Getting to Know Astros/Hooks RHP Chris Devenski

RHP Chris Devenski has had a phenomenal start to his 2015 season for the Corpus Christi Hooks, already earning Pitcher of the Week honors in the Texas League and Player of the Month honors from the Astros organization. In 19.1 innings of work (4 games, 2 starts), he is 2-0 with 1 save, a 0.00 ERA and a 0.621 WHIP. He has walked only 4 batters while striking out 16. Hitters are only managing to hit .121 against him, and he's holding lefties to a .059 batting average. On April 25th, Devenski threw 6.1 no-hit innings in a 7-inning game before being taken out of the game. He is no stranger to no-hitters, having tossed one in the final game of the season in 2012 for the Lexington Legends.

Hooks Manager Rodney Linares said of Devenski, "He's taken it to heart to work as hard as he can every day," so much so that some of the staff are concerned that he may overwork himself. But as Linares puts it, "It's a marathon, not a sprint. I know that, but it's hard for me to tell a kid not to work, and hard work pays off. It's paid off for him. He's been amazing."

Linares continued, "The good thing with (Devenski) is that even when he's behind in the count, he will make that one good pitch to get back into the count or to get the guy out. He mixes real well. What's not to like about what Devo is doing this year? Hopefully, he can maintain it. He's not on anybody's list, but he's definitely on our list. Hopefully he can maintain it and probably pitch in the big leagues."

Before Saturday's game, Devenski was being being interviewed by Hooks media director Chris Blake about his terrific start and the Player of the Month honors. Blake asked Devenski about his circle changeup which has been described by Hooks Pitching Coach Doug Brocail as a "major league changeup." It turns out that early in his career, his teammates came up with a nickname for that pitch ... The Circle of Death.

I talked with Devenski on Sunday about overcoming struggles, his success against lefties, what makes his changeup so effective, interacting with the fans and more. (I apologize for the shakiness of the video ... I promise that I wasn't inebriated!)

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For much, much more on the Astros minor league system and all the players, purchase the highly rated 2015 Houston Farm System Handbook!

 

Minor League Transactions, Part 2

Here is another installment of Minor League Transactions. Unfortunately, there were some releases in the Astros organization. But, first things first.

In the latest installment of Baseball America's Minor League Transactions, utility player Ruben Sosa was loaned to the Mexican League. He began his loan deal with Mexico City, but is now currently playing with Veracruz.

And now, on to the players who were released. Team(s) in parentheses was the team(s) they spent 2014 with. WTHB would like to wish these players all the best in their future endeavors.

C Hayden Timberlake (DSL Blue, DSL Orange)
LHP Christian Perdomo (GCL)
RHP Krishawn Holley (GCL)
RHP Juan Hernandez (DSL Orange, GCL)
RHP Jay Gause (Tri-City)

Getting to Know Astros OF Brandon Meredith

Since he was drafted by Houston in the 6th round in 2011, Brandon Meredith has traditionally been a slow starter. That is decidedly not the case in 2015. Through the first 19 games of the season for the Corpus Christi Hooks, Meredith is hitting .324/.407/.521 with three doubles, one triple and three home runs. He has drawn nine walks while striking out 13 times.

Brandon Meredith - May 2015

Photo by Jayne Hansen

I spoke with Hooks Hitting Coach Dan Radison about Meredith's hot start. According to Radison, "I think his preparation has more clarity to it. He knows how he's going to attack the baseball. We've definitely helped his direction by getting his extension out through the middle of the field and he's hitting the ball better in the air than he has in the past." Radison also noted that Meredith has started using his lower half more effectively to complement his strong upper body.

Manager Rodney Linares also weighed in, telling me that Brandon is maturing as a player and has taken advantage of an opportunity as some of the other players started out more slowly. Linares went on to say, "Nothing to not like about Meredith. He plays the game the right way. He's fun to watch. He's fun to be around. He keeps the guys loose. He's one of the guys that does a lot of good things not only on the field but off the field." The one thing he's trying to change about Meredith is to get him to slow down his home run trot which is more of a home run sprint. And that's probably one of the better problems to have with a player.

Meredith and I spoke briefly about his fast start, playing right field, the talented Corpus Christi team and his not-so-secret passion.

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Want to know more about the Astros farm system? Purchase the 2015 Houston Farm System Handbook for information on over 250 players in the Astros minor league system!

Astros Minor League Recaps

Results for Sunday, May 3, 2015

It's been a rough start to the month for Corpus and Lancaster.

Fresno 6, Tacoma 5

W- Jordan Jankowski (2-0)
L- Logan Bawcom (0-1)
S- James Hoyt (4)

Fresno home runs: Domingo Santana 2 (7; solo in 1st, 3-run in 8th), Max Stassi (2, solo in 4th)

The Grizz avoided a sweep as Domingo's 3-run shot in the 8th put them on top 6-4, and despite a Tacoma run in the 9th, that lead would hold up.

Santana's 2 hits were homers; he opened the scoring with a solo homer in the 1st. Max Stassi homered to lead off the 4th inning. Nolan Fontana went 2-3 with a run scored and a steal (5); on that stolen base, which happened in the 6th, Andrew Aplin scored on the errant throw down to 2nd.

Asher Wojciechowski had a bare minimum quality start (6 IP, 3 ER), allowing 7 hits, walking 2, and striking out 4. Jordan Jankowski allowed a run on 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 1 in the 7th. Tommy Shirley worked around a hit to throw a scoreless 8th, striking out 1. James Hoyt allowed a run in the 9th but was able to close out the game. He allowed 3 hits and struck out 2.

The Grizzlies head home for the week. Tonight, they begin the first of 4 against El Paso at 7:05 Pacific. Jake Buchanan gets the start.

Frisco 6, Corpus Christi 3

W- Kyle Lotzkar (1-1)
L- Kyle Westwood (1-2)
S- Francisco Mendoza (5)

CC home runs: Tyler White (1, solo in 2nd), Telvin Nash (5, 2-run in 3rd)

The Hooks got out to a nice start as they led 3-0 after 3 innings. Unfortunately, it was all Frisco as they scored 6 unanswered to close out the game.
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All 3 Corpus runs came off of those 2 homers you see above. Carlos Correa finished 3-4 with a double and a run scored.

Kyle Westwood's day started out well enough, but the Roughriders tagged him for 4 runs in the 4th inning; 3 of those 4 scored on a homer. Westwood went 5 innings and allowed 3 other hits, walked 2, and struck out 3. Aaron West pitched the final 4 innings; he allowed 2 runs in the 9th, 4 hits, walked 1, and fanned 2.

Corpus looks to avoid the sweep tonight as Mark Appel faces Jake Thompson at 7:05.

Modesto 7, Lancaster 1

W- Johendi Jiminian (1-3)
L- Troy Scribner (1-1)

Lancaster home runs: J.D. Davis (3, solo in 4th)

The JetHawks suffered the sweep in what was just a rough series all around.  In this one, a 5-run 3rd doomed them, and the 'Hawks never really got their bats going.

J.D. Davis's solo shot in the 4th represented the only run. Brett Phillips finished 2-4.

Troy Scribner only lasted 2.1 innings; he allowed 5 unearned runs (1 inherited runner charged to him), a single, walked 1, and struck out 3. Chris Cotton allowed 2 hits and struck out 2 over 2.2 scoreless. Ambiorix De Leon pitched 2 innings and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits (solo homer) and struck out 2. Albert Minnis struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 8th.

Well, on to the next. The JetHawks will begin a 4-game series with Stockton tonight at 7:10. Evan Grills will take on Joel Seddon.

Quad Cities 10, Wisconsin 1

W- Joe Musgrove (4-1)
L- Kodi Medeiros (0-2)

QC home runs: None.

The Bandits swept the Rattlers in dominating fashion, outscoring them 17-4 over the weekend series. They just keep rolling along; this is their 5th straight victory.

6 players in the lineup had 2 hits: the top 5 in the order (Bobby Boyd, Jamie Ritchie, D.J. Fisher, Mott Hyde, and Nick Tanielu) and the #9 hitter, Kristian Trompiz. All of them played a significant part in the River Bandits' romp; Hyde opened the scoring with a bases-loaded walk in the 1st. Tanielu followed with a 2-run single. Then, Alfredo Gonzalez grounded into a force out that brought Hyde home.

The Banditos added 2 more in the 5th, the 6th, and the 9th. Kristian Trompiz hit a 2-run single in the 5th, Hyde hit an RBI double and Gonzalez added an RBI groundout in the 6th, and they got 3 consecutive triples from Trompiz, Boyd, and Ritchie (in that order) in the top of the 9th. Boyd, Ritchie, Fisher, and Hyde scored 2 runs each.

Joe Musgrove continued his dominant start to the season with 5 more shutout innings. He allowed 3 hits and struck out 3. Bryan Radziewski finished things off; he allowed a run on 4 hits, walked 2, and struck out 4 in 4 innings.

The second leg of this roadtrip takes the River Bandits to Kane County for 3 games. They have yet to announce a starter for this game. Whoever it is, he'll take on Markus Solbach at 6:30.

Happy Birthday - 5/4

Wishing a Very Happy Birthday to ...

RHP Akeem Bostick (20)
Bostick was born May 4, 1995 in Florence, South Carolina, and came to the Astros system in a January 2015 trade that sent C Carlos Corporan to the Texas Rangers. Bostick is currently at Extended Spring Training.

RHP Juan Cuevas (21)
Cuevas was born May 4, 1994 in San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic, and first appeared with the Astros in the Dominican Summer League in June 2014.

Tweet of the Day

I'm actually less bored right now with nothing at all to do than I was last night watching the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight. #underwhelmed

— Tyler White (@twhite409) May 4, 2015