A LOOK AT THE ASTROS MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM
Showing posts with label Chris Wallace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Wallace. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Roster Moves
The Astros announced on Monday that C Chris Wallace was being traded to Cleveland for LHP Eric Berger. The 26-year old Berger was drafted by Cleveland in the 8th round in 2008 and has a minor league career 3.91 ERA and 1.399 WHIP in 135 appearances (78 starts). He will be assigned to AAA Oklahoma City. Wallace was a 16th round pick in 2010. His career batting line over 3+ seasons is .272/.348/.464 with a career caught stealing of 27%.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Roster Moves
There have been a few Oklahoma City roster moves the last couple of days.
C Chris Wallace assigned from Extended Spring Training to Oklahoma City
RHP John Ely placed on the 7-day DL
2B Jose Martinez placed on the 7-day DL
RHP Lance Day assigned to Oklahoma City (has been at Extended Spring Training)
Lance Day is a non-drafted free agent who signed last year with the Astros and had good results in his time at Tri-City. I am assuming that this is a temporary move while John Ely is on the DL. Even as a temporary move, it's a win/win situation. By bringing Day from Extended rather than moving in one of the established starters from another level, it limits the disruption to rosters (rather than moving players up and down in a short amount of time) and gives Day the experience and the opportunity to show what he may be able to do at a higher level.
C Chris Wallace assigned from Extended Spring Training to Oklahoma City
RHP John Ely placed on the 7-day DL
2B Jose Martinez placed on the 7-day DL
RHP Lance Day assigned to Oklahoma City (has been at Extended Spring Training)
Lance Day is a non-drafted free agent who signed last year with the Astros and had good results in his time at Tri-City. I am assuming that this is a temporary move while John Ely is on the DL. Even as a temporary move, it's a win/win situation. By bringing Day from Extended rather than moving in one of the established starters from another level, it limits the disruption to rosters (rather than moving players up and down in a short amount of time) and gives Day the experience and the opportunity to show what he may be able to do at a higher level.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Spring Training Update
Monday's game wasn't very pretty for most of the pitching staff with the exception of C.J. (can I please keep calling him Chuckie) Fick who pitched two scoreless innings, allowing only one single and no walks. Marwin Gonzalez had a nice 2-for-3 game with a double. Jake Elmore, Rick Ankiel and Nate Freiman also doubled.
Spring Training Record: 1-1-1
Spring Training Game 3 Results: Cardinals 10, Astros 2
Game 2 Minor League Standout: No real standouts, but CF George Springer and PH-DH Chris Wallace were responsible for the only Astros runs via a groundout RBI and a bases loaded hit by pitch, respectively.
Spring Training Games 4 & 5:
Tigers at Astros (SS) at 12:05 CST
Astros (SS) at Rays at 12:05 CST
SPRING TRAINING RESULTS
Spring Training Game 1 Results: Astros 8, Phillies 3
Spring Training Game 2 Results: Astros 7, Mets 7
Spring Training Record: 1-1-1
Spring Training Game 3 Results: Cardinals 10, Astros 2
Game 2 Minor League Standout: No real standouts, but CF George Springer and PH-DH Chris Wallace were responsible for the only Astros runs via a groundout RBI and a bases loaded hit by pitch, respectively.
Spring Training Games 4 & 5:
Tigers at Astros (SS) at 12:05 CST
Astros (SS) at Rays at 12:05 CST
SPRING TRAINING RESULTS
Spring Training Game 1 Results: Astros 8, Phillies 3
Spring Training Game 2 Results: Astros 7, Mets 7
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Astros Minor League Depth - Catcher
As Spring Training approaches, I've been looking at the Astros minor league depth, position by position. Today, we look at the catchers in the organization who had the best seasons in 2012.
One thing strikes me immediately when looking at this list -- youth. Except for Ben Heath and Chris Wallace who are each 24 years old, the rest of these players range from 20 to 22.
Tyler Heineman leads the list in his first year with the organization. The 2012 eighth round draft pick also leads this list in batting average and OPS. He was the New York-Penn League batting champion for 2012 as well. But Heineman isn't just a good hitter. He's also a great defensive catcher and had one of the top caught stealing percentages in the Astros minor league system at 41%. M. P. Cokinos would certainly have gotten much more attention for his offensive output had he not been playing alongside Heineman.
Another catcher who has everyone excited since he came into the system as a part of the 10-player Houston-Toronto trade in July is Carlos Perez. Much like Heineman, he looks to be the complete package offensively and defensively and boasted a 47% caught stealing rate at Lancaster (34% overall).
Also relatively new to the organization is Jobduan Morales who came to the Astros organization in the Justin Ruggiano trade with Miami. Morales' bat was valuable enough that he frequently appeared as a DH when he wasn't used behind the dish. That was true of his winter season in Puerto Rico as well.
Max Stassi just came in to the Astros organization this week as a part of the Jed Lowrie/Fernando Rodriguez trade with Oakland. He ranks in the middle of the pack with his on-base skills. It is his power potential that sets him apart from the rest of the group as he hit 18 doubles and 15 home runs on the way to a .468 slugging percentage. In 2012, he had a 24% caught stealing rate.
There are a couple players on this list whose playing time was very limited and many might question their inclusion. Luis Alvarez didn't see a great deal of playing time during the season, but put up some very good numbers. He followed up with an outstanding winter season with the Liga Paralela in Venezuela. That is enough to keep me interested in Alvarez. Pedro Coa was one of the few offensive bright spots on the DSL team in 2012. That, coupled with a 60% caught stealing rate, has me looking forward to seeing what he will do in 2013.
Heath and Rene Garcia were both having good years when injuries shortened their seasons. Roberto Pena was promoted to Lancaster largely due to injuries putting a strain on the catching staff throughout the system. Pena is widely regarded as a premium defensive catcher, but he struggled offensively after the promotion. I think the 20-year old will start to catch up with the more advanced pitching in the coming season if he is given regular playing time.
Chris Wallace had an uneven season offensively, but overall hit extremely well in the second half of the season. What he needs to focus on most, though, are base runners. He only managed a 12% caught stealing rate in 2012.
Ernesto Genoves' offensive output fell off from the prior season, but reports (from Appy Astros) are that he became much more solid defensively. I'm still intrigued by Genoves' potential, but he is going to have to show me that he is capable of getting to the next level developmentally in the coming season.
Tuesday: Lefty Starters
Wednesday: Lefty Relievers
Carlos Perez and Roberto Pena
Lancaster - August 2012
Photo by Jayne Hansen
The embedded chart shows catchers in the organization ranked from high to low in terms of OBP. I have noted their current age and the last level at which they played.
One thing strikes me immediately when looking at this list -- youth. Except for Ben Heath and Chris Wallace who are each 24 years old, the rest of these players range from 20 to 22.
Tyler Heineman leads the list in his first year with the organization. The 2012 eighth round draft pick also leads this list in batting average and OPS. He was the New York-Penn League batting champion for 2012 as well. But Heineman isn't just a good hitter. He's also a great defensive catcher and had one of the top caught stealing percentages in the Astros minor league system at 41%. M. P. Cokinos would certainly have gotten much more attention for his offensive output had he not been playing alongside Heineman.
Another catcher who has everyone excited since he came into the system as a part of the 10-player Houston-Toronto trade in July is Carlos Perez. Much like Heineman, he looks to be the complete package offensively and defensively and boasted a 47% caught stealing rate at Lancaster (34% overall).
Also relatively new to the organization is Jobduan Morales who came to the Astros organization in the Justin Ruggiano trade with Miami. Morales' bat was valuable enough that he frequently appeared as a DH when he wasn't used behind the dish. That was true of his winter season in Puerto Rico as well.
Max Stassi just came in to the Astros organization this week as a part of the Jed Lowrie/Fernando Rodriguez trade with Oakland. He ranks in the middle of the pack with his on-base skills. It is his power potential that sets him apart from the rest of the group as he hit 18 doubles and 15 home runs on the way to a .468 slugging percentage. In 2012, he had a 24% caught stealing rate.
There are a couple players on this list whose playing time was very limited and many might question their inclusion. Luis Alvarez didn't see a great deal of playing time during the season, but put up some very good numbers. He followed up with an outstanding winter season with the Liga Paralela in Venezuela. That is enough to keep me interested in Alvarez. Pedro Coa was one of the few offensive bright spots on the DSL team in 2012. That, coupled with a 60% caught stealing rate, has me looking forward to seeing what he will do in 2013.
Heath and Rene Garcia were both having good years when injuries shortened their seasons. Roberto Pena was promoted to Lancaster largely due to injuries putting a strain on the catching staff throughout the system. Pena is widely regarded as a premium defensive catcher, but he struggled offensively after the promotion. I think the 20-year old will start to catch up with the more advanced pitching in the coming season if he is given regular playing time.
Chris Wallace had an uneven season offensively, but overall hit extremely well in the second half of the season. What he needs to focus on most, though, are base runners. He only managed a 12% caught stealing rate in 2012.
Ernesto Genoves' offensive output fell off from the prior season, but reports (from Appy Astros) are that he became much more solid defensively. I'm still intrigued by Genoves' potential, but he is going to have to show me that he is capable of getting to the next level developmentally in the coming season.
Tuesday: Lefty Starters
Wednesday: Lefty Relievers
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Roster Moves
Oklahoma City
C Chris Wallace was assigned from Corpus Christi to Oklahoma City
SS Angel Sanchez was activated from the TI list.
C Jay Fernandez was placed on the 7 day DL.
LHP Dallas Keuchel will be assigned to Houston effective 7/21.
Corpus Christi
RHP Asher Wojciechowski was assigned to Corpus Christi.
C Ben Heath was assigned from Lancaster to Corpus Christi.
Lancaster
C Carlos Perez was assigned to Lancaster.
UPDATED TO ADD: RHP Kirk Clark was released from the Astros.
RHP R.J. Alaniz was activated from the DL.
Lexington
LHP David Rollins was assigned to Lexington.
Greeneville
RHP Joe Musgrove was assigned to Greenevile.
C Chris Wallace was assigned from Corpus Christi to Oklahoma City
SS Angel Sanchez was activated from the TI list.
C Jay Fernandez was placed on the 7 day DL.
LHP Dallas Keuchel will be assigned to Houston effective 7/21.
Corpus Christi
RHP Asher Wojciechowski was assigned to Corpus Christi.
C Ben Heath was assigned from Lancaster to Corpus Christi.
Lancaster
C Carlos Perez was assigned to Lancaster.
UPDATED TO ADD: RHP Kirk Clark was released from the Astros.
RHP R.J. Alaniz was activated from the DL.
Lexington
LHP David Rollins was assigned to Lexington.
Greeneville
RHP Joe Musgrove was assigned to Greenevile.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Tweet of the Day
Chris Wallace breaks up the chants of "cheese dip" with a two-out single in the 9th. (Fans would have recieved a coupon if he struck out.)
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Roster Moves - 5/26
Oklahoma City
OF Justin Ruggiano was traded to the Miami Marlins for C Jobduan Morales.
UPDATED TO ADD: CF Brandon Barnes was promoted from Corpus Christi to Oklahoma City.
Corpus Christi
C Chris Wallace activated from the temporary inactive list.
2B J.C. Thompson was released.
OF Justin Ruggiano was traded to the Miami Marlins for C Jobduan Morales.
UPDATED TO ADD: CF Brandon Barnes was promoted from Corpus Christi to Oklahoma City.
Corpus Christi
C Chris Wallace activated from the temporary inactive list.
2B J.C. Thompson was released.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Injury Updates
In addition to the news on Monday that 2011 third round pick RHP Jack Armstrong was recovering from Tommy John surgery two weeks ago (a surgery that no one seemed to have reported previously), Zachary Levine also reported that C Chris Wallace is out with a hip flexor injury and that SS Jio Mier's hamstring injury will require him to miss at least several weeks. Mier was headed to Houston on Monday to be examined.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Roster Moves - 5/3
CC
C Chris Wallace moved to the temporary inactive list.
C Ryan McCurdy assigned from LAN to CC.
It appears that Wallace may have sustained a minor injury that wouldn't necessitate a trip to the DL, but would leave the Hooks with only one catcher if he takes a day or two to recover.
C Chris Wallace moved to the temporary inactive list.
C Ryan McCurdy assigned from LAN to CC.
It appears that Wallace may have sustained a minor injury that wouldn't necessitate a trip to the DL, but would leave the Hooks with only one catcher if he takes a day or two to recover.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Happy Birthday - 4/27
C Chris Wallace (24)
Drafted by Houston in the 16th round in 2010 out of the University of Houston, Wallace split the 2011 season between Lexington and Corpus Christi and hit .271/.343/.507. He has started off a little slowly in Corpus Christi in 2012 (.222/.317/.417), but through 10 games, he already has 8 RBI. Wallace wears an unusual face mask for protection. He was hit in the face by a fastball during the College Classic at Minute Maid Park in 2009 and suffered extensive damage. He wears the mask because any further damage would likely be career ending.
C Raul Antonio Bare "Tony" Eusebio (45)
Eusebio was signed by Houston as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1985. He played in 598 games for the Astros in 1991 and 1994 through 2001, and was used mostly as a back-up catcher except in 1995 and 1999. And 1995 was his best year at the plate as he hit .299/.354/.410 over 113 games. He hit a home run in the last game played at the Astrodome.
Runelvys Hernandez (34)
Originally signed by the Royals as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1997, Hernandez came to Houston as a free agent in 1998. He only appeared in four games for the Astros that season.
3B Pedro Feliz (37)
Feliz was signed by the Giants as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1994 and came to Houston as a free agent in December of 2009. A .258/.288/.410 career hitter, he only managed to hit .221/.243/.311 in 97 games for Houston before being traded to the Cardinals in August 2010 for RHP David Carpenter.
Drafted by Houston in the 16th round in 2010 out of the University of Houston, Wallace split the 2011 season between Lexington and Corpus Christi and hit .271/.343/.507. He has started off a little slowly in Corpus Christi in 2012 (.222/.317/.417), but through 10 games, he already has 8 RBI. Wallace wears an unusual face mask for protection. He was hit in the face by a fastball during the College Classic at Minute Maid Park in 2009 and suffered extensive damage. He wears the mask because any further damage would likely be career ending.
Photo Courtesy of Bryan Green
March 2012
C Raul Antonio Bare "Tony" Eusebio (45)
Eusebio was signed by Houston as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1985. He played in 598 games for the Astros in 1991 and 1994 through 2001, and was used mostly as a back-up catcher except in 1995 and 1999. And 1995 was his best year at the plate as he hit .299/.354/.410 over 113 games. He hit a home run in the last game played at the Astrodome.
Runelvys Hernandez (34)
Originally signed by the Royals as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1997, Hernandez came to Houston as a free agent in 1998. He only appeared in four games for the Astros that season.
3B Pedro Feliz (37)
Feliz was signed by the Giants as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1994 and came to Houston as a free agent in December of 2009. A .258/.288/.410 career hitter, he only managed to hit .221/.243/.311 in 97 games for Houston before being traded to the Cardinals in August 2010 for RHP David Carpenter.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
WTH 25-Man Roster
The sixth player selected for the What the Heck 25-Man Roster was C Chris Wallace who, unsurprisingly, won the poll by a huge margin. Also receiving votes were Jordan Comadena, Roberto Pena, Ernesto Genoves and Marlon Avea. (For more information on the WTH 25-Man Roster, go here.)
Coming Monday - Let's pick our first lefty reliever.
Coming Monday - Let's pick our first lefty reliever.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)