaina assigned to extended spring training from Quad Cities
6-7: LHP Cionel Perez recalled to Houston from Round Rock
6-7: RHP Brady Rodgers optioned to Round Rock
6-6: RHP Dean Deetz (Round Rock) placed on the 7-day IL
6-6: C Oscar Campos assigned to Round Rock from Quad Cities
6-6: 2B Alfredo Angarita (Corpus Christi) placed on the 7-day IL
6-6: RHP Yohan Ramirez assigned to Corpus Christi from Fayetteville
6-6: RHP Enoli Paredes assigned to Corpus Christi from Fayetteville
6-6: RHP Luis Garcia assigned to Fayetteville from Quad Cities
6-6: RHP Austin Hansen assigned to Fayetteville from Quad Cities
6-6: LHP Jonathan Bermudez assigned to Quad Cities from Corpus Christi
6-6: RHP Hunter Martin assigned to Quad Cities from Corpus Christi
6-6: RHP Miguel Figueroa assigned to Tri-City from Corpus Christi
6-6: RHP Layne Henderson assigned to Corpus Christi from extended spring training
6-6: OF Ramiro Rodriguez assigned to Corpus Christi from extended spring training
6-5: RHP Tommy DeJuneas assigned to Corpus Christi from Fayetteville
6-5: RHP Jayson Schroeder assigned to extended spring training from Quad Cities
6-4: LHP Reymin Guduan recalled to Houston from Round Rock
6-4: RHP Justin Ferrell assigned to Round Rock from Corpus Christi
6-4: RHP Corbin Martin optioned to Round Rock
6-4: OF Chandler Taylor (Fayetteville) activated from the IL
6-4: OF Ramiro Rodriguez assigned to extended spring training from Fayetteville
6-3: RHP Gabriel Valdez (Round Rock) placed on the 7-day IL
6-3: RHP Humberto Castellanos assigned to Quad Cities from Round Rock
6-2: OF Bryan de la Cruz (Fayetteville) activated from the IL
6-2: RHP Jacob Billingsley (Fayetteville) activated from the IL
6-2: C Alejandro Flores (Fayetteville) placed on the 7-day IL
6-1: OF Ronnie Dawson (Corpus Christi) placed on the 7-day IL
6-1: RHP Willy Collado assigned to Corpus Christi from Fayetteville
6-1: RHP Hector Martinez assigned to Corpus Christi from extended spring training
6-1: C Cesar Salazar (Quad Cities) placed on the 7-day IL
6-1: LHP Julio Robaina assigned to Quad Cities from extended spring training
6-1: RHP Layne Henderson assigned to extended spring training from Corpus Christi
6-1: RHP Manny Ramirez assigned to extended spring training from Quad Cities

Players who started the 2019 season on the DL

C Ruben Castro - activated 5-25
RHP Nick Hernandez - activated 5-8
RHP Alex House
OF Alex McKenna - activated 4-29
RHP Hansel Paulino - activated 6-14
RHP Erasmo Pinales - activated 5-20; back on IL 5-24
RHP Abdiel Saldana
RHP Kyle Serrano - activated 6-26
RHP Jairo Solis

Restricted List
RHP Francis Martes (80-game suspension) - suspension ended 6-26, but will remain on the restricted list for the time being due to visa issues
1B/OF J.J. Matijevic (50-game suspension) - activated 6-21

2019 STANDINGS

Up and down arrows denote an increase or decrease in win percentage over the last week.

AAA ROUND ROCK (Pacific Coast League/American Southern Division)

🠋 2nd 48-34 .585 2.5GB W1

AA CORPUS CHRISTI (Texas League/South Division)

3rd 37-42 .468 4.0GB L3 (Overall)
🠋 T2nd 4-6 .400 3.0GB L3 (Second Half)

ADV A FAYETTEVILLE (Carolina League/Southern Division)

4th 37-43 .463 18.5GB W1 (Overall)
🠋 T1st 6-5 .545 -.-GB W1 (Second Half)

LOW A QUAD CITIES (Midwest League/Western Division)
1st half Division Winner

1st 48-26 .649 -.-GB L1 (Overall)
🠋 4th 5-3 .625 2.0GB L1 (Second Half)

SHORT SEASON A TRI-CITY (New York-Penn League/Stedler Division)
🠋 3rd 6-9 .400 5.0GB W2

ROOKIE LEVEL GULF COAST LEAGUE (East Division)
5th 0-4 .000 4.0GB L4

ROOKIE LEVEL DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE (Northwest Division)
🠉 4th 12-12 .500 2.0GB W3

WATCH THIS SPACE

I plan to use "this space" to feature players who are currently flying below the radar, but who deserve a look.

SS Yohander Martinez, a 17-year old from Venezuela who signed with the Astros as an international free agent on July 2, 2018, is just getting started in his professional career and he is making quite a statement early on. Through his first 22 games with the DSL Astros, Martinez is hitting .366/.516/.465/.981 with three doubles, two triples, nine RBI, 12 stolen bases (five caught stealing) and 18 walks to nine strikeouts. Yes, it is a fairly small sample size, but I will definitely be keeping an eye on Mr. Martinez as he moves up the ladder! Watch this space ...

February 2018 video interview with Martinez


FORMER ASTRO UPDATE

Ryan Thompson - August 2017

Photo by Jayne Hansen

RHP Ryan Thompson was drafted by the Astros in the 23rd round in 2014 out of Campbell University (former home of the High A Buies Creek Astros) and was claimed by the Rays in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft in December 2018. Thompson had been rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and hadn't pitched in a game since September 2017 when the Rays selected him. Thompson's comeback from surgery has started out well; in his first eight appearances (primarily out of the bullpen), he has a 2.03 ERA and a 1.050 WHIP between the Rays High A and AA teams. He has issued only one walk while striking out 16 in 13.1 innings of work.

RANDOM PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Montana - 2009

Photo by Jayne Hansen