It's time to clean up the interview list on the front page of the blog and move the links to the 2015 interviews. Here are the interviews and profiles from last year:
Jordan "Funky" Comadena - 7/24/15
Kirk Clark - 4/1/15
Carlos Correa - 6/8/15
Chris Cotton - 7/21/15
J.D. Davis - 6/4/15
Dean Deetz - 8/14/15
Chris Devenski - 5/15/15
Justin Ferrell - 1/8/15
Tyler Heineman - 6/11/15
James Hoyt - 12/15/15
Jon Kemmer - 3/16/15
Jack Mayfield - 8/1/15
Jason Martin - 8/12/15
Chase McDonald - 9/4/15
Brandon Meredith - 5/4/15
Albert Minnis - 6/5/15
Bryan Muniz - 8/18/15
Joe Musgrove - 6/2/15
Steve Naemark - 7/8/15
Tyson Perez - 6/9/15
Eric Peterson - 2/26/15
Brett Phillips - 6/12/15
Bryan Radziewski - 5/27/15
A.J. Reed - 6/1/15
Tommy Shirley - 5/28/15
Jon Singleton - 5/26/15
Nick Tanielu - 8/21/15
Aaron West - 6/30/15
Kyle Westwood - 5/13/15
Tyler White - 5/6/15
Keegan Yuhl - 3/12/15
A LOOK AT THE ASTROS MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM
Showing posts with label 2015. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2015. Show all posts
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Astros Farm Report: 12/27
A couple of new Astros, the Dominican Republic falls in love with an Astros minor leaguer and Baseball America honors the Minor League Manager of the Year, but first things first ...
TWEET OF THE WEEK
12-27: RHP Tyson Perez (26)
12-31: LHP Maikel Sepulveda (19)
1-1: LHP Dallas Keuchel (28)
FALL/WINTER LEAGUE STATS
Here is how the Astros players participating in fall and winter leagues have fared to date (through Saturday, the 26th, unless otherwise noted):
ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE - FALL LEAGUE ENDED 11/21
3B J.D. Davis - .279/.329/.456 in 17 games
OF Derek Fisher - .254/.397/.424 in 17 games
IF Chan-Jong Moon - .093/.241/.116 in 13 games
1B A.J. Reed - .231/.326/.385 in 11 games
LHP Chris Cotton - 1.17 ERA/0.783 WHIP in 8 games (7.2IP)
LHP Brian Holmes - 1.13 ERA/1.250 WHIP in 6 games (16.0IP)
LHP Albert Minnis - 2.31 ERA/1.200 WHIP in 9 games (11.2IP)
RHP Keegan Yuhl - 7.88 ERA/1.625 WHIP in 8 games (8.0IP)
New Astro Brendan McCurry, obtained in the Jed Lowrie trade, went 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.125 WHIP in 11 games (13.1 IP) in the Arizona Fall League.
DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE - REGULAR SEASON ENDED 12/21
OF Andrew Aplin - .278/.325/.444 in 10 games
C Tyler Heineman - .190/.288/.224 in 19 games
OF Teoscar Hernandez - .275/.295/.375 in 17 games
1B/DH Tyler White - .297/.421/.494 in 44 games
RHP Jake Buchanan - 2.01 ERA/0.830 WHIP in 7 games (31.1IP)
LHP Reymin Guduan - 4.22 ERA/1.875 WHIP in 13 games (10.2IP)
RHP Jandel Gustave - 2.87 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 14 games (15.2IP)
RHP Angel Heredia - 13.50 ERA/2.500 WHIP in 2 games (2.0IP)
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 16.20 ERA and 2.400 WHIP in 2 games (1.2IP) - moved to LBPRC
RHP Juan Minaya - 12.79 ERA/2.842 WHIP in 6 games (6.1IP)
The Dominican Winter League regular season is over and Tyler White earned an MVP for a league he was only intending to play in for the first month of the season. Teoscar Hernandez ended the regular season on a (very) high note, going 2-for-4 with a double, home run, RBI and two runs scored in the finale on Monday. The post season round robin playoffs will start today.
VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE
IF Arturo Michelena - .083/.083/.083 in 8 games (only 12 at-bats; has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
IF Kristian Trompiz - 2 games as pinch runner; no at-bats (has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
OF Danry Vasquez - .281/.335/.401 in 52 games
RHP Chris Devenski - 5.21 ERA/1.579 in 5 games (19.0IP) - no longer playing
RHP James Hoyt - 1.86 ERA/1.035 WHIP in 19 games (19.1IP) - no longer playing
The Venezuelan Winter League regular season ends on Tuesday. Danry Vasquez had a good week, going 4-for-12 with a double, three walks (to only one strikeout), four RBI and three runs scored in four games.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
OF Leo Heras - .297/.409/.493 in 41 games
RHP Octavio Acosta - 1.98 ERA and 1.463 WHIP in 8 games (13.2IP) - last played 12/11
RHP Enrique Chavez - 9.00 ERA/3.000 WHIP in 1 game (1.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jose Hernandez - 1.39 ERA/1.021 WHIP in 8 games (32.1IP) - last played 11/29
RHP Juan Robles - 4.02 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 10 games (15.2IP) - last played 11/25
RHP Gonzalo Sanudo - 3.60 ERA/1.200 WHIP in 17 games (15.0IP)
The Mexican Pacific regular season ends on Tuesday as well. Leo Heras was 8-for-16 with three doubles, four walks, one RBI and four runs scored last week. The only other active Astro for the week was Gonzalo Sanudo who allowed one hit (a solo home run) and one walk in his three appearances.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
WISHING A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOWhen you and your siblings have Christmas photos at 7 and are dropping the Hottest album of 2016 at 8. #WeAllWeGot pic.twitter.com/yMTNulhOVW— Jacob Dorris (@JacobDorris38) December 25, 2015
12-27: RHP Tyson Perez (26)
12-31: LHP Maikel Sepulveda (19)
1-1: LHP Dallas Keuchel (28)
FALL/WINTER LEAGUE STATS
Here is how the Astros players participating in fall and winter leagues have fared to date (through Saturday, the 26th, unless otherwise noted):
ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE - FALL LEAGUE ENDED 11/21
3B J.D. Davis - .279/.329/.456 in 17 games
OF Derek Fisher - .254/.397/.424 in 17 games
IF Chan-Jong Moon - .093/.241/.116 in 13 games
1B A.J. Reed - .231/.326/.385 in 11 games
LHP Chris Cotton - 1.17 ERA/0.783 WHIP in 8 games (7.2IP)
LHP Brian Holmes - 1.13 ERA/1.250 WHIP in 6 games (16.0IP)
LHP Albert Minnis - 2.31 ERA/1.200 WHIP in 9 games (11.2IP)
RHP Keegan Yuhl - 7.88 ERA/1.625 WHIP in 8 games (8.0IP)
New Astro Brendan McCurry, obtained in the Jed Lowrie trade, went 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.125 WHIP in 11 games (13.1 IP) in the Arizona Fall League.
DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE - REGULAR SEASON ENDED 12/21
OF Andrew Aplin - .278/.325/.444 in 10 games
C Tyler Heineman - .190/.288/.224 in 19 games
OF Teoscar Hernandez - .275/.295/.375 in 17 games
1B/DH Tyler White - .297/.421/.494 in 44 games
RHP Jake Buchanan - 2.01 ERA/0.830 WHIP in 7 games (31.1IP)
LHP Reymin Guduan - 4.22 ERA/1.875 WHIP in 13 games (10.2IP)
RHP Jandel Gustave - 2.87 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 14 games (15.2IP)
RHP Angel Heredia - 13.50 ERA/2.500 WHIP in 2 games (2.0IP)
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 16.20 ERA and 2.400 WHIP in 2 games (1.2IP) - moved to LBPRC
RHP Juan Minaya - 12.79 ERA/2.842 WHIP in 6 games (6.1IP)
The Dominican Winter League regular season is over and Tyler White earned an MVP for a league he was only intending to play in for the first month of the season. Teoscar Hernandez ended the regular season on a (very) high note, going 2-for-4 with a double, home run, RBI and two runs scored in the finale on Monday. The post season round robin playoffs will start today.
VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE
IF Arturo Michelena - .083/.083/.083 in 8 games (only 12 at-bats; has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
IF Kristian Trompiz - 2 games as pinch runner; no at-bats (has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
OF Danry Vasquez - .281/.335/.401 in 52 games
RHP Chris Devenski - 5.21 ERA/1.579 in 5 games (19.0IP) - no longer playing
RHP James Hoyt - 1.86 ERA/1.035 WHIP in 19 games (19.1IP) - no longer playing
The Venezuelan Winter League regular season ends on Tuesday. Danry Vasquez had a good week, going 4-for-12 with a double, three walks (to only one strikeout), four RBI and three runs scored in four games.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
OF Leo Heras - .297/.409/.493 in 41 games
RHP Octavio Acosta - 1.98 ERA and 1.463 WHIP in 8 games (13.2IP) - last played 12/11
RHP Enrique Chavez - 9.00 ERA/3.000 WHIP in 1 game (1.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jose Hernandez - 1.39 ERA/1.021 WHIP in 8 games (32.1IP) - last played 11/29
RHP Juan Robles - 4.02 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 10 games (15.2IP) - last played 11/25
RHP Gonzalo Sanudo - 3.60 ERA/1.200 WHIP in 17 games (15.0IP)
The Mexican Pacific regular season ends on Tuesday as well. Leo Heras was 8-for-16 with three doubles, four walks, one RBI and four runs scored last week. The only other active Astro for the week was Gonzalo Sanudo who allowed one hit (a solo home run) and one walk in his three appearances.
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE (thru Sunday)
C Jake Bowey - .103/.186./.103 in 12 games
IF Jared Cruz - .091/.091/.091 in 7 games - not currently playing
1B Connor MacDonald - .156/.264/.267 in 19 games - last played 11/29
IF/OF Marc Wik - .322/.466/.400 in 35 games
RHP Kevin Comer - 16.88 ERA/4.499 WHIP in 4 games (2.2IP) - not currently playing
Unlike the Latin American and Mexican teams, the ABL still has almost a month to go in their regular season. And unlike many of the other American players playing in the winter leagues, Wik stayed down under to celebrate Christmas. Personally, I can think of worse places to spend it. In two games since last weekend, Wik went 2-for-6 with two RBI, three walks and two stolen bases.
PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE
OF Edwin Medina - .273/.370/.318 in 23 games (22AB)
OF Alexander Melendez - .000/.000/.000 in 5 games (2AB) - not currently playing
C Roberto Pena - .167/.219/.217 in 21 games
C Max Stassi - .280/.333/.520 in 8 games - no longer playing
RHP Travis Ballew - 2.38 ERA/1.368 WHIP in 19 games (22.2IP)
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 0.00 ERA and 0.923 WHIP in 5 games (4.1IP)
The LBPRC will end its regular season next week on January 4th. Ballew allowed two walks and struck out three in his one appearance last week while Jankowski walked two and struck out two in his sole outing of the week. Pena was 1-for-10 for the week (3 games) and Medina got a rare start on Saturday and made the most of it, going 1-for-3 with a walk, stolen base and run scored.
NEWS AND LINKS
Even before being named MVP for LIDOM, Tyler White was getting some attention from MLB.com. Afterwards, there was more attention forthcoming:
Someone else getting recognition recently was Fresno Manager Tony DeFrancesco. Baseball America posted his Minor League Manager of the Year acceptance speech from their Gala in Nashville.
And finally, one new Astros was inked and another was rumored over the last week. The Astros claimed RHP Danny Reynolds off waivers from the Dodgers. Baseball Reference has him as Dan Reynolds. The other rumored signing (pending a physical) is 21-year old Cuban RHP Carlos Sierra who features a 4-pitch mix.
The Off-Season Transaction List has been updated here.
C Jake Bowey - .103/.186./.103 in 12 games
IF Jared Cruz - .091/.091/.091 in 7 games - not currently playing
1B Connor MacDonald - .156/.264/.267 in 19 games - last played 11/29
IF/OF Marc Wik - .322/.466/.400 in 35 games
RHP Kevin Comer - 16.88 ERA/4.499 WHIP in 4 games (2.2IP) - not currently playing
Unlike the Latin American and Mexican teams, the ABL still has almost a month to go in their regular season. And unlike many of the other American players playing in the winter leagues, Wik stayed down under to celebrate Christmas. Personally, I can think of worse places to spend it. In two games since last weekend, Wik went 2-for-6 with two RBI, three walks and two stolen bases.
PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE
OF Edwin Medina - .273/.370/.318 in 23 games (22AB)
OF Alexander Melendez - .000/.000/.000 in 5 games (2AB) - not currently playing
C Roberto Pena - .167/.219/.217 in 21 games
C Max Stassi - .280/.333/.520 in 8 games - no longer playing
RHP Travis Ballew - 2.38 ERA/1.368 WHIP in 19 games (22.2IP)
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 0.00 ERA and 0.923 WHIP in 5 games (4.1IP)
The LBPRC will end its regular season next week on January 4th. Ballew allowed two walks and struck out three in his one appearance last week while Jankowski walked two and struck out two in his sole outing of the week. Pena was 1-for-10 for the week (3 games) and Medina got a rare start on Saturday and made the most of it, going 1-for-3 with a walk, stolen base and run scored.
NEWS AND LINKS
Even before being named MVP for LIDOM, Tyler White was getting some attention from MLB.com. Afterwards, there was more attention forthcoming:
Entrevista a Tyler White donde agradece a nuestros fanáticos por el apoyo durante la temporada. pic.twitter.com/LIAoAvUZFh
— Winnifer Vizcaíno (@WinniferSPM) December 24, 2015
And here. And here as well. It appears that the Dominican Republic has fallen in love with White.Someone else getting recognition recently was Fresno Manager Tony DeFrancesco. Baseball America posted his Minor League Manager of the Year acceptance speech from their Gala in Nashville.
And finally, one new Astros was inked and another was rumored over the last week. The Astros claimed RHP Danny Reynolds off waivers from the Dodgers. Baseball Reference has him as Dan Reynolds. The other rumored signing (pending a physical) is 21-year old Cuban RHP Carlos Sierra who features a 4-pitch mix.
The Off-Season Transaction List has been updated here.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Astros Farm Report: 12/20
I don't know about you, but I am relishing the fact that there is blessedly little news coming on the Astros front this week. Hopefully, everyone is using this time to enjoy the holiday season and time with family and friends.
One minor (league) piece of news that came out this week is that the Astros signed Rachel Balkovec to be their Latin America Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. According to her twitter bio, she is the first female Strength and Conditioning Coach in professional baseball. To see how she got there, check out this great MLB.com article.
Also, in case you missed it, I had a chance to talk with Fresno Grizzles Closer James Hoyt about the long and circuitous journey that has him on the cusp of a major league call-up.
The only recent transaction I've seen is that OF Alex Presley signed a minor league deal with the Brewers with an invitation to Spring Training. The ongoing transaction list is here.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming ...
WISHING A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
12-21: RHP Asher Wojciechowski (27)
12-23: RHP Scott Weathersby (24)
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Here is how the Astros players participating in fall and winter leagues have fared to date (through Saturday, the 19th, unless otherwise noted):
ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE - FALL LEAGUE ENDED 11/21
3B J.D. Davis - .279/.329/.456 in 17 games
OF Derek Fisher - .254/.397/.424 in 17 games
IF Chan-Jong Moon - .093/.241/.116 in 13 games
1B A.J. Reed - .231/.326/.385 in 11 games
LHP Chris Cotton - 1.17 ERA/0.783 WHIP in 8 games (7.2IP)
LHP Brian Holmes - 1.13 ERA/1.250 WHIP in 6 games (16.0IP)
LHP Albert Minnis - 2.31 ERA/1.200 WHIP in 9 games (11.2IP)
RHP Keegan Yuhl - 7.88 ERA/1.625 WHIP in 8 games (8.0IP)
New Astro Brendan McCurry, obtained in the Jed Lowrie trade, went 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.125 WHIP in 11 games (13.1 IP) in the Arizona Fall League.
DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE
OF Andrew Aplin - .300/.313/.467 in 8 games
C Tyler Heineman - .190/.288/.224 in 19 games - no longer playing
OF Teoscar Hernandez - .250/.275/.250 in 16 games
1B/DH Tyler White - .294/.421/.497 in 43 games
RHP Jake Buchanan - 2.01 ERA/0.830 WHIP in 7 games (31.1IP) - no longer playing
LHP Reymin Guduan - 4.22 ERA/1.875 WHIP in 13 games (10.2IP) - last played 12/3
RHP Jandel Gustave - 2.87 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 14 games (15.2IP) - last played 11/28
RHP Angel Heredia - 13.50 ERA/2.500 WHIP in 2 games (2.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 16.20 ERA and 2.400 WHIP in 2 games (1.2IP) - moved to Puerto Rican Winter League
RHP Juan Minaya - 12.79 ERA/2.842 WHIP in 6 games (6.1IP) - not currently playing
Last night's game isn't included in the cumulative stats, but Andrew Aplin capped off his excellent week, going 7-for-15 with three doubles and two walks. White had a slow week, going 2-for-11 with a walk, but he drove in three. Teoscar Hernandez got virtually no playing time last week.
VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE
IF Arturo Michelena - .083/.083/.083 in 8 games (only 12 at-bats; has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
IF Kristian Trompiz - 2 games as pinch runner; no at-bats (has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
OF Danry Vasquez - .278/.325/.400 in 48 games
RHP Chris Devenski - 5.21 ERA/1.579 in 5 games (19.0IP) - no longer playing
RHP James Hoyt - 1.86 ERA/1.035 WHIP in 19 games (19.1IP) - no longer playing
Danry Vasquez is the only Astros player currently playing in Venezuela (other than the Liga Paralela). He went 1-for-9 with a walk in three games last week.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
OF Leo Heras - .266/.377/.460 in 37 games
RHP Octavio Acosta - 1.98 ERA and 1.463 WHIP in 8 games (13.2IP) - last played 12/11
RHP Enrique Chavez - 9.00 ERA/3.000 WHIP in 1 game (1.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jose Hernandez - 1.39 ERA/1.021 WHIP in 8 games (32.1IP) - last played 11/29
RHP Juan Robles - 4.02 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 10 games (15.2IP) - last played 11/25
RHP Gonzalo Sanudo - 3.55 ERA/1.263 WHIP in 14 games (12.2IP)
Leo Heras was 4-for-22 with three walks and a solo home run for the week. The only other active Astro for the week was Gonzalo Sanudo who allowed no hits and one walk in his two appearances.
One minor (league) piece of news that came out this week is that the Astros signed Rachel Balkovec to be their Latin America Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. According to her twitter bio, she is the first female Strength and Conditioning Coach in professional baseball. To see how she got there, check out this great MLB.com article.
Also, in case you missed it, I had a chance to talk with Fresno Grizzles Closer James Hoyt about the long and circuitous journey that has him on the cusp of a major league call-up.
The only recent transaction I've seen is that OF Alex Presley signed a minor league deal with the Brewers with an invitation to Spring Training. The ongoing transaction list is here.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming ...
WISHING A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
12-21: RHP Asher Wojciechowski (27)
12-23: RHP Scott Weathersby (24)
TWEET OF THE WEEK
FALL/WINTER LEAGUE STATSDon't goto the mall in Puerto Rico the Saturday before Christmas ever in your lifetime #PlazasAmericas— Travis Ballew (@ImBallewDabaDi) December 19, 2015
Here is how the Astros players participating in fall and winter leagues have fared to date (through Saturday, the 19th, unless otherwise noted):
ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE - FALL LEAGUE ENDED 11/21
3B J.D. Davis - .279/.329/.456 in 17 games
OF Derek Fisher - .254/.397/.424 in 17 games
IF Chan-Jong Moon - .093/.241/.116 in 13 games
1B A.J. Reed - .231/.326/.385 in 11 games
LHP Chris Cotton - 1.17 ERA/0.783 WHIP in 8 games (7.2IP)
LHP Brian Holmes - 1.13 ERA/1.250 WHIP in 6 games (16.0IP)
LHP Albert Minnis - 2.31 ERA/1.200 WHIP in 9 games (11.2IP)
RHP Keegan Yuhl - 7.88 ERA/1.625 WHIP in 8 games (8.0IP)
New Astro Brendan McCurry, obtained in the Jed Lowrie trade, went 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.125 WHIP in 11 games (13.1 IP) in the Arizona Fall League.
DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE
OF Andrew Aplin - .300/.313/.467 in 8 games
C Tyler Heineman - .190/.288/.224 in 19 games - no longer playing
OF Teoscar Hernandez - .250/.275/.250 in 16 games
1B/DH Tyler White - .294/.421/.497 in 43 games
RHP Jake Buchanan - 2.01 ERA/0.830 WHIP in 7 games (31.1IP) - no longer playing
LHP Reymin Guduan - 4.22 ERA/1.875 WHIP in 13 games (10.2IP) - last played 12/3
RHP Jandel Gustave - 2.87 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 14 games (15.2IP) - last played 11/28
RHP Angel Heredia - 13.50 ERA/2.500 WHIP in 2 games (2.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 16.20 ERA and 2.400 WHIP in 2 games (1.2IP) - moved to Puerto Rican Winter League
RHP Juan Minaya - 12.79 ERA/2.842 WHIP in 6 games (6.1IP) - not currently playing
Last night's game isn't included in the cumulative stats, but Andrew Aplin capped off his excellent week, going 7-for-15 with three doubles and two walks. White had a slow week, going 2-for-11 with a walk, but he drove in three. Teoscar Hernandez got virtually no playing time last week.
VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE
IF Arturo Michelena - .083/.083/.083 in 8 games (only 12 at-bats; has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
IF Kristian Trompiz - 2 games as pinch runner; no at-bats (has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
OF Danry Vasquez - .278/.325/.400 in 48 games
RHP Chris Devenski - 5.21 ERA/1.579 in 5 games (19.0IP) - no longer playing
RHP James Hoyt - 1.86 ERA/1.035 WHIP in 19 games (19.1IP) - no longer playing
Danry Vasquez is the only Astros player currently playing in Venezuela (other than the Liga Paralela). He went 1-for-9 with a walk in three games last week.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
OF Leo Heras - .266/.377/.460 in 37 games
RHP Octavio Acosta - 1.98 ERA and 1.463 WHIP in 8 games (13.2IP) - last played 12/11
RHP Enrique Chavez - 9.00 ERA/3.000 WHIP in 1 game (1.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jose Hernandez - 1.39 ERA/1.021 WHIP in 8 games (32.1IP) - last played 11/29
RHP Juan Robles - 4.02 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 10 games (15.2IP) - last played 11/25
RHP Gonzalo Sanudo - 3.55 ERA/1.263 WHIP in 14 games (12.2IP)
Leo Heras was 4-for-22 with three walks and a solo home run for the week. The only other active Astro for the week was Gonzalo Sanudo who allowed no hits and one walk in his two appearances.
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE (thru Sunday)
C Jake Bowey - .103/.186./.103 in 12 games
IF Jared Cruz - .091/.091/.091 in 7 games - not currently playing
1B Connor MacDonald - .156/.264/.267 in 19 games - last played 11/29
IF/OF Marc Wik - .321/.460/.394 in 34 games
RHP Kevin Comer - 16.88 ERA/4.499 WHIP in 4 games (2.2IP) - not currently playing
Bowey went 1-for-3 with a walk in his first game action in a while. Wik was 5-for-11 with five walks in his last four games. He did not, however, get a hit in his All-Star game appearance on Wednesday.
PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE
OF Edwin Medina - .278/.364/.333 in 20 games (18AB)
OF Alexander Melendez - .000/.000/.000 in 5 games (2AB) - not currently playing
C Roberto Pena - .180/.241/.240 in 18 games
C Max Stassi - .280/.333/.520 in 8 games - no longer playing
RHP Travis Ballew - 2.57 ERA/1.381 WHIP in 18 games (21.0IP)
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 0.00 ERA and 0.545 WHIP in 4 games (3.2IP)
Ballew allowed no hits, no runs and two walks in his two appearances last week while Jankowski allowed one hit, no runs and no walks in his two outings. Pena has changed teams and apparently changed his luck as well. Since moving to Santurce, he has hit 3-for-8 with a double in two games.
C Jake Bowey - .103/.186./.103 in 12 games
IF Jared Cruz - .091/.091/.091 in 7 games - not currently playing
1B Connor MacDonald - .156/.264/.267 in 19 games - last played 11/29
IF/OF Marc Wik - .321/.460/.394 in 34 games
RHP Kevin Comer - 16.88 ERA/4.499 WHIP in 4 games (2.2IP) - not currently playing
Bowey went 1-for-3 with a walk in his first game action in a while. Wik was 5-for-11 with five walks in his last four games. He did not, however, get a hit in his All-Star game appearance on Wednesday.
PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE
OF Edwin Medina - .278/.364/.333 in 20 games (18AB)
OF Alexander Melendez - .000/.000/.000 in 5 games (2AB) - not currently playing
C Roberto Pena - .180/.241/.240 in 18 games
C Max Stassi - .280/.333/.520 in 8 games - no longer playing
RHP Travis Ballew - 2.57 ERA/1.381 WHIP in 18 games (21.0IP)
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 0.00 ERA and 0.545 WHIP in 4 games (3.2IP)
Ballew allowed no hits, no runs and two walks in his two appearances last week while Jankowski allowed one hit, no runs and no walks in his two outings. Pena has changed teams and apparently changed his luck as well. Since moving to Santurce, he has hit 3-for-8 with a double in two games.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Getting to Know Astros/Grizzlies RHP James Hoyt
For those who don't know James Hoyt's story, Evan Drellich gave us the longer version of the story shortly after Hoyt came to the Astros, along with Evan Gattis in the trade that sent Mike Foltynewicz, Rio Ruiz and Andrew Thurman to the Braves in January of this year. When I talked with Hoyt recently, I hesitated to ask him about his back story, assuming that he has told it so many times that he's probably grown weary of telling it, but according to Hoyt, "I enjoy telling it because it's a part of me."
When Hoyt tells his story, the picture that emerges is of a player whose high school life in Idaho never really revolved around baseball. He played but it was more of an afterthought. When he graduated from high school and decided to move to San Diego, a place he had fallen in love with over the years when visiting family, his high school coach Bill Buckner (yes, that Bill Buckner) put him in touch with a coach at Palomar College, a junior college near the San Diego area. It was at Palomar that Hoyt reveals he first started to learn the game and to really enjoy it.
Following his time at Palomar, Hoyt had the opportunity to pitch at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana and was excited to get the chance to play against some D1 schools, but he admits, "I was not advanced at all in baseball. I had a decent arm, nothing special." But he was getting more and more interested in playing. Unfortunately, Hoyt experienced a couple of setbacks at Centenary, including a knee problem, and his final college season was a disappointment. Although he talked to a few scouts, he wasn't drafted and no further opportunities in baseball presented themselves at the time.
Of this time, Hoyt said, "I had knee surgery so I just kind of shut it down, moved back to San Diego which was a place I enjoy and love and always want to call my home." Hoyt fell into a job working on sailboats in Mission Beach, but kept involved in baseball through a friend who coached high school baseball. After a year or so, he realized that he still had the baseball bug, and decided to give the independent route a try.
Jose Canseco's Yuma Scorpions were holding tryouts in Los Angeles and Hoyt decided to go. Long story short, he got the job and played on a team with Jose Canseco managing and batting cleanup, Ozzie Canseco at first and 18-year major league veteran Tony Phillips playing at third. "There was some real history on this team," said Hoyt. He didn't know what to expect, but it was interesting and after one season he decided to give it just one more year.
Unfortunately, about a week before Hoyt was set to report to the Scorpions for his second season, the team went belly up and Hoyt found himself playing for another team in the same league in Edinburg, Texas. He then moved on to an American Association team in Wichita. At some point he got the attention of a Mexican League scout who gave Hoyt about 24 hours to decide if he wanted to join the Tabasco team for their playoff run. According to Hoyt, "It was a lot more than I was making in independent ball so I ended up taking that door. Doors just kept opening."
Hoyt played well in the Mexican League and drew the attention of an Atlanta scout who signed him to his first affiliated minor league contract at age 27. He decided to give it one more year. And it was a good year. After playing for the High A Lynchburg (VA) Hillcats and the AA Mississippi Braves (Jackson, Mississippi) in 2013, Hoyt broke Baseball America's Braves top prospect list at number 30. "Things just kind of kept rolling and I started to figure out who I was as a pitcher and as a person," said Hoyt. He decided to give it one more year.
2014 saw Hoyt splitting his time between the Mississippi Braves and the AAA Gwinnett Braves in Lawrenceville, Georgia before heading to San Francisco de Macoris in the Dominican Republic for winter ball that year. And that is where Hoyt was in January 2015 when he got the call from Astros GM Jeff Luhnow that he was now an Astro, having been acquired in a trade with the Braves. But Hoyt couldn't come home quite yet. He and the rest of the Gigantes del Cibao were busy winning a National Championship that month. And with the new opportunity with the Astros, he was staring in the face of one more year.
Believe it or not, that is a somewhat abbreviated version of how James Hoyt got to where he is now. Hoyt spent the 2015 season playing for the Astros AAA Fresno Grizzlies affiliate, a team that won both the Pacific Coast League Championship and the AAA National Championship. Hoyt had a very good season, compiling a 3.48 ERA and a 1.204 WHIP with 9 saves in 47 appearances. However, after spending almost a month on the disabled list from mid-May to mid-June, Hoyt really kicked it into gear. Following that DL stint, he had a 1.56 ERA and a 0.837 WHIP in his final 33 regular season games.
But rambling man Hoyt wasn't finished yet. He just recently returned from spending a half-season in Venezuela playing winter ball where he put up a 1.86 ERA and a 0.983 WHIP in 19 appearances, converting 9 of 10 save opportunities. One of the reasons for that excellent winter ball campaign came out when I asked Hoyt about his pitch repertoire.
According to Hoyt, "For the majority of my career, I've just been a fastball/slider guy. And with the Braves, that's all I had was fastball/slider and I messed around with a splitter here and there. It's a comfortable grip. I threw it in college, but this summer toward the end of the season in Fresno, I really started trying to get a little more feel with the split finger. That was my main reason to go to Venezuela was to master that pitch because I think it can be a plus pitch for me."
Hoyt sees the splitter as a new weapon to complement his mid-90's fastball and hard slider. "I owe most of the success I had down in Venezuela thanks to that pitch, just to be able to fine-tune it. I'm excited for Spring Training to come and show these guys that I've got a third pitch and it worked for me down there. Obviously, my fastball is what sets the table so I've got to use that to locate and then go from there," said Hoyt.
Aside from that splitter, the biggest jump for Hoyt in 2015 was a mental one as he found the right mindset necessary to close games. Hoyt explained, "When I got to Fresno, we really didn't have a closer and we were just kind of rotating. (After the injury), I really got comfortable into the late innings and Tony De (Fresno Manager Tony DeFrancesco) ended up giving me the ball in the ninth inning later in the season and going into the playoffs." For Hoyt that was big because he had never been used consistently for late inning work and needed to make the mental leap and find the confidence to get those three late outs.
Hoyt sees having thrown consistently in the ninth inning toward the end of his AAA season and having been used exclusively as a closer in Venezuela as something that will help him going forward, "I think now if I'm placed in the sixth to ninth innings, it's going to be beneficial for me that I got that experience to be a closer and to get those outs."
Hoyt is now relaxing in San Diego, getting his work in and getting mentally prepared for the new season. He told me more about his time in Venezuela. "I just really enjoy winter ball. I think it makes me a better pitcher and gets me prepared. It's a completely different atmosphere. You're kind of in an uncomfortable position and I feel good with those scenarios. That was my first time in Venezuela. Last winter I was in the Dominican Republic and then (in 2012), I pitched in Mexico. That was the trio I kind of wanted to conquer and I was able to do that. It was a great experience. I would go back in a heartbeat."
Of his experience playing for the AAA National Championship Grizzlies team, Hoyt told me, "We had so much talent on that team, it was crazy. We just needed to go out there and play. All I really needed to do was throw strikes and we were going to put up runs and guys were going to make plays behind me. So that's all I tried to do from July to September, the last game in El Paso when we won the National Championship. That's all I really focused on was just being consistent and staying healthy and throwing strikes, and next thing you know, we won it all so it was good."
Of course, I had to rag Hoyt a little about one of the Championship finals games I had attended when Fresno played at Round Rock in September. It was a crazy come-frombehind game. Fresno was down 7-1 after three, but came roaring back and took the lead 8-7 in the top of the eighth inning. Hoyt came in for the save in the bottom of the ninth. One pitch from Hoyt and the game was tied.
Hoyt remembered it well, "I don't care if it's a tie game or we're down 10 runs. I had to tip my cap to that guy, [Nomar] Mezara ... he got me first pitch. The next day everybody was saying, 'Was that the right pitch there?' Should I have gone slider? No, I'm not going to go slider first pitch. I'm going to challenge these hitters. Sometimes they're going to get you. I said, 'That's not the end. I'm going to see that guy again.' And I ended up getting him for the last out to win the (PCL) Championship. I knew I would face him again."
It took a while to get there, going from Idaho to California to Louisiana to Arizona to Texas to Kansas to Mexico to Virginia to Mississippi to Georgia to the Dominican Republic back to California and on to Venezuela, but by plodding along, Hoyt has a couple of Championship Rings, a brand new pitch and is on the cusp of making it to the Bigs. Hoyt has never been in a hurry, but when each door opened, he entered and made the most of it. I think he's ready to give it one more year.
Thanks for your time, James, and best of luck in the coming season.
James Hoyt - May 2015
Photo by Jayne Hansen
When Hoyt tells his story, the picture that emerges is of a player whose high school life in Idaho never really revolved around baseball. He played but it was more of an afterthought. When he graduated from high school and decided to move to San Diego, a place he had fallen in love with over the years when visiting family, his high school coach Bill Buckner (yes, that Bill Buckner) put him in touch with a coach at Palomar College, a junior college near the San Diego area. It was at Palomar that Hoyt reveals he first started to learn the game and to really enjoy it.
Following his time at Palomar, Hoyt had the opportunity to pitch at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana and was excited to get the chance to play against some D1 schools, but he admits, "I was not advanced at all in baseball. I had a decent arm, nothing special." But he was getting more and more interested in playing. Unfortunately, Hoyt experienced a couple of setbacks at Centenary, including a knee problem, and his final college season was a disappointment. Although he talked to a few scouts, he wasn't drafted and no further opportunities in baseball presented themselves at the time.
Of this time, Hoyt said, "I had knee surgery so I just kind of shut it down, moved back to San Diego which was a place I enjoy and love and always want to call my home." Hoyt fell into a job working on sailboats in Mission Beach, but kept involved in baseball through a friend who coached high school baseball. After a year or so, he realized that he still had the baseball bug, and decided to give the independent route a try.
Jose Canseco's Yuma Scorpions were holding tryouts in Los Angeles and Hoyt decided to go. Long story short, he got the job and played on a team with Jose Canseco managing and batting cleanup, Ozzie Canseco at first and 18-year major league veteran Tony Phillips playing at third. "There was some real history on this team," said Hoyt. He didn't know what to expect, but it was interesting and after one season he decided to give it just one more year.
Unfortunately, about a week before Hoyt was set to report to the Scorpions for his second season, the team went belly up and Hoyt found himself playing for another team in the same league in Edinburg, Texas. He then moved on to an American Association team in Wichita. At some point he got the attention of a Mexican League scout who gave Hoyt about 24 hours to decide if he wanted to join the Tabasco team for their playoff run. According to Hoyt, "It was a lot more than I was making in independent ball so I ended up taking that door. Doors just kept opening."
Hoyt played well in the Mexican League and drew the attention of an Atlanta scout who signed him to his first affiliated minor league contract at age 27. He decided to give it one more year. And it was a good year. After playing for the High A Lynchburg (VA) Hillcats and the AA Mississippi Braves (Jackson, Mississippi) in 2013, Hoyt broke Baseball America's Braves top prospect list at number 30. "Things just kind of kept rolling and I started to figure out who I was as a pitcher and as a person," said Hoyt. He decided to give it one more year.
2014 saw Hoyt splitting his time between the Mississippi Braves and the AAA Gwinnett Braves in Lawrenceville, Georgia before heading to San Francisco de Macoris in the Dominican Republic for winter ball that year. And that is where Hoyt was in January 2015 when he got the call from Astros GM Jeff Luhnow that he was now an Astro, having been acquired in a trade with the Braves. But Hoyt couldn't come home quite yet. He and the rest of the Gigantes del Cibao were busy winning a National Championship that month. And with the new opportunity with the Astros, he was staring in the face of one more year.
Believe it or not, that is a somewhat abbreviated version of how James Hoyt got to where he is now. Hoyt spent the 2015 season playing for the Astros AAA Fresno Grizzlies affiliate, a team that won both the Pacific Coast League Championship and the AAA National Championship. Hoyt had a very good season, compiling a 3.48 ERA and a 1.204 WHIP with 9 saves in 47 appearances. However, after spending almost a month on the disabled list from mid-May to mid-June, Hoyt really kicked it into gear. Following that DL stint, he had a 1.56 ERA and a 0.837 WHIP in his final 33 regular season games.
But rambling man Hoyt wasn't finished yet. He just recently returned from spending a half-season in Venezuela playing winter ball where he put up a 1.86 ERA and a 0.983 WHIP in 19 appearances, converting 9 of 10 save opportunities. One of the reasons for that excellent winter ball campaign came out when I asked Hoyt about his pitch repertoire.
According to Hoyt, "For the majority of my career, I've just been a fastball/slider guy. And with the Braves, that's all I had was fastball/slider and I messed around with a splitter here and there. It's a comfortable grip. I threw it in college, but this summer toward the end of the season in Fresno, I really started trying to get a little more feel with the split finger. That was my main reason to go to Venezuela was to master that pitch because I think it can be a plus pitch for me."
Hoyt sees the splitter as a new weapon to complement his mid-90's fastball and hard slider. "I owe most of the success I had down in Venezuela thanks to that pitch, just to be able to fine-tune it. I'm excited for Spring Training to come and show these guys that I've got a third pitch and it worked for me down there. Obviously, my fastball is what sets the table so I've got to use that to locate and then go from there," said Hoyt.
Aside from that splitter, the biggest jump for Hoyt in 2015 was a mental one as he found the right mindset necessary to close games. Hoyt explained, "When I got to Fresno, we really didn't have a closer and we were just kind of rotating. (After the injury), I really got comfortable into the late innings and Tony De (Fresno Manager Tony DeFrancesco) ended up giving me the ball in the ninth inning later in the season and going into the playoffs." For Hoyt that was big because he had never been used consistently for late inning work and needed to make the mental leap and find the confidence to get those three late outs.
Hoyt sees having thrown consistently in the ninth inning toward the end of his AAA season and having been used exclusively as a closer in Venezuela as something that will help him going forward, "I think now if I'm placed in the sixth to ninth innings, it's going to be beneficial for me that I got that experience to be a closer and to get those outs."
Hoyt is now relaxing in San Diego, getting his work in and getting mentally prepared for the new season. He told me more about his time in Venezuela. "I just really enjoy winter ball. I think it makes me a better pitcher and gets me prepared. It's a completely different atmosphere. You're kind of in an uncomfortable position and I feel good with those scenarios. That was my first time in Venezuela. Last winter I was in the Dominican Republic and then (in 2012), I pitched in Mexico. That was the trio I kind of wanted to conquer and I was able to do that. It was a great experience. I would go back in a heartbeat."
Of his experience playing for the AAA National Championship Grizzlies team, Hoyt told me, "We had so much talent on that team, it was crazy. We just needed to go out there and play. All I really needed to do was throw strikes and we were going to put up runs and guys were going to make plays behind me. So that's all I tried to do from July to September, the last game in El Paso when we won the National Championship. That's all I really focused on was just being consistent and staying healthy and throwing strikes, and next thing you know, we won it all so it was good."
Of course, I had to rag Hoyt a little about one of the Championship finals games I had attended when Fresno played at Round Rock in September. It was a crazy come-frombehind game. Fresno was down 7-1 after three, but came roaring back and took the lead 8-7 in the top of the eighth inning. Hoyt came in for the save in the bottom of the ninth. One pitch from Hoyt and the game was tied.
Hoyt remembered it well, "I don't care if it's a tie game or we're down 10 runs. I had to tip my cap to that guy, [Nomar] Mezara ... he got me first pitch. The next day everybody was saying, 'Was that the right pitch there?' Should I have gone slider? No, I'm not going to go slider first pitch. I'm going to challenge these hitters. Sometimes they're going to get you. I said, 'That's not the end. I'm going to see that guy again.' And I ended up getting him for the last out to win the (PCL) Championship. I knew I would face him again."
It took a while to get there, going from Idaho to California to Louisiana to Arizona to Texas to Kansas to Mexico to Virginia to Mississippi to Georgia to the Dominican Republic back to California and on to Venezuela, but by plodding along, Hoyt has a couple of Championship Rings, a brand new pitch and is on the cusp of making it to the Bigs. Hoyt has never been in a hurry, but when each door opened, he entered and made the most of it. I think he's ready to give it one more year.
>>>>>>><<<<<<<
Thanks for your time, James, and best of luck in the coming season.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Astros Farm Report: 12/13
One last weigh-in on the Giles acquisition but first things first ...
WISHING A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
12-13: LHP Austin Nicely (21)
12-14: OF/SS Wilson Amador (19)
12-14: C Carlos Canelon (21)
12-14: 1B/3B Connor Goedert (22)
12-16: OF Jose Benjamin (20)
12-16: LHP Zach Davis (24)
12-16: OF Bryan de la Cruz (19)
12-18: RHP Edison Frias (25)
12-19: C Jorge Martinez (19)
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Here is how the Astros players participating in fall and winter leagues have fared to date (through Saturday, the 12th, unless otherwise noted):
ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE - FALL LEAGUE ENDED 11/21
3B J.D. Davis - .279/.329/.456 in 17 games
OF Derek Fisher - .254/.397/.424 in 17 games
IF Chan-Jong Moon - .093/.241/.116 in 13 games
1B A.J. Reed - .231/.326/.385 in 11 games
LHP Chris Cotton - 1.17 ERA/0.783 WHIP in 8 games (7.2IP)
LHP Brian Holmes - 1.13 ERA/1.250 WHIP in 6 games (16.0IP)
LHP Albert Minnis - 2.31 ERA/1.200 WHIP in 9 games (11.2IP)
RHP Keegan Yuhl - 7.88 ERA/1.625 WHIP in 8 games (8.0IP)
New Astro Brendan McCurry, obtained in the Jed Lowrie trade, went 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.125 WHIP in 11 games (13.1 IP) in the Arizona Fall League.
DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE
OF Andrew Aplin - .167/.167/.333 in 5 games
C Tyler Heineman - .190/.288/.224 in 19 games - no longer playing
OF Teoscar Hernandez - .250/.282/.250 in 15 games
1B/DH Tyler White - .303/.435/.521 in 40 games
RHP Jake Buchanan - 2.01 ERA/0.830 WHIP in 7 games (31.1IP) - no longer playing
LHP Reymin Guduan - 4.22 ERA/1.875 WHIP in 13 games (10.2IP) - last played 12/3
RHP Jandel Gustave - 2.87 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 14 games (15.2IP) - last played 11/28
RHP Angel Heredia - 13.50 ERA/2.500 WHIP in 2 games (2.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 16.20 ERA and 2.400 WHIP in 2 games (1.2IP) - moved to Puerto Rican Winter League
RHP Juan Minaya - 12.79 ERA/2.842 WHIP in 6 games (6.1IP) - not currently playing
Teoscar Hernandez has picked up the pace quite a bit, hitting .318/.360/.318 over his last 10 games. White has continued to excel and has batted .375/.488/.625 in his last 10. Andrew Aplin, who just joined the league this week, started out well, collecting a 3-run home run in his first game before falling off somewhat at the plate.
VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE
IF Arturo Michelena - .083/.083/.083 in 8 games (only 12 at-bats; has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
IF Kristian Trompiz - 2 games as pinch runner; no at-bats (has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
OF Danry Vasquez - .287/.333/.419 in 44 games
RHP Chris Devenski - 5.21 ERA/1.579 in 5 games (19.0IP) - no longer playing
RHP James Hoyt - 1.86 ERA/1.035 WHIP in 19 games (19.1IP) - no longer playing
Danry Vasquez is the only Astros player currently playing in Venezuela. He went 3-for-11 with a double and a walk in three games last week.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
OF Leo Heras - .284/.392/.490 in 31 games
RHP Octavio Acosta - 1.98 ERA and 1.463 WHIP in 8 games (13.2IP)
RHP Enrique Chavez - 9.00 ERA/3.000 WHIP in 1 game (1.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jose Hernandez - 1.39 ERA/1.021 WHIP in 8 games (32.1IP) - last played 11/29
RHP Juan Robles - 4.02 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 10 games (15.2IP) - last played 11/25
RHP Gonzalo Sanudo - 4.09 ERA/1.364 WHIP in 11 games (11.0IP)
Leo Heras re-appeared this week playing for a different team in the Mexican Pacific League and had quite a week, hitting .350/.381/.600 with a triple, home run and three RBI in his first five games for the new team.
Acosta, just obtained in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft from the Mets, had a less than optimal week, allowing two hits, one run and three walks in 0.2 innings of work. Sanudo allowed only one run in three appearances last week (2.1IP), but had a lot of baserunners (5H & 2BB).
WISHING A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
12-13: LHP Austin Nicely (21)
12-14: OF/SS Wilson Amador (19)
12-14: C Carlos Canelon (21)
12-14: 1B/3B Connor Goedert (22)
12-16: OF Jose Benjamin (20)
12-16: LHP Zach Davis (24)
12-16: OF Bryan de la Cruz (19)
12-18: RHP Edison Frias (25)
12-19: C Jorge Martinez (19)
TWEET OF THE WEEK
FALL/WINTER LEAGUE STATSDear baseball season, Hurry and come back please! 🙌🏾 it feels like it's been way too long— Akeem Bostick (@AB10ThePhenom) December 9, 2015
Here is how the Astros players participating in fall and winter leagues have fared to date (through Saturday, the 12th, unless otherwise noted):
ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE - FALL LEAGUE ENDED 11/21
3B J.D. Davis - .279/.329/.456 in 17 games
OF Derek Fisher - .254/.397/.424 in 17 games
IF Chan-Jong Moon - .093/.241/.116 in 13 games
1B A.J. Reed - .231/.326/.385 in 11 games
LHP Chris Cotton - 1.17 ERA/0.783 WHIP in 8 games (7.2IP)
LHP Brian Holmes - 1.13 ERA/1.250 WHIP in 6 games (16.0IP)
LHP Albert Minnis - 2.31 ERA/1.200 WHIP in 9 games (11.2IP)
RHP Keegan Yuhl - 7.88 ERA/1.625 WHIP in 8 games (8.0IP)
New Astro Brendan McCurry, obtained in the Jed Lowrie trade, went 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.125 WHIP in 11 games (13.1 IP) in the Arizona Fall League.
DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE
OF Andrew Aplin - .167/.167/.333 in 5 games
C Tyler Heineman - .190/.288/.224 in 19 games - no longer playing
OF Teoscar Hernandez - .250/.282/.250 in 15 games
1B/DH Tyler White - .303/.435/.521 in 40 games
RHP Jake Buchanan - 2.01 ERA/0.830 WHIP in 7 games (31.1IP) - no longer playing
LHP Reymin Guduan - 4.22 ERA/1.875 WHIP in 13 games (10.2IP) - last played 12/3
RHP Jandel Gustave - 2.87 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 14 games (15.2IP) - last played 11/28
RHP Angel Heredia - 13.50 ERA/2.500 WHIP in 2 games (2.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 16.20 ERA and 2.400 WHIP in 2 games (1.2IP) - moved to Puerto Rican Winter League
RHP Juan Minaya - 12.79 ERA/2.842 WHIP in 6 games (6.1IP) - not currently playing
Teoscar Hernandez has picked up the pace quite a bit, hitting .318/.360/.318 over his last 10 games. White has continued to excel and has batted .375/.488/.625 in his last 10. Andrew Aplin, who just joined the league this week, started out well, collecting a 3-run home run in his first game before falling off somewhat at the plate.
VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE
IF Arturo Michelena - .083/.083/.083 in 8 games (only 12 at-bats; has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
IF Kristian Trompiz - 2 games as pinch runner; no at-bats (has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
OF Danry Vasquez - .287/.333/.419 in 44 games
RHP Chris Devenski - 5.21 ERA/1.579 in 5 games (19.0IP) - no longer playing
RHP James Hoyt - 1.86 ERA/1.035 WHIP in 19 games (19.1IP) - no longer playing
Danry Vasquez is the only Astros player currently playing in Venezuela. He went 3-for-11 with a double and a walk in three games last week.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
OF Leo Heras - .284/.392/.490 in 31 games
RHP Octavio Acosta - 1.98 ERA and 1.463 WHIP in 8 games (13.2IP)
RHP Enrique Chavez - 9.00 ERA/3.000 WHIP in 1 game (1.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jose Hernandez - 1.39 ERA/1.021 WHIP in 8 games (32.1IP) - last played 11/29
RHP Juan Robles - 4.02 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 10 games (15.2IP) - last played 11/25
RHP Gonzalo Sanudo - 4.09 ERA/1.364 WHIP in 11 games (11.0IP)
Leo Heras re-appeared this week playing for a different team in the Mexican Pacific League and had quite a week, hitting .350/.381/.600 with a triple, home run and three RBI in his first five games for the new team.
Acosta, just obtained in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft from the Mets, had a less than optimal week, allowing two hits, one run and three walks in 0.2 innings of work. Sanudo allowed only one run in three appearances last week (2.1IP), but had a lot of baserunners (5H & 2BB).
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE
C Jake Bowey - .083/.154/.083 in 11 games
IF Jared Cruz - .091/.091/.091 in 7 games - not currently playing
1B Connor MacDonald - .156/.264/.267 in 19 games - last played 11/29
IF/OF Marc Wik - .306/.433/.388 in 30 games
RHP Kevin Comer - 16.88 ERA/4.499 WHIP in 4 games (2.2IP) - not currently playing
Wik cooled off this week, going 1-for-7 with two walks in his last three games. Wik is scheduled to participate in the All-Star game on Wednesday the 16th.
PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE
OF Edwin Medina - .235/.333/.294 in 18 games (17AB)
OF Alexander Melendez - .000/.000/.000 in 5 games (2AB) - did not play last week
C Roberto Pena - .143/.217/.190 in 16 games
C Max Stassi - .280/.333/.520 in 8 games - no longer playing
RHP Travis Ballew - 2.75 ERA/1.373 WHIP in 16 games (19.2IP)
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 0.00 ERA and 0.500 WHIP in 2 games (2.0IP)
Ballew had four scoreless outings last week and has recorded a 0.79 ERA and a 1.324 WHIP over his last 10 appearances. Jordan Jankowski moved from the Dominican Winter League to the Puerto Rican Winter League this week and got off to a much better start in his first two appearances for Caguas last week.
NEWS AND LINKS
Of course, the big news of the week is the re-signing of LHP Tony Sipp and the 7-player trade between the Astros and the Phillies. My final word on the trade is that I do like the acquisition of Ken Giles very much, but I feel that the price was too rich. I think that Velasquez, in particular, was undervalued in the deal. That is my opinion based on my observations of him and my conversations with Velasquez, his coaches, managers and fellow players. It is not, as some have alluded, an emotional attachment to the player. To assume that I have no insight into this issue, but am instead basing my opinion on emotions, is demeaning, insulting and disrespectful. I am not asking for anyone to agree with my opinion. I may be proven to be wrong about Velasquez; I have been wrong before and I will readily admit when I am. But I don't need anyone to explain to me how I am misguided in my thought process. I am a big girl, both literally and figuratively, and have made it (harumph) number of years without having to be told what to think and what my opinions should be. But thanks for your concern. Mini-rant over. The updated off-season transaction list can be found here.
Astros Director of International Oz Ocampo weighs in on the add-in in the Giles trade ...
C Jake Bowey - .083/.154/.083 in 11 games
IF Jared Cruz - .091/.091/.091 in 7 games - not currently playing
1B Connor MacDonald - .156/.264/.267 in 19 games - last played 11/29
IF/OF Marc Wik - .306/.433/.388 in 30 games
RHP Kevin Comer - 16.88 ERA/4.499 WHIP in 4 games (2.2IP) - not currently playing
Wik cooled off this week, going 1-for-7 with two walks in his last three games. Wik is scheduled to participate in the All-Star game on Wednesday the 16th.
PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE
OF Edwin Medina - .235/.333/.294 in 18 games (17AB)
OF Alexander Melendez - .000/.000/.000 in 5 games (2AB) - did not play last week
C Roberto Pena - .143/.217/.190 in 16 games
C Max Stassi - .280/.333/.520 in 8 games - no longer playing
RHP Travis Ballew - 2.75 ERA/1.373 WHIP in 16 games (19.2IP)
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 0.00 ERA and 0.500 WHIP in 2 games (2.0IP)
Ballew had four scoreless outings last week and has recorded a 0.79 ERA and a 1.324 WHIP over his last 10 appearances. Jordan Jankowski moved from the Dominican Winter League to the Puerto Rican Winter League this week and got off to a much better start in his first two appearances for Caguas last week.
NEWS AND LINKS
Of course, the big news of the week is the re-signing of LHP Tony Sipp and the 7-player trade between the Astros and the Phillies. My final word on the trade is that I do like the acquisition of Ken Giles very much, but I feel that the price was too rich. I think that Velasquez, in particular, was undervalued in the deal. That is my opinion based on my observations of him and my conversations with Velasquez, his coaches, managers and fellow players. It is not, as some have alluded, an emotional attachment to the player. To assume that I have no insight into this issue, but am instead basing my opinion on emotions, is demeaning, insulting and disrespectful. I am not asking for anyone to agree with my opinion. I may be proven to be wrong about Velasquez; I have been wrong before and I will readily admit when I am. But I don't need anyone to explain to me how I am misguided in my thought process. I am a big girl, both literally and figuratively, and have made it (harumph) number of years without having to be told what to think and what my opinions should be. But thanks for your concern. Mini-rant over. The updated off-season transaction list can be found here.
Astros Director of International Oz Ocampo weighs in on the add-in in the Giles trade ...
Saw Jonathan Arauz as an amateur. Natural SS actions, hit tool, K zone knowledge, instincts and feel. Tools with polish.
— Oz Ocampo (@OzOcampo) December 13, 2015
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Astros Farm Report: 12-6
The Baseball Winter Meetings are upon us, but first things first ...
WISHING A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
12-6: RHP Franklin Perez (18)
12-7: OF/2B Frankeny Fernandez (19)
12-8: C Oscar Campos (19)
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Here is how the Astros players participating in fall and winter leagues have fared to date (through Saturday, the 5th, unless otherwise noted):
ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE - FALL LEAGUE ENDED 11/21
3B J.D. Davis - .279/.329/.456 in 17 games
OF Derek Fisher - .254/.397/.424 in 17 games
IF Chan-Jong Moon - .093/.241/.116 in 13 games
1B A.J. Reed - .231/.326/.385 in 11 games
LHP Chris Cotton - 1.17 ERA/0.783 WHIP in 8 games (7.2IP)
LHP Brian Holmes - 1.13 ERA/1.250 WHIP in 6 games (16.0IP)
LHP Albert Minnis - 2.31 ERA/1.200 WHIP in 9 games (11.2IP)
RHP Keegan Yuhl - 7.88 ERA/1.625 WHIP in 8 games (8.0IP)
New Astro Brendan McCurry, obtained in the Jed Lowrie trade last week, went 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.125 WHIP in 11 games (13.1 IP) in the Arizona Fall League.
DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE (stats thru Friday only)
C Tyler Heineman - .190/.288/.224 in 19 games - no longer playing
OF Teoscar Hernandez - .222/.250/.222 in 9 games
1B/DH Tyler White - .306/.434/.524 in 34 games
RHP Jake Buchanan - 2.01 ERA/0.830 WHIP in 7 games (31.1IP) - no longer playing
LHP Reymin Guduan - 4.22 ERA/1.875 WHIP in 13 games (10.2IP)
RHP Jandel Gustave - 2.87 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 14 games (15.2IP)
RHP Angel Heredia - 13.50 ERA/2.500 WHIP in 2 games (2.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 16.20 ERA and 2.400 WHIP in 2 games (1.2IP)
RHP Juan Minaya - 12.79 ERA/2.842 WHIP in 6 games (6.1IP) - not currently playing
White has cranked it up a notch this week, going 9-for-20 with five runs, a double, home run, four RBI and five walks; last night's 2-for-4 game gives him a .313 batting average. Hernandez is heating up a little more slowly; his 1-for-2 night last night has his average up to .250. The only pitcher who saw action since last Saturday was Reymin Guduan and his one outing was mostly forgettable.
VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE
IF Arturo Michelena - .083/.083/.083 in 8 games (only 12 at-bats; has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
IF Kristian Trompiz - 2 games as pinch runner; no at-bats (has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
OF Danry Vasquez - .288/.333/.423 in 41 games
*RHP Ruben "R.J." Alaniz - 2.49 ERA/1.303 WHIP in 9 games (25.1IP)
RHP Chris Devenski - 5.21 ERA/1.579 in 5 games (19.0IP) - no longer playing
RHP James Hoyt - 1.86 ERA/1.035 WHIP in 19 games (19.1IP) - no longer playing
*Free agent
Danry Vasquez didn't have the best week, but he ended it on a high note, going 3-for-3 with a double, RBI, walk and run scored in last night's game. Hoyt is back home after conducting a very successful winter campaign and it appears that Devenski may be done as well since he hasn't pitched since November 23rd.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
OF Leo Heras - .268/.394/.463 in 26 games - not currently playing
RHP Enrique Chavez - 9.00 ERA/3.000 WHIP in 1 game (1.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jose Hernandez - 1.39 ERA/1.021 WHIP in 8 games (32.1IP)
RHP Juan Robles - 4.02 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 10 games (15.2IP) - did not play last week
RHP Gonzalo Sanudo - 4.15 ERA/0.923 WHIP in 9 games (8.2IP)
Sanudo only gave up one hit in his two appearances during the week; unfortunately, that one hit was a solo home run. Hernandez had a great start last Sunday, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out five in a scoreless five innings, earning the win.
WISHING A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO
12-6: RHP Franklin Perez (18)
12-7: OF/2B Frankeny Fernandez (19)
12-8: C Oscar Campos (19)
TWEET OF THE WEEK
I hate it when my wife says my Christmas wishes "aren't practical" because "we don't have the money for a monster truck"
— Cy Sneed (@CySneed) December 1, 2015
FALL/WINTER LEAGUE STATSHere is how the Astros players participating in fall and winter leagues have fared to date (through Saturday, the 5th, unless otherwise noted):
ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE - FALL LEAGUE ENDED 11/21
3B J.D. Davis - .279/.329/.456 in 17 games
OF Derek Fisher - .254/.397/.424 in 17 games
IF Chan-Jong Moon - .093/.241/.116 in 13 games
1B A.J. Reed - .231/.326/.385 in 11 games
LHP Chris Cotton - 1.17 ERA/0.783 WHIP in 8 games (7.2IP)
LHP Brian Holmes - 1.13 ERA/1.250 WHIP in 6 games (16.0IP)
LHP Albert Minnis - 2.31 ERA/1.200 WHIP in 9 games (11.2IP)
RHP Keegan Yuhl - 7.88 ERA/1.625 WHIP in 8 games (8.0IP)
New Astro Brendan McCurry, obtained in the Jed Lowrie trade last week, went 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.125 WHIP in 11 games (13.1 IP) in the Arizona Fall League.
DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE (stats thru Friday only)
C Tyler Heineman - .190/.288/.224 in 19 games - no longer playing
OF Teoscar Hernandez - .222/.250/.222 in 9 games
1B/DH Tyler White - .306/.434/.524 in 34 games
RHP Jake Buchanan - 2.01 ERA/0.830 WHIP in 7 games (31.1IP) - no longer playing
LHP Reymin Guduan - 4.22 ERA/1.875 WHIP in 13 games (10.2IP)
RHP Jandel Gustave - 2.87 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 14 games (15.2IP)
RHP Angel Heredia - 13.50 ERA/2.500 WHIP in 2 games (2.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jordan Jankowski - 16.20 ERA and 2.400 WHIP in 2 games (1.2IP)
RHP Juan Minaya - 12.79 ERA/2.842 WHIP in 6 games (6.1IP) - not currently playing
White has cranked it up a notch this week, going 9-for-20 with five runs, a double, home run, four RBI and five walks; last night's 2-for-4 game gives him a .313 batting average. Hernandez is heating up a little more slowly; his 1-for-2 night last night has his average up to .250. The only pitcher who saw action since last Saturday was Reymin Guduan and his one outing was mostly forgettable.
VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE
IF Arturo Michelena - .083/.083/.083 in 8 games (only 12 at-bats; has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
IF Kristian Trompiz - 2 games as pinch runner; no at-bats (has been playing in the Liga Paralela)
OF Danry Vasquez - .288/.333/.423 in 41 games
*RHP Ruben "R.J." Alaniz - 2.49 ERA/1.303 WHIP in 9 games (25.1IP)
RHP Chris Devenski - 5.21 ERA/1.579 in 5 games (19.0IP) - no longer playing
RHP James Hoyt - 1.86 ERA/1.035 WHIP in 19 games (19.1IP) - no longer playing
*Free agent
Danry Vasquez didn't have the best week, but he ended it on a high note, going 3-for-3 with a double, RBI, walk and run scored in last night's game. Hoyt is back home after conducting a very successful winter campaign and it appears that Devenski may be done as well since he hasn't pitched since November 23rd.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
OF Leo Heras - .268/.394/.463 in 26 games - not currently playing
RHP Enrique Chavez - 9.00 ERA/3.000 WHIP in 1 game (1.0IP) - not currently playing
RHP Jose Hernandez - 1.39 ERA/1.021 WHIP in 8 games (32.1IP)
RHP Juan Robles - 4.02 ERA/1.277 WHIP in 10 games (15.2IP) - did not play last week
RHP Gonzalo Sanudo - 4.15 ERA/0.923 WHIP in 9 games (8.2IP)
Sanudo only gave up one hit in his two appearances during the week; unfortunately, that one hit was a solo home run. Hernandez had a great start last Sunday, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out five in a scoreless five innings, earning the win.
AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE (thru Sunday)
C Jake Bowey - .094/.171/.094 in 10 games - did not play last week
IF Jared Cruz - .091/.091/.091 in 7 games - not currently playing
1B Connor MacDonald - .156/.264/.267 in 19 games - did not play last week
IF/OF Marc Wik - .319/.441/.407 in 27 games
RHP Kevin Comer - 16.88 ERA/4.499 WHIP in 4 games (2.2IP) - not currently playing
Wik had an absolute monster week, going 8-for-14 with a double, six walks, a stolen base, three RBI and six runs scored over the last five games. He is in the top 10 in the ABL in average and on-base percentage and is tied for first place in walks.
PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE
OF Edwin Medina - .235/.333/.294 in 15 games (17AB)
OF Alexander Melendez - .000/.000/.000 in 5 games (2AB)
C Roberto Pena - .132/.214/.184 in 14 games
C Max Stassi - .280/.333/.520 in 8 games - no longer playing
RHP Travis Ballew - 3.60 ERA/1.333 WHIP in 12 games (15.0IP)
Ballew made three appearances last week, allowing one hit, one run and three walks in 2.1 innings of work.
C Jake Bowey - .094/.171/.094 in 10 games - did not play last week
IF Jared Cruz - .091/.091/.091 in 7 games - not currently playing
1B Connor MacDonald - .156/.264/.267 in 19 games - did not play last week
IF/OF Marc Wik - .319/.441/.407 in 27 games
RHP Kevin Comer - 16.88 ERA/4.499 WHIP in 4 games (2.2IP) - not currently playing
Wik had an absolute monster week, going 8-for-14 with a double, six walks, a stolen base, three RBI and six runs scored over the last five games. He is in the top 10 in the ABL in average and on-base percentage and is tied for first place in walks.
PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE
OF Edwin Medina - .235/.333/.294 in 15 games (17AB)
OF Alexander Melendez - .000/.000/.000 in 5 games (2AB)
C Roberto Pena - .132/.214/.184 in 14 games
C Max Stassi - .280/.333/.520 in 8 games - no longer playing
RHP Travis Ballew - 3.60 ERA/1.333 WHIP in 12 games (15.0IP)
Ballew made three appearances last week, allowing one hit, one run and three walks in 2.1 innings of work.
NEWS AND LINKS
The biggest news, of course, is the upcoming Rule 5 Draft taking place at this week's Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville. The draft will take place on Thursday the 10th starting at 9:00 CST. The full schedule and other information about the meetings can be found here.
There is always a lot of wheeling and dealing that goes on during the meetings and the Astros cleared out a couple of additional roster spots last week by trading Hank Conger to Tampa Bay for cash and by non-tendering Chris Carter. The ongoing off-season transaction list can be found here.
As a reminder, here are the players who are at risk of being taken in the Rule 5 Draft this year (as they were not protected on the 40-man roster). Those in bold are on MLB Pipeline's Top 30 prospect list for the Astros.
AAA Position Players
#C Tyler Heineman
#IF Joe Sclafani
AAA Pitchers
#RHP Travis Ballew
RHP Chris Devenski
#RHP Mike Hauschild
#RHP Jordan Jankowski
RHP Tyson Perez
#RHP Brady Rodgers
LHP Tommy Shirley
AA Position Players
#OF Teoscar Hernandez
SS Chan Moon
C Roberto Pena
OF Danry Vasquez
AA Pitchers
RHP Edison Frias
LHP Reymin Guduan
#LHP Brian Holmes
RHP Gonzalo Sanudo
#RHP Aaron West
Position Players at High A or lower
#C Marlon Avea
#OF Rodrigo Ayarza
#3B Randy Cesar
2B Jose Fernandez
#IF Arturo Michelena
#IF Luis Reynoso
#IF/OF Marc Wik
Pitchers at High A or lower
#RHP Harold Arauz
RHP Agapito Barrios
#RHP Kevin Comer
#RHP Samil de los Santos
#RHP Yeyfry del Rosario
LHP Evan Grills
RHP Angel Heredia
RHP Jose Montero
#RHP Christian Powell
#LHP Edwin Villarroel
RHP Andrew Walter
#C Tyler Heineman
#IF Joe Sclafani
AAA Pitchers
#RHP Travis Ballew
RHP Chris Devenski
#RHP Mike Hauschild
#RHP Jordan Jankowski
RHP Tyson Perez
#RHP Brady Rodgers
LHP Tommy Shirley
AA Position Players
#OF Teoscar Hernandez
SS Chan Moon
C Roberto Pena
OF Danry Vasquez
AA Pitchers
RHP Edison Frias
LHP Reymin Guduan
#LHP Brian Holmes
RHP Gonzalo Sanudo
#RHP Aaron West
Position Players at High A or lower
#C Marlon Avea
#OF Rodrigo Ayarza
#3B Randy Cesar
2B Jose Fernandez
#IF Arturo Michelena
#IF Luis Reynoso
#IF/OF Marc Wik
Pitchers at High A or lower
#RHP Harold Arauz
RHP Agapito Barrios
#RHP Kevin Comer
#RHP Samil de los Santos
#RHP Yeyfry del Rosario
LHP Evan Grills
RHP Angel Heredia
RHP Jose Montero
#RHP Christian Powell
#LHP Edwin Villarroel
RHP Andrew Walter
A reminder of how the Rule 5 draft works can be found here.
In minor league staff news, the Astros are losing 2015 Fresno Pitching Coach Ace Adams to the Detroit organization where he will be joining recently retired MiLB home run king Mike Hessman in coaching the New York-Penn League Connecticut Tigers. Adams had earlier been announced to be moving to the Astros New York-Penn League affiliate Tri-City ValleyCats in 2016 as the Astros minor league Pitching Coordinator Dyar Miller was slated to take over in Fresno. With the loss of Adams and the prior loss of Doug Brocail to the Rangers, the Astros are now down two minor league pitching coaches.
Also, on the minor league staff front, Fresno skipper Tony DeFrancesco was named 2015 Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America. The Grizzlies reported the news here.
Also, on the minor league staff front, Fresno skipper Tony DeFrancesco was named 2015 Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America. The Grizzlies reported the news here.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Looking back at the Astros 2011 Draft Class
Over the last few weeks, we've been looking back at some of the Astros draft classes to see where things stand. Let's check in on the Class of 2011. 2011 was the last year of the Ed Wade/Bobby Heck tandem (although Heck was still around in 2012 to help out new General Manager Jeff Luhnow).
Let's look at the numbers:
50 players drafted
35 players signed
3 players still in the Astros system
17 players still active in baseball in 2015*
4 have made their major league debuts
26 position players drafted/19 signed/2 still in the system
7 from high school/2 signed/0 still in the system
1 from junior college/0 signed
18 from college/17 signed/2 still in the system
24 pitchers drafted/16 signed/1 still in the system
6 from high school/3 signed/0 still in the system
6 from junior college/4 signed/1 still in the system
12 from college/9 signed/0 still in the system
*Of the 17 players who were still active in baseball in 2015, 13 of those were still playing in organized baseball, including five players who did not sign with Houston, but later signed with other teams; five who were traded (Houser, Lee, Tropeano, Lambson and Sosa); and three players who were still in the Astros system (Springer, Duffy and Perez). Two others were released by Houston and were still playing in independent ball in 2015, and two were still playing in college in 2015. Four of the players (Springer, Houser, Tropeano and Duffy) have made their major league debuts.
Here is a little on each of them. Players who signed with the Astros organization are in bold. The position shown is the position at which the player was drafted, and I have also indicated in parentheses whether they were drafted out of high school (HS), junior college (JC) or college (C).
1. OF George Springer (C)
Springer made his MLB debut for the Astros on April 16, 2014. He has hit .256/.354/.463 with 27 doubles, three triples and 36 home runs in 180 MLB games over the last two seasons.
2. RHP Adrian Houser (HS) - Traded in July 2015
Houser was dealt to the Brewers, along with OF Brett Phillips, OF Domingo Santana and LHP Josh Hader for OF Carlos Gomez and RHP Mike Fiers in July, and made his major league debut for the Brewers on September 26, 2015. He appeared in two major league games (two innings). In five minor league seasons, he has compiled a 4.16 ERA and a 1.336 WHIP.
3. RHP Jack Armstrong (C) - Voluntarily retired in 2014
Armstrong never threw a pitch for the Astros in competition. He had Tommy John surgery in 2012 and never made it back from the disabled list. Armstrong briefly tried to re-invent himself as a first baseman during Spring Training in 2014, but shortly thereafter announced his retirement.
4. LHP Chris Lee (JC) - Traded in May 2015
Lee was traded to the Orioles in May 2015 for international signing bonus slots. In five minor league seasons, Lee has compiled a 3.83 ERA and a 1.473 WHIP. The 23-year old ended the season with Baltimore's AA affiliate.
5. RHP Nick Tropeano (C) - Traded in 2014
Tropeano was traded in November 2014, along with C Carlos Perez, to the Angels for C Hank Conger. Tropeano split his 2015 season between AAA (4.81 ERA and 1.511 WHIP in 16 starts) and the majors (3.82 ERA and 1.327 WHIP in 8 games/7 starts).
6. OF Brandon Meredith (C) - Released in July 2015
Meredith was released in July after spending five seasons with the Astros. In 346 minor league games, he hit .263/.371/.466.
7. OF Javaris Reynolds (HS) - Released in 2014
Reynolds failed to progress beyond the Gulf Coast League in three seasons. He hit .213/.323/.243 in 106 games before being released in January 2014.
8. RHP Brandon Culbreth (HS) - Retired in July 2015
Culbreth spent his 2014 on Team Rehab after undergoing Tommy John surgery and only pitched in three games in 2015 before deciding to retire. His entire minor league career consisted of 50 innings pitched with a 6.84 ERA and a 1.920 WHIP.
9. RHP Jonas Dufek (C) - Voluntary release in June 2015
Dufek was another pitcher coming back from rehab who decided to hang it up in 2015. He was having a great deal of success out of the bullpen prior to the surgery and ended his time with the Astros with a 4.65 ERA and a 1.413 WHIP over four seasons.
10. LHP Kyle Hallock (C) - Released in 2014
Hallock pitched for three seasons in the system, ending with a 5.63 ERA and a 1.553 WHIP in 59 games (37 starts) before being released in March 2014.
11. OF Justin Gominsky (C) - Released in 2014
After missing most of 2013 due to a wrist injury, Gominsky was released after playing only five games for Lancaster in 2014. He went on to play a few games in independent ball before hanging up his cleats. In a total of 183 games over four seasons, he hit .233/.309/.287.
12. C Miles Hamblin (C) - Released in 2013
Hamblin missed most of 2012 on the DL and ended up playing in only 96 games in three seasons before his June 2013 release. Playing at catcher and first base, he hit .241/.337/.353.
13. 2B John Hinson (C) - Released in 2013
Hinson played in the Astros system for two seasons, hitting .299/.349/.421 in 58 games. He missed most of the 2012 season and was released in March 2013.
14. RHP Gandy Stubblefield (HS) - Did not sign
Stubblefield played for Texas A&M before transferring to the University of West Alabama prior to the 2015 season. He was drafted from that school by the Phillies in the 28th round in 2015 and had a 3.44 ERA and a 1.091 WHIP in 14 bullpen appearances (six saves) in his first pro season.
15. 1B Zach Johnson (C) - Released in 2013
Johnson made it as far as AA Corpus Christi before being released in August 2013. In 268 games over three seasons, he hit .252/.339/.403.
16. LHP Scott Zuloaga (JC) - Released after the 2012 season
Zuloaga pitched in 57 games out of the bullpen in the Astros system over two seasons with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.435 WHIP and was released at some point following the 2012 season.
17. RHP Tyson Perez (JC)
Perez spent the vast majority of the 2015 season pitching for the AAA Fresno Grizzlies and compiled a 2.45 ERA and a 0.986 WHIP in 42 bullpen appearances for the season. Perez was shut down early and reportedly underwent Tommy John surgery.
18. RHP Kevin Miller (C) - Did not sign
Miller played his final season for the University of California, Berkeley in 2011. It does not appear that he ever played professionally.
19. LHP Mitch Lambson (C) - Traded in July 2015
Lambson was traded to the Braves in July for cash considerations. In 40 bullpen appearances between AA and AAA for both the Houston and Braves organizations, Lambson had a 2.35 ERA and a 1.151 WHIP for the season.
20. 3B Matt Duffy (C)
Duffy made his major league debut for the Astros on September 16, 2015, but only had nine plate appearances for the season, hitting .375/.444/.500. In his season with the AAA Fresno Grizzlies, Duffy hit .293/.367/.471 in 127 games, splitting his time between third base and first base.
21. SS Jimmy Howick (C) - Released in 2012
Howick didn't play at all in 2011 and was released in November 2012 after hitting only .193/.264/.275 in 74 games in the 2012 season.
22. OF Drew Muren (C) - Released in 2014
After three years in the Astros system, Muren was released in March 2014 and has since played in independent ball. For his career, he is hitting .276/.348/.398.
23. 2B Ruben Sosa (C) - Traded in 2015
Sosa played in the Astros system from 2011 through 2014. In April 2015, Sosa was loaned to the Mexican League for a time before being traded to the Angels for cash in late May 2015. In 339 minor league games, he has hit .261/.344/.365.
24. 1B Jesse Wierzbicki (C) - Released in 2014
Wierzbicki plays for three seasons in the Astros system before his release in March 2014, hitting .271/.362/.409 in 235 games.
25. OF Billy Flamion (HS) - Did not sign
Flamion was drafted by the Dodgers in 2013 and played for them for two seasons before being released in June 2015. He had a 3.00 ERA and a 1.533 WHIP in 35 games and never progressed beyond rookie level.
26. RHP Jared Fisher (HS) - Did not sign
Fisher was drafted by the Dodgers in 2014 and played one season in that organization with a 2.86 ERA and a 1.182 WHIP in 13 appearances prior to his release in June 2015.
27. SS Alex Todd (C) Voluntarily retired after 2012 season
Todd spent two seasons with the Astros, hitting .260/.349/.362 in 125 games prior to his offseason retirement after the 2012 season.
28. LHP Jordan John (C) - Did not sign
John was subsequently drafted by the Tigers in the 6th round in 2012 and spent three seasons in that organization, compiling a 3.33 ERA and a 1.252 WHIP in 29 appearances, prior to his release or retirement after the 2014 season.
29. OF Wallace Gonzalez (HS) - Released in 2014
Gonzalez spent three seasons in the Astros system, hitting .225/.284/.329 in 89 games, prior to his May 2014 release.
30. 3B Jordan Steranka (C) - Did not sign
Steranka was re-drafted by the Pirates in 2012 and has played in that system for three seasons, hitting .258/.277/.356 in 221 games. He has spent the last two seasons with the Pirates High A affiliate playing mostly first base.
31. OF Jarrod McKinney (C) - Released in 2012
McKinney only played two seasons in the Astros system, hitting .206/.279/.305 in 83 games prior to his November 2012 release.
32. RHP Zach Dando (JC) - Released in 2014
Dando played three seasons in the Astros system prior to his release in March 2014. After sitting out the 2014 season, Dando played independent ball in 2015. He has a career 3.80 ERA and a 1.367 WHIP.
33. OF Dominique Taylor (JC) - Did not sign
Taylor was re-drafted by the Royals in the 15th round in 2013. In three seasons in that organization, he has a .273/.328/.397 batting line. Taylor spent the 2015 season with the Royals High A affiliate.
34. RHP Dustin Kellogg (HS) - Died October 2011
Kellogg died in an auto accident just months after signing with the Astros. He only pitched a handful of innings in his time with the Gulf Coast League Astros in 2011.
35. RHP Chris Morales (HS) - Did not sign
It appears that Morales played with the University of Houston for a short time, but never played professionally.
36. C Kevin Gonzalez (C) - Released/Retired in 2012
Gonzalez played in only 13 games in 2011 (hitting .250/.333/.313) and was either released or retired prior to the 2012 season.
37. RHP Steve Martin (C) - Released in 2012
Martin also only played in only a handful of games in 2011 and was released prior to the 2012 season. He had a 6.00 ERA and a 1.375 WHIP in 16 games for Greeneville. Martin, drafted out of Texas A&M, had the distinction of being born in Swaziland.
38. RHP Brad Propst (C) - Released in 2012
Propst played for two seasons in the Astros system, compiling a 5.65 ERA and a 1.500 WHIP in 34 games prior to his release in November 2012.
39. RHP David Haerle (JC) - Did not sign
It does not appear that Haerle ever played professionally.
40. RHP Buddy Lamothe (JC) - Did not sign
Lamothe was on the Astros draft board until he was paralyzed in a swimming accident. Drafting him was a symbolic gesture made to both honor him and bring attention to a fund set up to help his family with his needs. Later in the 2011 season, Lamothe threw out the first pitch at an Astros game and was awarded with an accessible van by former Astros owner Drayton McClane.
41. 1B Chase Davidson (C) - Retired after the 2013 season
Davidson was first drafted by the Astros in the third round in 2008, but did not sign and went on to the University of Georgia. Davidson battled injuries in his three seasons with the Astros. He only played in 63 games (19 over his final two seasons), hitting .289/.371/.540 before retiring after the 2013 season.
42. OF Hoke Granger (HS) - Did not sign
Granger was a junior at Troy University in Troy, Alabama in 2015. He has not been re-drafted at this time.
43. OF David Grimes (HS) - Did not sign
It does not appear that Grimes ever went on to play in college or professionally.
44. RHP Blake Ford (C) - Released in 2012
Ford spent two seasons in the Astros organization, going 4-6 with 22 saves and compiling a 2.53 ERA and a 1.388 WHIP in 47 games.
45. OF Chris Epps (C) - Released in June 2014
After a mid-season release by the Astros, Epps played the remainder of the 2014 season in independent ball, but did not play in 2015. He ended his minor league career hitting .260/.371/.470 in 274 games over four seasons.
46. 1B Justin Shults (C) - Released after the 2011 season
Shults only made it one season in the system, hitting .224/.317/.379 in 51 games.
47. LHP Zachary Hardoin (C) - Released in July 2012
Hardoin was released during the 2012 season after posting a 4.15 ERA and a 1.384 WHIP in 24 appearances. His release was reportedly due to off-field issues.
48. C A.J. Murray (HS) - Did not sign
Murray was re-drafted by the Twins in the 14th round in 2015 out of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. In his first season, he hit .264/.366/.409 in 51 games and had a 32% caught stealing rate in 27 games behind the plate.
49. RHP David Peterson (C) - Did not sign
Peterson was re-drafted by the Braves in the 8th round in 2012 out of the College of Charleston. In four seasons with that organization, he is 10-4 with 21 saves, a 2.84 ERA and a 1.254 WHIP in 83 appearances (four starts). He ended the season with their AAA affiliate.
50. OF Colton Davis (HS) - Did not sign
Davis was a junior with Western Carolina in 2015.
Previous draft reviews:
2007 Draft
2008 Draft
2009 Draft
2010 Draft
Let's look at the numbers:
50 players drafted
35 players signed
3 players still in the Astros system
17 players still active in baseball in 2015*
4 have made their major league debuts
26 position players drafted/19 signed/2 still in the system
7 from high school/2 signed/0 still in the system
1 from junior college/0 signed
18 from college/17 signed/2 still in the system
24 pitchers drafted/16 signed/1 still in the system
6 from high school/3 signed/0 still in the system
6 from junior college/4 signed/1 still in the system
12 from college/9 signed/0 still in the system
*Of the 17 players who were still active in baseball in 2015, 13 of those were still playing in organized baseball, including five players who did not sign with Houston, but later signed with other teams; five who were traded (Houser, Lee, Tropeano, Lambson and Sosa); and three players who were still in the Astros system (Springer, Duffy and Perez). Two others were released by Houston and were still playing in independent ball in 2015, and two were still playing in college in 2015. Four of the players (Springer, Houser, Tropeano and Duffy) have made their major league debuts.
George Springer - May 2013
Photo by Jayne Hansen
Here is a little on each of them. Players who signed with the Astros organization are in bold. The position shown is the position at which the player was drafted, and I have also indicated in parentheses whether they were drafted out of high school (HS), junior college (JC) or college (C).
1. OF George Springer (C)
Springer made his MLB debut for the Astros on April 16, 2014. He has hit .256/.354/.463 with 27 doubles, three triples and 36 home runs in 180 MLB games over the last two seasons.
2. RHP Adrian Houser (HS) - Traded in July 2015
Houser was dealt to the Brewers, along with OF Brett Phillips, OF Domingo Santana and LHP Josh Hader for OF Carlos Gomez and RHP Mike Fiers in July, and made his major league debut for the Brewers on September 26, 2015. He appeared in two major league games (two innings). In five minor league seasons, he has compiled a 4.16 ERA and a 1.336 WHIP.
3. RHP Jack Armstrong (C) - Voluntarily retired in 2014
Armstrong never threw a pitch for the Astros in competition. He had Tommy John surgery in 2012 and never made it back from the disabled list. Armstrong briefly tried to re-invent himself as a first baseman during Spring Training in 2014, but shortly thereafter announced his retirement.
4. LHP Chris Lee (JC) - Traded in May 2015
Lee was traded to the Orioles in May 2015 for international signing bonus slots. In five minor league seasons, Lee has compiled a 3.83 ERA and a 1.473 WHIP. The 23-year old ended the season with Baltimore's AA affiliate.
5. RHP Nick Tropeano (C) - Traded in 2014
Tropeano was traded in November 2014, along with C Carlos Perez, to the Angels for C Hank Conger. Tropeano split his 2015 season between AAA (4.81 ERA and 1.511 WHIP in 16 starts) and the majors (3.82 ERA and 1.327 WHIP in 8 games/7 starts).
6. OF Brandon Meredith (C) - Released in July 2015
Meredith was released in July after spending five seasons with the Astros. In 346 minor league games, he hit .263/.371/.466.
7. OF Javaris Reynolds (HS) - Released in 2014
Reynolds failed to progress beyond the Gulf Coast League in three seasons. He hit .213/.323/.243 in 106 games before being released in January 2014.
8. RHP Brandon Culbreth (HS) - Retired in July 2015
Culbreth spent his 2014 on Team Rehab after undergoing Tommy John surgery and only pitched in three games in 2015 before deciding to retire. His entire minor league career consisted of 50 innings pitched with a 6.84 ERA and a 1.920 WHIP.
9. RHP Jonas Dufek (C) - Voluntary release in June 2015
Dufek was another pitcher coming back from rehab who decided to hang it up in 2015. He was having a great deal of success out of the bullpen prior to the surgery and ended his time with the Astros with a 4.65 ERA and a 1.413 WHIP over four seasons.
10. LHP Kyle Hallock (C) - Released in 2014
Hallock pitched for three seasons in the system, ending with a 5.63 ERA and a 1.553 WHIP in 59 games (37 starts) before being released in March 2014.
11. OF Justin Gominsky (C) - Released in 2014
After missing most of 2013 due to a wrist injury, Gominsky was released after playing only five games for Lancaster in 2014. He went on to play a few games in independent ball before hanging up his cleats. In a total of 183 games over four seasons, he hit .233/.309/.287.
12. C Miles Hamblin (C) - Released in 2013
Hamblin missed most of 2012 on the DL and ended up playing in only 96 games in three seasons before his June 2013 release. Playing at catcher and first base, he hit .241/.337/.353.
13. 2B John Hinson (C) - Released in 2013
Hinson played in the Astros system for two seasons, hitting .299/.349/.421 in 58 games. He missed most of the 2012 season and was released in March 2013.
14. RHP Gandy Stubblefield (HS) - Did not sign
Stubblefield played for Texas A&M before transferring to the University of West Alabama prior to the 2015 season. He was drafted from that school by the Phillies in the 28th round in 2015 and had a 3.44 ERA and a 1.091 WHIP in 14 bullpen appearances (six saves) in his first pro season.
15. 1B Zach Johnson (C) - Released in 2013
Johnson made it as far as AA Corpus Christi before being released in August 2013. In 268 games over three seasons, he hit .252/.339/.403.
16. LHP Scott Zuloaga (JC) - Released after the 2012 season
Zuloaga pitched in 57 games out of the bullpen in the Astros system over two seasons with a 4.70 ERA and a 1.435 WHIP and was released at some point following the 2012 season.
17. RHP Tyson Perez (JC)
Perez spent the vast majority of the 2015 season pitching for the AAA Fresno Grizzlies and compiled a 2.45 ERA and a 0.986 WHIP in 42 bullpen appearances for the season. Perez was shut down early and reportedly underwent Tommy John surgery.
18. RHP Kevin Miller (C) - Did not sign
Miller played his final season for the University of California, Berkeley in 2011. It does not appear that he ever played professionally.
19. LHP Mitch Lambson (C) - Traded in July 2015
Lambson was traded to the Braves in July for cash considerations. In 40 bullpen appearances between AA and AAA for both the Houston and Braves organizations, Lambson had a 2.35 ERA and a 1.151 WHIP for the season.
20. 3B Matt Duffy (C)
Duffy made his major league debut for the Astros on September 16, 2015, but only had nine plate appearances for the season, hitting .375/.444/.500. In his season with the AAA Fresno Grizzlies, Duffy hit .293/.367/.471 in 127 games, splitting his time between third base and first base.
21. SS Jimmy Howick (C) - Released in 2012
Howick didn't play at all in 2011 and was released in November 2012 after hitting only .193/.264/.275 in 74 games in the 2012 season.
22. OF Drew Muren (C) - Released in 2014
After three years in the Astros system, Muren was released in March 2014 and has since played in independent ball. For his career, he is hitting .276/.348/.398.
23. 2B Ruben Sosa (C) - Traded in 2015
Sosa played in the Astros system from 2011 through 2014. In April 2015, Sosa was loaned to the Mexican League for a time before being traded to the Angels for cash in late May 2015. In 339 minor league games, he has hit .261/.344/.365.
24. 1B Jesse Wierzbicki (C) - Released in 2014
Wierzbicki plays for three seasons in the Astros system before his release in March 2014, hitting .271/.362/.409 in 235 games.
25. OF Billy Flamion (HS) - Did not sign
Flamion was drafted by the Dodgers in 2013 and played for them for two seasons before being released in June 2015. He had a 3.00 ERA and a 1.533 WHIP in 35 games and never progressed beyond rookie level.
26. RHP Jared Fisher (HS) - Did not sign
Fisher was drafted by the Dodgers in 2014 and played one season in that organization with a 2.86 ERA and a 1.182 WHIP in 13 appearances prior to his release in June 2015.
27. SS Alex Todd (C) Voluntarily retired after 2012 season
Todd spent two seasons with the Astros, hitting .260/.349/.362 in 125 games prior to his offseason retirement after the 2012 season.
28. LHP Jordan John (C) - Did not sign
John was subsequently drafted by the Tigers in the 6th round in 2012 and spent three seasons in that organization, compiling a 3.33 ERA and a 1.252 WHIP in 29 appearances, prior to his release or retirement after the 2014 season.
29. OF Wallace Gonzalez (HS) - Released in 2014
Gonzalez spent three seasons in the Astros system, hitting .225/.284/.329 in 89 games, prior to his May 2014 release.
30. 3B Jordan Steranka (C) - Did not sign
Steranka was re-drafted by the Pirates in 2012 and has played in that system for three seasons, hitting .258/.277/.356 in 221 games. He has spent the last two seasons with the Pirates High A affiliate playing mostly first base.
31. OF Jarrod McKinney (C) - Released in 2012
McKinney only played two seasons in the Astros system, hitting .206/.279/.305 in 83 games prior to his November 2012 release.
32. RHP Zach Dando (JC) - Released in 2014
Dando played three seasons in the Astros system prior to his release in March 2014. After sitting out the 2014 season, Dando played independent ball in 2015. He has a career 3.80 ERA and a 1.367 WHIP.
33. OF Dominique Taylor (JC) - Did not sign
Taylor was re-drafted by the Royals in the 15th round in 2013. In three seasons in that organization, he has a .273/.328/.397 batting line. Taylor spent the 2015 season with the Royals High A affiliate.
34. RHP Dustin Kellogg (HS) - Died October 2011
Kellogg died in an auto accident just months after signing with the Astros. He only pitched a handful of innings in his time with the Gulf Coast League Astros in 2011.
35. RHP Chris Morales (HS) - Did not sign
It appears that Morales played with the University of Houston for a short time, but never played professionally.
36. C Kevin Gonzalez (C) - Released/Retired in 2012
Gonzalez played in only 13 games in 2011 (hitting .250/.333/.313) and was either released or retired prior to the 2012 season.
37. RHP Steve Martin (C) - Released in 2012
Martin also only played in only a handful of games in 2011 and was released prior to the 2012 season. He had a 6.00 ERA and a 1.375 WHIP in 16 games for Greeneville. Martin, drafted out of Texas A&M, had the distinction of being born in Swaziland.
38. RHP Brad Propst (C) - Released in 2012
Propst played for two seasons in the Astros system, compiling a 5.65 ERA and a 1.500 WHIP in 34 games prior to his release in November 2012.
39. RHP David Haerle (JC) - Did not sign
It does not appear that Haerle ever played professionally.
40. RHP Buddy Lamothe (JC) - Did not sign
Lamothe was on the Astros draft board until he was paralyzed in a swimming accident. Drafting him was a symbolic gesture made to both honor him and bring attention to a fund set up to help his family with his needs. Later in the 2011 season, Lamothe threw out the first pitch at an Astros game and was awarded with an accessible van by former Astros owner Drayton McClane.
41. 1B Chase Davidson (C) - Retired after the 2013 season
Davidson was first drafted by the Astros in the third round in 2008, but did not sign and went on to the University of Georgia. Davidson battled injuries in his three seasons with the Astros. He only played in 63 games (19 over his final two seasons), hitting .289/.371/.540 before retiring after the 2013 season.
42. OF Hoke Granger (HS) - Did not sign
Granger was a junior at Troy University in Troy, Alabama in 2015. He has not been re-drafted at this time.
43. OF David Grimes (HS) - Did not sign
It does not appear that Grimes ever went on to play in college or professionally.
44. RHP Blake Ford (C) - Released in 2012
Ford spent two seasons in the Astros organization, going 4-6 with 22 saves and compiling a 2.53 ERA and a 1.388 WHIP in 47 games.
45. OF Chris Epps (C) - Released in June 2014
After a mid-season release by the Astros, Epps played the remainder of the 2014 season in independent ball, but did not play in 2015. He ended his minor league career hitting .260/.371/.470 in 274 games over four seasons.
46. 1B Justin Shults (C) - Released after the 2011 season
Shults only made it one season in the system, hitting .224/.317/.379 in 51 games.
47. LHP Zachary Hardoin (C) - Released in July 2012
Hardoin was released during the 2012 season after posting a 4.15 ERA and a 1.384 WHIP in 24 appearances. His release was reportedly due to off-field issues.
48. C A.J. Murray (HS) - Did not sign
Murray was re-drafted by the Twins in the 14th round in 2015 out of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. In his first season, he hit .264/.366/.409 in 51 games and had a 32% caught stealing rate in 27 games behind the plate.
49. RHP David Peterson (C) - Did not sign
Peterson was re-drafted by the Braves in the 8th round in 2012 out of the College of Charleston. In four seasons with that organization, he is 10-4 with 21 saves, a 2.84 ERA and a 1.254 WHIP in 83 appearances (four starts). He ended the season with their AAA affiliate.
50. OF Colton Davis (HS) - Did not sign
Davis was a junior with Western Carolina in 2015.
Previous draft reviews:
2007 Draft
2008 Draft
2009 Draft
2010 Draft
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