What's the best way to write an article in a series that hasn't seen the light of day in several weeks? Use an old hashtag that the bat guy at Astros County came up with SEVERAL weeks ago.
#CallAMup
What does it mean? Call a prospect up.
Introducing this week's question...
@Subber10 @CrawfishBoxes Who's the next big call up for the Astros
— Rick (@rickylinaress) July 30, 2014
This front office is not as aggressive Ed Wade and Co. in their final days of desperation with AA call ups. If there is a big call up happens, it'll be from AAA Oklahoma City. Take a look at the current roster.
Don't get to giddy though. The Astros are in a 40-man roster crunch with A LOT of prospects becoming Rule Five Draft eligible this off-season that will have to be added and limits spots for players who won't be.
That narrows the roster down to 14 players
Pitchers
Jorge de Leon-Already removed from 40-man
Mike Foltynewicz-Will be added by December
Richard Rodriguez-Had a dominant season
Nick Tropeano-Has been impressive and a top prospect
Tommy Shirley-Injury plagued career with dominance in AA
Ross Seaton-Eligible last off-season and wasn't selected
Pat Urckfitz-LH reliever
Jason Stoffel-Luhnow traded for him
Position Players
Ryan McCurdy (C)-Fill in catcher
Carlos Perez (C)-Went undrafted in last year's Rule Five
Matt Duffy (1B/3B)-Decent CIF bat
Jio Mier (IF)-Former 1st round pick
Ronny Torreyes (IF)-Luhnow traded for him
Austin Wates (OF)-Can hit
Seaton, Urckfitz, and de Leon do not seem to be candidates. McCurdy is also a non-option. With Max Stassi on the 40-man, Perez seems unlikely. But, that raises the other factor, players already on the 40-man.
Max Stassi
Domingo Santana
Asher Wojciechowski
Alex White-Has significant ML service but none for the Astros
Rudy Owens
(David Martinez and Kevin Chapman have significant time for the Astros for this exercise)
I would assume Stassi, Owens, and Santana come up in September. I'll leave that to you to decide if that's a big one in your book since all have seen time in the majors. Wojo and White will probably be called up as well. I'll consider those fairly big call-ups since neither have worn an Astros jersey in season.
Given the roster crunch, I find it hard to see any of the other guys called up this year without a significant injury to the ML roster. There are several pitchers on the 40-man that would be called up before the others not on the 40-man. Their spots on the 40-man will likely be created in the off-season when the Astros re-evaluate how the fringe position players fit into the next year's outlook.
The position player side is a little more likely with the positional values being more in play. Another injury to the MIF and Torreyes or Mier, probably Torreyes, comes jogging on up. Another injury to a CF and Wates may get a chance.
The most likely answer is Domingo, even though he has already been called up briefly (and struggled).