Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Thursday, April 20, 2017

Another organization sweep!

Fresno 10, Las Vegas 3

W- Edison Frias (1-1)
L- Wilfredo Boscan (0-1)
S- Tyson Perez (1)

Fresno home runs: None.

The Grizz stormed out of the gate with 5 in the 1st and used a 4-run 8th inning to remove any remaining doubts regarding the outcome of this game.

Edison Frias turned in 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits (solo homer), walking 2, and striking out 5. Ryan Thompson and Tyson Perez finished off the game by throwing 2 innings apiece. The one run Thompson allowed came on a solo homer from Jayce Boyd in the 7th; he allowed one other hit and struck out 3.

All 5 Fresno runs in the opening inning came with two outs. A.J. Reed opened the scoring with an RBI single, and then Preston Tucker and Teoscar Hernandez loaded the bases with singles of their own. Colin Moran and Jon Kemmer followed with 2-run singles. Reed added an RBI single in the 2nd. In the 8th, Juan Centeno ripped an RBI triple, Tyler White lashed an RBI double, and Reed capped off the night with another RBI single, his third hit of the game.

Big Tuck (R, BB) and D.J. Fisher (2 R, SB [2]) both went 3-4; Tucker extended his hitting streak to 11 games. The bottom third of the order (Moran, Kemmer, Centeno) combined to go 6-12 (they all went 2-4) with 5 RBI (Moran and Kemmer 2 each, Centeno 1) and 3 runs scored.

The Grizzlies and 51s will wrap up their series tonight at 7:05 Pacific. Brian Holmes faces Adam Wilk.

Corpus Christi 7, Frisco 6 in 11 innings

W- Michael Freeman (2-0)
L- Nick Gardewine (0-1)
S- Jacob Dorris (1)

CC home runs: Alejandro Garcia (3, 3-run in 3rd), J.D. Davis (3, solo in 11th)

J.D. Davis only had one hit, but it proved to be the difference in the first skirmish involving the Astros and Rangers organizations in 2017.

Alejandro Garcia put the Hooks on the board first when he launched a 3-run homer in the 3rd inning. He's matched his home run total from 2016 in 13 games. However, the Riders took the lead thanks to a 4-run 4th inning. Jack Mayfield led off the 6th with a walk, advanced to 3rd on a Jamie Ritchie double, and scored the tying run when Bryan Muñiz legged out an infield single.

Corpus thought that they had a chance to go for the win when they scored a couple of runs in the top of the 9th to regain the lead. Garcia got plunked with the bases loaded to bring in the go-ahead run, and Mayfield walked Ramon Laureano home. However, Frisco scored two of their own in the bottom of the 9th to force extra innings. After both sides went scoreless in the 10th, Davis greeted new Frisco pitcher Nick Gardewine with a 1-out solo home run.

Garcia finished 3-5 and also stole his 2nd base of the season. Ritchie (2 2B) and Jon Singleton (2B) both went 2-5.

Kent Emanuel allowed 4 runs on 7 hits (2-run homer), walked 1, and struck out 7 in 4 innings of work. Eric Peterson, Riley Ferrell, and Michael Freeman followed with 2 innings each out of the bullpen. Peterson was first; he allowed a hit and struck out 1. Ferrell allowed 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2, and Freeman allowed the tying runs, both of which were unearned, on a groundout and a double in the 9th. The double was the only hit that he surrendered; he also walked 3 and struck out 1. Freeman also managed to get himself out of a bases-loaded jam to end the 10th. Jacob Dorris threw a 1-2-3 11th to get the save.

Josh James gets the start in game 2. He'll take on Reed Garrett at 7:05.


Buies Creek 14, Carolina 1

W- Franklin Perez (2-0)
L- Cody Ponce (2-1)
S- Matt Bower (1)

BC home runs: None.

Franklin Perez was fantastic and the Buies Creek offense went on a rampage.

Perez allowed just two hits and struck out 7 over 5 shutout innings. Matt Bower finished the game and allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 5 in the final 4 innings.

Anthony Hermelyn doubled to lead off the 2nd inning and scored on a single from Anibal Sierra. The real fun started in the 3rd inning.

Myles Straw kicked things off with a single, and then Dex McCall moved him over to 3rd base with a single to bring up Ryne Birk, who ripped a 2-run triple. Hermelyn joined him on the bases by drawing a walk. The Astros put up 7 runs in the inning, 5 of which came with two outs. Osvaldo Duarte proceeded to lace an RBI single, and then Sierra got plunked to load the bases. Hermelyn scored on an error that allowed Jason Martin to reach. Straw smacked a 2-run double in his second plate appearance of the evening, and Kyle Tucker, who was the first casualty of the inning, drove in the final run of the frame with a single. Duarte hit an RBI groundout in the 4th inning.

Buies put up 4 more in the 5th as Birk and Hermelyn drew bases-loaded walks and Duarte smacked a 2-run double. Little Tuck capped off the onslaught with an RBI double in the 6th. Everyone in the lineup recorded a hit; the Astros scored all 14 of their runs without hitting a home run.

In game 2 of this series, Yoanys Quiala will go up against Marcos Diplan. First pitch is at 7:00 Eastern.

Quad Cities 8, Clinton 2

W- Carson LaRue (1-0)
L- Tim Viehoff (0-1)

QC home runs: Stephen Wrenn (3, 2-run in 8th), Jake Rogers (2, solo in 8th)

The Banditos have launched 14 home runs in their last 4 games and this show of force has vaulted them to the top of Minor League Baseball in that category.

For those keeping tabs, 21 homers for @QCRiverBandits on the year now. Two ahead of Omaha and three up on Memphis for the @MiLB lead

— Jake Levy (@JakeLevyVoice) April 21, 2017

Clinton got on the board first with a run in the 2nd, but Quad Cities hit back with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning. Chuckie Robinson ripped a 2-run double to put the Bandits in front, and he came around to score on a Marcos Almonte single. Spencer Johnson hit a 2-run single in the 5th to push the lead to 5-1, and the Bandits capped off another win with some fireworks. Stephen Wrenn clubbed a 2-run homer in the 8th and Jake Rogers smacked a solo shot for their final run of the evening.

The top third of the Quad Cities lineup (Wrenn, Alex De Goti, and Rogers) all had two hits on the evening. Wrenn stole a base (4), while Rogers scored twice. Rodrigo Ayarza went 3-4 with a double and scored a run.

Carson LaRue went 5 innings and allowed a run on 3 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4. Dustin Hunt tagged in for 3 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out 1. Derick Velazquez pitched the 9th and allowed an unearned run on a single and struck out 1.

Brett Adcock will start game 2 of this series. He'll face Nick Wells at 6:35.

Thursday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Follow the Buies Creek Astros on Twitter @bcreekastros

Buies Creek Astros: W 14-1 @ Carolina

14 R, 15 H

Myles Straw: 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R

Kyle Tucker: 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R, SB (4)

Ryne Birk: 2-5, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 R

Osvaldo Duarte: 2-5, 2B, 4 RBI, R

Franklin Perez, RHP, and Matt Bower, LHP, Buies Creek

Perez: W (2-0), 5 IP, 2 H, 7 K

Bower: Save (1), 4 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 5 K

Perez's first 3 appearances: 14.1 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 14 K

Jake Rogers, C, Quad Cities

2-4, 2B, solo HR (2), 2 R

Currently on an 8-game hitting streak

Quad Cities pitchers: W 8-2 vs. Clinton

9 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 earned), 2 BB, 6 K

Carson LaRue: W (1-0), 5 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Dustin Hunt: 3 IP, H, K

Derick Velazquez: IP, H, unearned run, K

Photo from MiLB.com

Alejandro Garcia, OF, Corpus Christi

3-5, 3-R HR (3), 4 RBI, SB (2)

Colin Moran, IF, Fresno

2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R

Jon Kemmer, OF, Fresno

2-4, 2 RBI

A.J. Reed, 1B/DH, Fresno

3-5, 3 RBI, R

Photo by Bryan Green

Juan Centeno, C, Fresno

2-4, 3B, RBI, R

Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Friday, April 14, 2017

Las Vegas 4, Fresno 2

W- Kyle Regnault (1-0)
L- Edison Frias (0-1)
S- Paul Sewald (1)

Fresno home runs: None.

The Grizzlies had to settle for the split after Vegas put a couple of runs across to break a 2-2 tie.

Fresno's two runs both came in the 2nd as Tyler White hit a one-out single and came around to score on a triple from Jon Kemmer. Reid Brignac followed with an RBI double. White finished 3-4 and has recorded at least one hit in all 8 of his starts this season. Tony Kemp finished 2-5 to extend his hitting streak to 8 as well; in six of those games, he's recorded two hits.

Edison Frias went 5 innings and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits, walked 5 (one intentionally), and struck out 1. Tyson Perez allowed a hit and struck out 2 over 2 scoreless innings, and Jordan Jankowski worked around a hit to throw a scoreless 8th.

Brian Holmes will get the start as Fresno begins a 3-game series in Salt Lake City. First pitch is at 6:35 Mountain.

Corpus Christi 5, Arkansas 4

W- Dean Deetz (2-0)
L- Peter Tago (0-1)
S- Ryan Thompson (2)

CC home runs: None.

Corpus scored 3 in the bottom of the 8th to steal this game from the Travs.

Drew Ferguson walked to lead off the bottom of the 1st and he didn't have to wait long to score the game's first run as Ramon Laureano followed by ripping an RBI double. Two batters later, J.D. Davis hit an RBI single. Arkansas scored 4 in the top of the 2nd to take the lead, and then both teams put up 14 consecutive zeroes on the scoreboard until the Hooks mounted their rally in the 8th.

Laureano led off the bottom of the 8th with a double and Jon Singleton joined him on the bases by drawing a walk. A wild pitch allowed the two of them to advance a base, and then J.D. Davis walked to load the bases. Jack Mayfield was the first casualty of the inning, but Jamie Ritchie came through with a 2-run single to tie the game. Mott Hyde walked to reload the bases, and then Alejandro Garcia got plunked to bring in Davis for the go-ahead run. Laureano was the only player in the starting 9+1 with a multi-hit outing; both of his hits were doubles.

Kent Emanuel went 4 innings and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits, walked 1, and struck out 2. Riley Ferrell worked around a hit to throw a scoreless 5th and struck out 1 in his Texas League debut. Dean Deetz tagged in to throw 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and striking out 2. He ran out of gas trying to get the final out, but Ryan Thompson stepped in to pick hm up, getting Brock Hebert to ground into a force out to end the game.

The Hooks and Travelers will wrap up their series tonight at 7:05. Rogelio Armenteros will take on Brett Ash.

Buies Creek 4, Winston-Salem 3

W- Ryan Deemes (1-0)
L- Aaron Bummer (0-2)
S- Franklin Perez (1)

BC home runs: Jason Martin (1, solo in 3rd), Johnny Sewald (1, solo in 6th)

In a season of firsts for the Houston Astros' new Carolina League affiliate, they can add "first road win" to that list.

Jason Martin was essentially the offense in this one... he led off the 3rd with a home run to open up the scoring and added a 2-run single in the 4th. The Dash managed to tie the game with a couple of runs in the bottom of the 4th and one more run in the 5th, but Johnny Sewald put Buies back in front with a solo homer in the 6th. Martin (solo HR, 3 RBI), Anthony Hermelyn, and Pat Porter (R) all finished with two hits on the evening.

Matt Bower went 4.1 innings and allowed 3 runs (1 inherited runner charged to him) on 4 hits, walked 3, and struck out 5. Ryan Deemes got the final two outs of the 5th via strikeout and allowed a hit that allowed one of Bower's runners to score. Franklin Perez took over the rest of the way and he struck out 2 over 4 perfect innings to get the save.

Yoanys Quiala will face Aron McRee in game 3 of this series. First pitch is at 6:30 Eastern.

Quad Cities 2, Kane County 1 in 11 innings

W- Derick Velazquez (1-1)
L- Austin Mason (0-1)

QC home runs: None.

The River Bandits snapped a little 3-game slide by walking off with a win on Friday night.

Ronnie Dawson singled to lead off the 3rd. He proceeded to steal 2nd and scored the first run of the evening on a double from Jake Rogers. Kane County scored their run in the 5th, and then 12 consecutive zeroes were posted on the scoreboard. It didn't take long for the Banditos to win it; Rogers led off the inning by reaching on an error that allowed him to advance to 2nd and Randy César sent the crowd at Modern Woodmen Park home happy with a single.

A high pitch count knocked Brett Adcock out of the game early again, but there's no doubt that he's been incredibly effective to open the year. In 4.1 innings, Adcock allowed a run, which was an inherited runner charged to him, on 4 hits, walked 2, and struck out 8. Erasmo Pinales was the first man out of the Banditos bullpen and in 3.2 innings, he allowed 2 hits and fanned 6. Derick Velazquez pitched 3 innings and allowed 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1.

Edgardo Sandoval will start the series finale. He'll face Ryan Atkinson at 1:15.

Friday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

These three came through with what eventually turned out to be game-winning plays for their teams:

Randy César's photo taken by Bryan Green

Alejandro Garcia's photo from MiLB.com

Randy César, 3B, Quad Cities: Walk-off RBI single in 11th

Johnny Sewald, OF, Buies Creek: Go-ahead solo HR (1) in 6th

Alejandro Garcia, OF, Corpus Christi: Go-ahead RBI HBP with bases loaded in 8th

Brett Adcock's photo from MiLB.com

Quad Cities pitchers: W 2-1 vs. Kane County (11 innings)

Brett Adcock: 4.1 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 8 K

Erasmo Pinales: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 6 K

Derick Velazquez: W (1-1), 3 IP, 2 H, BB, K

Jason Martin, OF, Buies Creek

2-5, solo HR (1), 3 RBI

Franklin Perez, RHP, Buies Creek

Save (1), 4 IP, 2 K

Dean Deetz, RHP, Corpus Christi

W (2-0), 3.2 IP, H, 2 K

Astros MiLB Transactions/Roster Moves

This will be the first Transaction post of the new season and the last Transaction post recapping all of the off-season moves.

First of all, I'm officially retiring the 2016-2017 Off-Season Transaction List. I cannot guarantee that it is complete because, for whatever reason, MiLB.com simply didn't update a lot of the releases that happened over the winter. There are still quite a number of players who are showing active on player pages who have actually been released.

With that said, here are the most recent roster moves/transactions ...

4-6: RHP Enrique Chavez placed on the Low A Quad Cities 7-day DL
4-5: RHP David Martinez signed as an MiLB free agent and assigned to AAA Fresno
4-4: SS Jonathan Arauz - suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a methamphetamine
4-4: C Tyler Heineman - traded to the Brewers for a PTBNL or cash
3-30: RHP Bryan Solano signed (19-year old Costa Rican player)
Unknown Date: IF/OF Marc Wik - reportedly retired during the offseason (no official info available)

David Martinez first signed with the Astros in March 2005 out of Venezuela and made his major league debut for the Astros in August of 2013. Martinez pitched a grand total of 18 and a third innings for the Astros at the major league level before leaving to free agency in November 2014. He spent 2015 in the Rangers system and split the 2016 season between the Minnesota and Detroit systems, but never made it back to the big leagues before being released by Detroit in March. In 12 minor league seasons, he has a 3.99 ERA and a 1.338 WHIP. He is coming off a successful winter league season in Venezuela, having compiled a 2.77 ERA and a 1.154 WHIP in limited action (13 innings in 10 games).

David Martinez - May 2013

Photo by Jayne Hansen

I would personally like to take a moment to wish Tyler Heineman a very fond farewell. Heineman is one of the most genuine down-to-earth people you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. There is no ego, no pretension in Tyler and he always gave me honest answers to any questions I asked. I don't think it ever occurred to him to shade the truth. That is a rare quality in individuals in any walk of life and it always made for an entertaining discourse. Tyler will be missed and I wish him nothing but the best as he enters this new chapter in his baseball life.

Tyler Heineman - September 2015

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Dustin did an excellent job of fleshing out the Astros minor league opening day rosters, including coaching staffs, venue information and a little bit of player trivia. If you didn't check them out previously, please do so.

Fresno Grizzlies
Corpus Christi Hooks
Buies Creek Astros
Quad Cities River Bandits

A couple opening day roster moves of note ... 1B Jon Singleton has been assigned to the AA Corpus team so that he can get regular at bats while A.J. Reed and Tyler White man that position at the AAA level. Also, RHP Derick Velazquez, the 7th round pick from 2014, is back in action for the Quad Cities team after sitting out two seasons and reportedly undergoing three separate surgeries. I was really high on Velazquez when I talked with him back in 2014 and I hope to get the opportunity to catch him in person this season.

And one final note ... Congratulations to former Astro RHP Mike Hauschild who made his major league debut for the Rangers last night. Hauschild becomes the latest member of the WTHB Hall of Fame. Congratulations, Mike!

Mike Hauschild - June 2016

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Thursday, April 6, 2017

Minor League Baseball is back!

Reno 13, Fresno 6

W- Braden Shipley (1-0)
L- Keegan Yuhl (0-1)

Fresno home runs: Teoscar Hernandez (1, 3-run in 1st), D.J. Fisher (1, solo in 4th)

The Grizz got roughed up and Collin McHugh hit a bump in his rehab assignment.

McHugh allowed three runs on three hits, walked one, and struck out one in the first inning. He came out for the second and threw a couple of warmup pitches before signaling for the training staff, ending his night. He was pulled as a precaution.

Keegan Yuhl was the first man out of the Fresno bullpen, and in 1.2 innings, he allowed five runs on three hits, walked three, and struck out three. Aaron West was next; he allowed three runs (two inherited runners charged to him) on six hits and struck out one in 2.1 innings of work. Ashur Tolliver technically threw two scoreless innings, but the two runners that he inherited from West in the sixth both scored. Tyson Perez pitched the final two innings and allowed two runs, both in the eighth, on five hits and struck out three.

After falling behind 3-0 after the top of the first, the Grizzlies hit back with five of their own in the bottom of the inning. Tony Kemp and D.J. Fisher singled to lead off the inning, and then Teoscar Hernandez whacked a home run to tie the game. A.J. Reed and Tyler White followed with singles, and Colin Moran sent Reed home with a single of his own. Preston Tucker drove in the final run of the inning with a sac fly that turned into a double play.

Unfortunately, the Grizzlies were outscored 10-1 over the final eight innings. Their only scoring play in that span was a solo homer hit by Fisher in the fourth. Fisher, Kemp, White, and Reid Brignac all finished with two hits on the evening.

Tonight, both teams will send a Texan out onto the mound. Brady Rodgers (Richmond) will take on Anthony Banda (Sinton) at 7:05.

Corpus Christi 2, Arkansas 1

W- Cy Sneed (1-0)
L- Blake Perry (0-1)
S- Ryan Thompson (1)

CC home runs: None.

The Hooks were outhit 11-5 and trailed for a vast majority of this game, but they still found a way to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.

Trent Thornton allowed a run on five hits and struck out five in four innings of work. Cy Sneed and Ryan Thompson kept the Travs off the scoreboard for the last five innings. Sneed allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out two in three innings, while Thompson allowed three hits and struck out one in the final two frames. Thompson allowed a couple of hits to start the bottom of the ninth, but he was able to work his way out of that predicament to secure the win.

Bryan Muñiz hit a one-out single in the eighth inning, but Mott Hyde struck out to put the rally in jeopardy. Ramon Laureano legged out an infield single to keep the inning going and Garrett Stubbs drew a walk to load the bases for Drew Ferguson, who put the Hooks on the board and in the lead with a single.

Kent Emanuel takes on Max Povse in game two of this series. First pitch is at 7:10.

Buies Creek 5, Winston-Salem 3

W- Elieser Hernandez (1-0)
L- Aaron Bummer (0-1)
S- Riley Ferrell (1)

BC home runs: None.

Buies Creek emerged victorious in the first game in franchise history on the strength of a four-run bottom of the seventh.

Myles Straw drove in the first run in the system in 2017 with a sacrifice fly in the third inning. After the Dash got on the board in the sixth, the Astros mounted a swift response after stretch time.

Pat Porter greeted Aaron Bummer with a leadoff double and scored the go-ahead run on a Christian Correa single. Correa advanced to second base on the throw, and then Stijn van der Meer drew a walk to bring up Straw, who sent the two of them home with a double. Straw advanced to third and scored on a single from Kyle Tucker.

Correa led the way with three hits, while Straw (2 2B, 3 RBI, R) and Little Tuck (2B, RBI) finished with two hits apiece.

Akeem Bostick allowed two hits, walked two, and struck out three over five shutout frames. Elieser Hernandez tagged in for 2.1 innings and allowed three runs (one inherited runner charged to him) on four hits, walked two, and fanned three. Ralph Garza Jr. inherited two runners from Hernandez, and he allowed a double that allowed one of them to score. Fortunately, he got the final two outs of the eighth inning without incident. Riley Ferrell came on for the save in the ninth and struck out the side to earn it.

Game two of this series will start at 7:00 Eastern. Alex Winkelman will take on Zach Thompson.

Quad Cities 3, Wisconsin 0

W- Abdiel Saldaña (1-0)
L- Zack Brown (0-1)
S- Derick Velazquez (1)

QC home runs: Taylor Jones (1, solo in 4th)

The Banditos opened up 2017 with a dominant showing on the mound as four pitchers combined to strike out 15, fanning all but one batter in the Timber Rattlers lineup. Oh, they also kept Wisconsin off the scoreboard for nine innings.

Hector Perez started it off by allowing just one hit, walking three, and striking out eight over 3.2 innings. Abdiel Saldaña got Perez out of a little jam in the fourth inning and then proceeded to throw a scoreless fifth, allowing a hit and fanning one. Ryan Hartman tagged in and allowed three hits while striking out six over three scoreless, and in his first game since August 31, 2014, Derick Velazquez worked around an error to close out the win.

All three Quad Cities runs came in the fourth inning. Taylor Jones led off the frame with the first home run in the Astros' minor league system. Alex De Goti hit a one-out single and then Jake Rogers joined him on the basepaths by drawing a walk. Anibal Sierra followed with an RBI single, and Rogers scored on a wild pitch. De Goti finished 2-4, while Daz Cameron stole two bases.

Carson LaRue will start game two of this series. He'll face Trey Supak at 6:35.

Thursday's Stars

All photos are from Jayne unless stated otherwise.

Akeem Bostick's photo from MiLB.com

Myles Straw, OF, Christian Correa, C, Akeem Bostick, RHP, and Riley Ferrell, RHP, Buies Creek

Straw: 2-3, 2 2B, 3 RBI, R

Correa: 3-4, 2B, RBI, R

Bostick: W (1-0), 5 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K

Ferrell: Save (1), IP, 3 K

Abdiel Saldaña's picture taken by Bryan Green

Quad Cities pitchers: W 3-0 vs Wisconsin

9 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 15 K

Hector Perez: 3.2 IP, H, 3 BB, 8 K

Abdiel Saldaña: W (1-0), 1.1 IP, H, K

Ryan Hartman: 3 IP, 3 H, 6 K

Derick Velazquez: Save (1), IP, 2 groundouts, 1 flyball out

D.J. Fisher, OF, Fresno

2-4, solo HR (1), 2 R

Happy Birthday - 11/28

Happy Birthday ~

RHP Derick Velazquez (21)
Drafted by Houston in the 7th round out of California State University Fresno, Velazquez had a very successful inaugural season with the Tri-City team. In 18 appearances out of the bullpen, he was 2-1 with a 1.57 ERA, a 0.857 WHIP and two saves. He walked only two batters and struck out 24 in 23 innings of work.

Two former Astros celebrate the day as well ~

1B/OF Jim Fuller (64)
A second round pick by the Orioles in 1970, Fuller came to Houston as a free agent in November 1976. In 34 games for the Astros in 1977, he hit .160/.243/.280. In nine seasons in the minors, he hit .254/.351/.505.

RHP Pedro Astacio (46)
Astacio came to Houston in a July 2001 trade with the Rockies for Scott Elarton. In four starts for the Astros that season he was 2-1 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.186 WHIP.

An Interview with Tri-City RHP Derick Velazquez

Since being drafted by the Astros in the 7th round in 2014 out of California State University Fresno, RHP Derick Velazquez has been one of the key relief pitchers for the Tri-City bullpen. In his first 12 games, he has three saves, a 2.45 ERA and a 0955 WHIP. He has walked only two batters while striking out 17 in his 14.2 innings of work.

Tri-City Manager Ed Romero told me, "Velazquez is a very interesting guy. He has a very good arm. Hard throwing guy. He's just got to get used to the professional every day grind that these guys go through. He's got good size." Romero sees potential in Velazquez as he's a pitcher with "good stuff" who throws strikes.

As fate would have it, I wasn't able to see Velazquez pitch during my recent visit to Tri-City since he had been shut down for a couple of weeks for undisclosed reasons, but he is now back in the bullpen and, if his effectiveness is any indication, fully healthy. I was, however, able to talk with him briefly in an attempt to get to know him just a little bit better.

Derick Velazquez - July 2014

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Of his college experience, Velazquez told me, "I went to Merced Junior College out of high school. I wasn't highly recruited. I didn't get any offers, actually, so I went to junior college and did good. I was a two-way player there. I pitched, went 11-0 and hit. I got drafted after that year in the 15th round by the Orioles. And it just didn't work out so I made it to Fresno State, played there two years, didn't play as well as I wanted to, but I'm just glad I got to impress a professional team and keep playing after college." When I pointed out that he must have played pretty well to merit being picked in one of the higher rounds, he simply noted "I was happy I went that high."

He knew that the Astros had some interest in him, but he hadn't been in contact with the area scout very much. The day of the draft, "My adviser let me know that I could possibly get picked by the Astros coming up soon, and then it happened, so I was happy."

What has been the biggest surprise for Velazquez in playing professional baseball? "It's not a surprise because I knew coming in that everybody in the lineup was going to be good, but probably just how athletic everybody is and everybody knows how to play. They come from all over the world, just the best players from the whole world. It makes me learn that I can't take anybody easily. You have to play hard [against everybody]."

Since I didn't get the opportunity to see him pitch, I asked him what I could expect to see when I did get that opportunity. He responded, "I do a lot of closing so later in the games, just hopefully get a lot of ground balls. I'm not a big strikeout guy so hopefully get a lot of ground balls, a quick inning and just close out some ballgames."

I asked Velazquez what he felt like he had accomplished thus far during his season. "I changed my delivery in college a lot and it wasn't as comfortable as it used to be before I got there so here I've worked a lot with the pitching coach and the coordinators and gotten back to the way I used to be when I was the most comfortable. Just learning how to pitch to these pro guys and just getting better every day."

In answer as to what he needs to work on improving, he told me, "Probably just more consistency, throwing strikes with all of my pitches because you can't come in with just one pitch. You've got to at least have two. I'm working on my changeup a lot right now and being able to throw it low in the zone for strikes and just getting people off balance and stuff like that. Just refining my pitches."

What pitches does Velazquez have in his arsenal? "I throw a 4-seam fastball and a 2-seam. I'd say 2-seam is my favorite pitch and then I throw a changeup and a slider, but right now it's more of a cutter because I'm trying to work on getting it back to where it used to be." His fastball sits in the low 90's and he'll hit 95 occasionally. He's working on slowing down his low 80's change up, "trying to get it a little slower with the same arm speed. It's getting there."

Which hitters on the Tri-City team would he least like to face in the batter's box? "Probably A.J. [Reed, who had recently been promoted to Quad Cities] and I'd say [Nick] Tanielu. I see him stroke balls pretty hard. [Jamie] Ritchie also. Ritchie and [Ryan] Bottger [also promoted to Quad Cities]. Those guys are just always putting the ball in play solid and are hard to get out so those would probably be the guys."

Whose pitch would he like to have in his arsenal? "Probably [Troy] Scribner's curveball. He just freezes guys and that's why he's leading the league in strikeouts. It's a good pitch. That's what I'd like to have."

He also pointed to Scribner as a player he enjoys watching, "He knows what he's doing. He commands his pitches. I'd say he's one guy I'm surprised he's still here. Especially with the numbers he's putting up." Scribner was promoted a few days after this interview. Velazquez also likes to watch Francis Ramirez pitch, "He's a big body and that's the way I feel like I can be, and he's fun to watch. He's a big power pitcher." Velazquez told me that he will be focusing on putting on weight and building up his legs in the off-season to start filling out what might be characterized as a thin, but projectable frame."

Who on the team makes him laugh? "Probably my roommate Ryan Thompson. He knows when to be serious and then he knows when to just goof around and keep it free and stuff like that. I'm glad he's my roommate. It's fun at home. It keeps things fun."

I asked Velazquez to tell me something about himself that people might not know. He responded, "I'm very quiet. I don't go up to people and have a conversation. I'm kind of in the back of a crowd. Once I get to know people, then I'll be talkative, but I'm very quiet. I was an only child growing up. I didn't have siblings [to be] hanging around with so I keep to myself a lot."

If he couldn't play baseball, "I'd be a pilot. My mom was a flight attendant so I've been around airports since I was little and I always loved watching planes take off. I want to be a pilot after baseball. That's my second love."

I asked Velazquez if he had any final words about the Tri-City team. He said, "It's a good team. It's discouraging that we have so many good guys that are starting to move up. Hopefully guys can just step up and we can keep winning and hopefully win the whole thing again." The 'Cats lost that night, but then went on a five-game winning streak and have won seven of their last ten. So it appears that "the guys" are indeed stepping up, including this quiet young man who lets his pitching speak for him.

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

Thank you for your time, Derick. I look forward to seeing you in the playoffs and, hopefully, the finals. Best of luck!