Oklahoma City
RHP Bobby Doran assigned from Corpus Christi to Oklahoma City
C Rene Garcia assigned from Corpus Christi to Oklahoma City
Corpus Christi
LHP David Rollins assigned from Lancaster to Corpus Christi
C Ryan McCurdy assigned from Lancaster to Corpus Christi
Lancaster
RHP Kyle Smith obtained in trade with Kansas City and assigned to Lancaster
[UPDATED] C Luis Alvarez assigned from Quad Cities to Lancaster
Quad Cities
LHP Josh Hader obtained in trade with Baltimore and assigned to Quad Cities
A LOOK AT THE ASTROS MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM
Thursday, August 1, 2013
A Look at the Corpus Christi Hooks
This week I'm taking a late season look at the full season Astros minor league affiliates, how their 2013 campaigns have played out and some individual accomplishments. So far, I've looked at the Quad Cities River Bandits and the Lancaster JetHawks. Today, it's the Corpus Christi Hooks turn. Coming in to today, the Hooks are 65-45 with a 3.73 ERA, a 1.290 WHIP and a cumulative batting line of .254/.332/.414.
The Hooks currently lead the Astros minor league franchises with their 65 wins and are slightly ahead of last year's pace as they didn't hit that mark until August 4th in 2012. The team's pitching stats are somewhat better than last year's, while the hitting stats are slightly below the 2012 team (except for slugging percentage which is roughly equivalent).
Out of eight teams in the Texas League, the Hooks offense ranks first in slugging percentage, third in on-base percentage and fourth in batting average. Notably, they rank first in home runs with 122, 17 more than the second ranked team, and second in doubles. And, although they are respectably third in walks, they are first in strikeouts with Domingo Santana's 118 K's and George Springer's 96 leading the way. Much like Lancaster, the top 20 lists for the Texas League are littered with Hooks players.
OF George Springer, who has been in Oklahoma City for the last 32 games, is still in the top 20 in batting average (6th), OBP (4th), SLG (1st), Runs (10th), 2B (T15th), home runs (4th), RBI (5th), Walks (T12th), and stolen bases (T4th).
Current Hooks players in the top 20:
C Rene Garcia - BA (4th), OBP (14th), Hits (20th)
3B Jonathan Meyer - BA (15th), OBP (20th), SLG (20th), Runs (15th), Hits (10th), 2B (T12th), HR (T16th), RBI (8th), BB (T20th)
1B Erik Castro - BA (20th), OBP (10th), SLG (10th), Runs (14th), 2B (T15th), HR (T12th), RBI (T15th), BB (T15th)
OF Domingo Santana - OBP (17th), SLG (11th), Runs (12th), 2B (T19th), HR (T7th), RBI (T15th), BB (T17th)
SS Jio Mier - BB (T12th)
If Max Stassi had enough at-bats to qualify, he would rank in the top 10 in batting average, in the top 20 in on-base percentage and would be second only to George Springer in slugging percentage with a .573 mark.
Now, let's look at the pitching. The team as a whole ranks third in ERA and fourth in WHIP. The good news/bad news is that they have issued the fewest free passes, but they have also struck out the fewest batters.
On an individual level, two current Hooks stand out on the Top 10 list in the Texas League. RHP David Martinez leads the league in wins, ERA and WHIP. RHP Bobby Doran is tied for sixth in the league in wins, and is also sixth in ERA and WHIP.
RHP Mike Foltynewicz would be in the top five in ERA and in the top 10 in WHIP if he had enough innings to qualify. RHP Nick Tropeano is ninth in the league in strikeouts. RHP Asher Wojciechowski and RHP Jake Buchanan both had incredibly good numbers prior to their promotions to Oklahoma City.
Out of the 'pen, LHP Pat Urckfitz leads the way with 36 appearances and seven saves. RHP Andrew Robinson is coming on strong; in 11 appearances in July, he has a 1.46 ERA and a 0.909 WHIP. And Jonas Dufek, newly promoted from Lancaster, has only appeared twice, but has been perfect in three and two-thirds innings while striking out five.
Corpus Christi is guaranteed a playoff berth, having won the first half of the season. They have the best overall record in the Texas League and are 2.5 games ahead of San Antonio in the overall standings. In the second half, they are in second place with a 23-17 record and trail San Antonio by one game. The playoff picture will be highly dependent on all of the promotions and changes that occur during this final full month of play. The promotion today of LHP David Rollins should help the team greatly as they currently have no lefty starting pitchers. However, if David Martinez and Max Stassi get promoted, which I find to be highly likely, those will be some very large cleats to fill. The good news is that with the current depth in the Astros minor league system, the reinforcements shouldn't derail any playoff hopes.
For my earlier take on the short season teams ~
DSL Astros
GCL Astros
Greeneville Astros
Tri-City ValleyCats
The Hooks currently lead the Astros minor league franchises with their 65 wins and are slightly ahead of last year's pace as they didn't hit that mark until August 4th in 2012. The team's pitching stats are somewhat better than last year's, while the hitting stats are slightly below the 2012 team (except for slugging percentage which is roughly equivalent).
Out of eight teams in the Texas League, the Hooks offense ranks first in slugging percentage, third in on-base percentage and fourth in batting average. Notably, they rank first in home runs with 122, 17 more than the second ranked team, and second in doubles. And, although they are respectably third in walks, they are first in strikeouts with Domingo Santana's 118 K's and George Springer's 96 leading the way. Much like Lancaster, the top 20 lists for the Texas League are littered with Hooks players.
OF George Springer, who has been in Oklahoma City for the last 32 games, is still in the top 20 in batting average (6th), OBP (4th), SLG (1st), Runs (10th), 2B (T15th), home runs (4th), RBI (5th), Walks (T12th), and stolen bases (T4th).
Current Hooks players in the top 20:
C Rene Garcia - BA (4th), OBP (14th), Hits (20th)
3B Jonathan Meyer - BA (15th), OBP (20th), SLG (20th), Runs (15th), Hits (10th), 2B (T12th), HR (T16th), RBI (8th), BB (T20th)
1B Erik Castro - BA (20th), OBP (10th), SLG (10th), Runs (14th), 2B (T15th), HR (T12th), RBI (T15th), BB (T15th)
OF Domingo Santana - OBP (17th), SLG (11th), Runs (12th), 2B (T19th), HR (T7th), RBI (T15th), BB (T17th)
SS Jio Mier - BB (T12th)
If Max Stassi had enough at-bats to qualify, he would rank in the top 10 in batting average, in the top 20 in on-base percentage and would be second only to George Springer in slugging percentage with a .573 mark.
Now, let's look at the pitching. The team as a whole ranks third in ERA and fourth in WHIP. The good news/bad news is that they have issued the fewest free passes, but they have also struck out the fewest batters.
On an individual level, two current Hooks stand out on the Top 10 list in the Texas League. RHP David Martinez leads the league in wins, ERA and WHIP. RHP Bobby Doran is tied for sixth in the league in wins, and is also sixth in ERA and WHIP.
RHP Mike Foltynewicz would be in the top five in ERA and in the top 10 in WHIP if he had enough innings to qualify. RHP Nick Tropeano is ninth in the league in strikeouts. RHP Asher Wojciechowski and RHP Jake Buchanan both had incredibly good numbers prior to their promotions to Oklahoma City.
Out of the 'pen, LHP Pat Urckfitz leads the way with 36 appearances and seven saves. RHP Andrew Robinson is coming on strong; in 11 appearances in July, he has a 1.46 ERA and a 0.909 WHIP. And Jonas Dufek, newly promoted from Lancaster, has only appeared twice, but has been perfect in three and two-thirds innings while striking out five.
Corpus Christi is guaranteed a playoff berth, having won the first half of the season. They have the best overall record in the Texas League and are 2.5 games ahead of San Antonio in the overall standings. In the second half, they are in second place with a 23-17 record and trail San Antonio by one game. The playoff picture will be highly dependent on all of the promotions and changes that occur during this final full month of play. The promotion today of LHP David Rollins should help the team greatly as they currently have no lefty starting pitchers. However, if David Martinez and Max Stassi get promoted, which I find to be highly likely, those will be some very large cleats to fill. The good news is that with the current depth in the Astros minor league system, the reinforcements shouldn't derail any playoff hopes.
For my earlier take on the short season teams ~
DSL Astros
GCL Astros
Greeneville Astros
Tri-City ValleyCats
Astros Minor League Recaps
Wednesday's Games
Oklahoma City over Reno 4-3
Wade LeBlanc had a solid start, going six and a third innings and giving up two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out eight, before giving way to scoreless outings from Jorge de Leon and Alex Sogard. Jason Stoffel allowed the final run across in the ninth and was charged with a blown save, but he also got the win as the RedHawks came back and scored in the bottom of the frame on a Brandon Laird RBI single. The rehabbing Trevor Crowe was three-for-four with an RBI single; Carlos Perez was three-for-three with a sac fly RBI and scored a run. The win was OKC's sixth in a row and took them into a tie for second place in their division.
Corpus Christi over San Antonio 4-3
David Martinez got the start and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts over seven and a third innings to earn his 13th win of the season. Pat Urckfitz took it the rest of the way with scoreless relief and earned the save. The Hooks put up two in the second on RBI singles from Michael Burgess and Kike Hernandez and the final two in the fifth on a two-run home run from Max Stassi (3x4 3B HR 2RBI 2R), his fifth in the last eight games and his 11th in the month of July. Jonathan Meyer was two-for-three and scored a run, and Ronald Torreyes was two-for-five.
Lake Elsinore over Lancaster 15-10
Despite striking out 14 batters, the pitching staff was, to put it mildly, rather ineffective. Aaron West gave up seven runs in only two and a third innings, Michael Dimock (1.2IP) watched two two-run home runs leave the yard, Kenny Long (3IP) added two more to the total and Cameron Lamb (2IP) was responsible for the final two. The 'Hawks drew first blood with a big five-run second inning, with runs scored on a Matt Duffy home run, a Nolan Fontana single (3x4 BB HR 4RBI 2R), an Andrew Aplin bases-loaded hit by pitch and a two-RBI single from M.P. Cokinos. Two more came across in the fourth on RBI singles from Tyler Heineman and Aplin, and the final three in the eighth on a three-run Fontana dinger. Delino DeShields was two-for-five with a double and scored a run. Chris Epps and Joe Sclafani also doubled in the game.
Quad Cities over Peoria 4-3
Mark Appel had a strong start, pitching four and two-thirds and allowing only one run on six hits and no walks. He struck out three. Appel was followed by Gera Sanchez who gave up two runs (one earned) in his outing before giving way to a scoreless appearance from Mitch Lambson. Lambson got the win in relief as Quad Cities came back with three in the ninth for a walk-off win. The first run came across in the seventh as Terrell Joyce scored on a fielding error. With the team down 3-1, Austin Elkins reached in the ninth on a hit by pitch and was driven in with a home run from new teammate Danry Vasquez (3x5). Carlos Correa then doubled and was driven in with a Bobby Borchering (2x5 SB) single.
State College over Tri-City 7-4
Six pitchers combined in this one for Tri-City, presumably just to annoy me as I try to write the recaps. Evan Grills (6H 3R/2ER 2SO) started and went three innings, and was followed by a scoreless inning from Charles Basford. Kevin Comer was charged with the loss as he allowed two unearned runs, Andrew Walter was charged with a blown save, J.D. Osborne gave up two more runs without recording an out, and Richard Rodriguez pitched an uneventful eighth. Jake Rodriguez was one-for-four with three RBI, and Jon Kemmer recorded the only extra base hit, a double.
Greeneville over Burlington 3-1
Great pitching all around as the staff combined to allow only four hits and one walk in this game. Frederick Tiburcio (2H 1BB 2SO) provided five scoreless innings and Krishawn Holley (1H 3SO) followed with two more. Raul Rivera (1H 1R 1SO) gave up the only Burlington run on a solo home run in the eighth and was followed by a perfect ninth from Gonzalo Sanudo who recorded his seventh save. Tyler White was three-for-four with a double. Tanner Mathis, Ariel Ovando and Thomas Lindauer were all credited with RBIs.
GCL Astros over GCL Pirates 18-6 in 5 innings
I did actually look to see if this game was called on some sort of mercy rule after the Astros put up 11 runs in the fifth inning, but nope, it was called for rain. Yonathan Mejia and Jacob Nottingham got things started in the first, driving in the first two runs on a single and a ground out. Two more runs came across in the third as Nottingham and Jose Solano drove in runs on force outs. In the fourth, Jason Martin tripled and then scored on a passed ball and was followed later in the inning by a Luis Reynoso RBI single, and just to shake things up a bit, Nottingham drove in his third run of the game with a sac fly this time. And then came the fifth inning, where a lot of things happened, including Mejia's fourth single and second RBI of the game, Nottingham's fourth and fifth RBI of the game and home runs from Jose Solano (3-run home run), Ydarqui Marte and Yoel Silfa (two-run home run). Luis Ordosgoitti got his first start of the season and allowed only one hit and struck out two in his two innings. Javier Lozano pitched one scoreless inning before giving way to Joe Musgrove who was victimized by two errors and a bit of wildness on his part. In two innings, he gave up six runs (two earned) on four hits and struck out one.
DSL Astros over DSL Rays 8-7
Harold Arauz tossed the first six and allowed only one unearned run on three hits on his way to his second win of the season. Junior Garcia and Victor Mesa gave up six runs between them over the next two and a third innings before Angel Heredia came in to put out the fire with a scoreless outing. The Astros scored one in the second on a Marlon Avea RBI double and two in the eighth on a Hector Roa (2x4 2R) home run and a Luis Payano (2x4 2-2B RBI) sac fly, but it was the big five-run sixth inning that made the difference in this game, featuring a bases-loaded walk by Brauly Mejia, a bases clearing double from Jean Estrella (2x3 2B BB 3RBI 2R) and another RBI double from Avea.
Player of the Day: Welcome to the Astros, Danry Vasquez! Nothing like going three-for-five and tying up the game with a home run in the bottom of the ninth to make a good first impression. Honorable mention goes to Jacob Nottingham for accomplishing the unusual feat of driving in five runs despite recording only one single in the game.
Pitcher of the Day: David Martinez gets the nod for his Lucky 13th win. He has a 2.01 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP, 20 walks to 79 strikeouts and he definitely does not get the attention that he deserves!!!
Oklahoma City over Reno 4-3
Wade LeBlanc had a solid start, going six and a third innings and giving up two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out eight, before giving way to scoreless outings from Jorge de Leon and Alex Sogard. Jason Stoffel allowed the final run across in the ninth and was charged with a blown save, but he also got the win as the RedHawks came back and scored in the bottom of the frame on a Brandon Laird RBI single. The rehabbing Trevor Crowe was three-for-four with an RBI single; Carlos Perez was three-for-three with a sac fly RBI and scored a run. The win was OKC's sixth in a row and took them into a tie for second place in their division.
Corpus Christi over San Antonio 4-3
David Martinez got the start and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts over seven and a third innings to earn his 13th win of the season. Pat Urckfitz took it the rest of the way with scoreless relief and earned the save. The Hooks put up two in the second on RBI singles from Michael Burgess and Kike Hernandez and the final two in the fifth on a two-run home run from Max Stassi (3x4 3B HR 2RBI 2R), his fifth in the last eight games and his 11th in the month of July. Jonathan Meyer was two-for-three and scored a run, and Ronald Torreyes was two-for-five.
Lake Elsinore over Lancaster 15-10
Despite striking out 14 batters, the pitching staff was, to put it mildly, rather ineffective. Aaron West gave up seven runs in only two and a third innings, Michael Dimock (1.2IP) watched two two-run home runs leave the yard, Kenny Long (3IP) added two more to the total and Cameron Lamb (2IP) was responsible for the final two. The 'Hawks drew first blood with a big five-run second inning, with runs scored on a Matt Duffy home run, a Nolan Fontana single (3x4 BB HR 4RBI 2R), an Andrew Aplin bases-loaded hit by pitch and a two-RBI single from M.P. Cokinos. Two more came across in the fourth on RBI singles from Tyler Heineman and Aplin, and the final three in the eighth on a three-run Fontana dinger. Delino DeShields was two-for-five with a double and scored a run. Chris Epps and Joe Sclafani also doubled in the game.
Quad Cities over Peoria 4-3
Mark Appel had a strong start, pitching four and two-thirds and allowing only one run on six hits and no walks. He struck out three. Appel was followed by Gera Sanchez who gave up two runs (one earned) in his outing before giving way to a scoreless appearance from Mitch Lambson. Lambson got the win in relief as Quad Cities came back with three in the ninth for a walk-off win. The first run came across in the seventh as Terrell Joyce scored on a fielding error. With the team down 3-1, Austin Elkins reached in the ninth on a hit by pitch and was driven in with a home run from new teammate Danry Vasquez (3x5). Carlos Correa then doubled and was driven in with a Bobby Borchering (2x5 SB) single.
State College over Tri-City 7-4
Six pitchers combined in this one for Tri-City, presumably just to annoy me as I try to write the recaps. Evan Grills (6H 3R/2ER 2SO) started and went three innings, and was followed by a scoreless inning from Charles Basford. Kevin Comer was charged with the loss as he allowed two unearned runs, Andrew Walter was charged with a blown save, J.D. Osborne gave up two more runs without recording an out, and Richard Rodriguez pitched an uneventful eighth. Jake Rodriguez was one-for-four with three RBI, and Jon Kemmer recorded the only extra base hit, a double.
Greeneville over Burlington 3-1
Great pitching all around as the staff combined to allow only four hits and one walk in this game. Frederick Tiburcio (2H 1BB 2SO) provided five scoreless innings and Krishawn Holley (1H 3SO) followed with two more. Raul Rivera (1H 1R 1SO) gave up the only Burlington run on a solo home run in the eighth and was followed by a perfect ninth from Gonzalo Sanudo who recorded his seventh save. Tyler White was three-for-four with a double. Tanner Mathis, Ariel Ovando and Thomas Lindauer were all credited with RBIs.
GCL Astros over GCL Pirates 18-6 in 5 innings
I did actually look to see if this game was called on some sort of mercy rule after the Astros put up 11 runs in the fifth inning, but nope, it was called for rain. Yonathan Mejia and Jacob Nottingham got things started in the first, driving in the first two runs on a single and a ground out. Two more runs came across in the third as Nottingham and Jose Solano drove in runs on force outs. In the fourth, Jason Martin tripled and then scored on a passed ball and was followed later in the inning by a Luis Reynoso RBI single, and just to shake things up a bit, Nottingham drove in his third run of the game with a sac fly this time. And then came the fifth inning, where a lot of things happened, including Mejia's fourth single and second RBI of the game, Nottingham's fourth and fifth RBI of the game and home runs from Jose Solano (3-run home run), Ydarqui Marte and Yoel Silfa (two-run home run). Luis Ordosgoitti got his first start of the season and allowed only one hit and struck out two in his two innings. Javier Lozano pitched one scoreless inning before giving way to Joe Musgrove who was victimized by two errors and a bit of wildness on his part. In two innings, he gave up six runs (two earned) on four hits and struck out one.
DSL Astros over DSL Rays 8-7
Harold Arauz tossed the first six and allowed only one unearned run on three hits on his way to his second win of the season. Junior Garcia and Victor Mesa gave up six runs between them over the next two and a third innings before Angel Heredia came in to put out the fire with a scoreless outing. The Astros scored one in the second on a Marlon Avea RBI double and two in the eighth on a Hector Roa (2x4 2R) home run and a Luis Payano (2x4 2-2B RBI) sac fly, but it was the big five-run sixth inning that made the difference in this game, featuring a bases-loaded walk by Brauly Mejia, a bases clearing double from Jean Estrella (2x3 2B BB 3RBI 2R) and another RBI double from Avea.
Player of the Day: Welcome to the Astros, Danry Vasquez! Nothing like going three-for-five and tying up the game with a home run in the bottom of the ninth to make a good first impression. Honorable mention goes to Jacob Nottingham for accomplishing the unusual feat of driving in five runs despite recording only one single in the game.
Pitcher of the Day: David Martinez gets the nod for his Lucky 13th win. He has a 2.01 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP, 20 walks to 79 strikeouts and he definitely does not get the attention that he deserves!!!
Happy Birthday - 8/1
RHP Kevin Comer (21)
Originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the first round in 2011, Comer came to Houston in August 2012 as the player to be named later in the 10-player July trade between Toronto and Houston. In 9 appearances with Tri-City this season, he is 2-4 with a 5.46 ERA and a 1.382 WHIP.
No future Astros with birthdays today, only former Astros ~
OF Greg Gross (61)
Drafted in the fourth round by Houston in 1970, Gross played for the Astros from 1973 to 1976 and again in 1989 at the end of his career. Gross only played in a handful of games in 1973 and was thus eligible for Rookie of the Year consideration in 1974; he came in second to Bake McBride as he hit .314/.393/.377 with 21 doubles and eight triples that season. In five seasons for the Astros he hit .293/.376/.351 in 490 games. He won a World Series with Philadelphia in 1980.
C Milt May (63)
Originally drafted by the Pirates in the 11th round in 1968, May came to Houston in an October 1973 trade with Pittsburgh. In 238 games for the Astros in 1974 and 1975, he hit .265/.319/.360 with a caught stealing percentage that averaged around 40%. May was first in the National League in fielding percentage as a catcher in 1974, and was first in both caught stealing and assists as a catcher in 1975.
RHP Travis Driskill (42)
A fourth round pick by Cleveland in 1993, Driskill came to Houston as a free agent. He only pitched in three games for Houston at the major league level, one in 2005 and two in 2007. In seven innings, he was 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.714 WHIP. He was a pitching coach in the Astros system through 2011.
Originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the first round in 2011, Comer came to Houston in August 2012 as the player to be named later in the 10-player July trade between Toronto and Houston. In 9 appearances with Tri-City this season, he is 2-4 with a 5.46 ERA and a 1.382 WHIP.
No future Astros with birthdays today, only former Astros ~
OF Greg Gross (61)
Drafted in the fourth round by Houston in 1970, Gross played for the Astros from 1973 to 1976 and again in 1989 at the end of his career. Gross only played in a handful of games in 1973 and was thus eligible for Rookie of the Year consideration in 1974; he came in second to Bake McBride as he hit .314/.393/.377 with 21 doubles and eight triples that season. In five seasons for the Astros he hit .293/.376/.351 in 490 games. He won a World Series with Philadelphia in 1980.
C Milt May (63)
Originally drafted by the Pirates in the 11th round in 1968, May came to Houston in an October 1973 trade with Pittsburgh. In 238 games for the Astros in 1974 and 1975, he hit .265/.319/.360 with a caught stealing percentage that averaged around 40%. May was first in the National League in fielding percentage as a catcher in 1974, and was first in both caught stealing and assists as a catcher in 1975.
RHP Travis Driskill (42)
A fourth round pick by Cleveland in 1993, Driskill came to Houston as a free agent. He only pitched in three games for Houston at the major league level, one in 2005 and two in 2007. In seven innings, he was 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.714 WHIP. He was a pitching coach in the Astros system through 2011.
Tweet of the Day
Kyle Thomas Smith @Kyle_T_SmithAlso thanks to the Astros for the new opportunity and thanks to all the Astros fans for the warm welcome and making me feel at home #honored
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Trade Deadline Deals
Since I don't have time to post anything right now about the players the Astros acquired today in the trade deadline deals, I will point you to these Baseball America articles that outline what the team will be getting.
Justin Maxwell Trade
Bud Norris Trade
Justin Maxwell Trade
Bud Norris Trade
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