Astros Weekend Minor League Recap

I first want to give my apologies for not getting this posted yesterday.  I lost internet around 7 P.M. on Saturday while I was working on the list of impressive performances and couldn't get it back.  My computer was registering that I had an internet signal but would not even attempt to connect.  So, in order to suffer through the boredom, my wife and I put together an entire 1000 piece puzzle on Sunday.  We were finally able to get internet again at 10:30 P.M. Sunday night and I worked a while on getting all of this put together for Monday morning.  So, as a warning, this post is extremely long since it covers three days of minor league games plus the top performances.  Due to no internet, I stopped at Lexington after working up from the DSL. 

In other news, you all saw the Jordan Lyles performance on ESPN, if not read about it I'm sure.  He struck out one in his one inning of work in the Futures game and pitched well enough to garner some compliments for Baseball America and Project Prospect.  I'm going to go by the Game Day radar readings since they're better and they are were more in line with reports on other prospects.  But, a fastball in the low 90's is solid when factoring in his plus command of the pitch.  His change up is as good as advertised and his curve is still inconsistent but has made great jumps in quality and is a good pitch when factored with his command of the pitch.  He also featured that cutter which was in the high 80's that Astros County actually called a slider.  Most reports say its a cutter so I'm going to go with cutter since the velocity is in the high 80's.  I won't be surprised if he adds a slider eventually since that was the plan and he threw it some at the end of last season based on an interview with him.  All in all, he will more than likely be a #3 starter at least with a good solid chance of being a #2 in my opinion. 

Friday

Round Rock lost 4-2

Sergio Perez pitched well for five innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits, two walks, and five strikeouts.  Yorman Bazardo pitched four innings in relief and allowed just one run on four hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.  Wladimir Sutil is coming alive in AAA ball!  He went 2 for 4 with a walk and two stolen bases.  Brian Bogusevic went 2 for 3 with a walk.  Tommy Everidge went 2 for 3 with a walk and a strikeout. 

Corpus Christi: lost 2-1, lost 7-2

Game One: Jeremy Johnson gave up two runs on six hits and two walks in five innings with three strikeouts.  Danny Meszaros pitched two scoreless innings with no hits, two walks, and two strikeouts.  James Van Ostrand went 1 for 3 with a double and a strikeout.  Marcos Cabral went 1 for 3 with a double.

Game Two: Erick Abreu allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits, no walks, and four strikeouts in four innings.  Fernando Abad had a great outing out of the pen.  He struck out three and allowed just one hit in a scoreless inning.  Jailen Peguero struck out two and allowed two hits in a scoreless inning.  Jack Shuck led the game off with a homerun and that was his only hit.  Jhon Florentino went 1 for 3 with a double and a strikeout. 

Lancaster won 18-12

Kyle Greenwalt hasn't been puting up the numbers that he did early that warranted some excitement form a few of us around here.  His last game was good, but then Friday night came.  He allowed nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits and one walk in just two and two-thirds innings while not striking out anyone.  It's not like Lancaster just carried everything away either, only one of the hits was a homerun.  Mike Modica allowed one run in three innings on three hits and a strikeout.  Shane Wolf struck out one and allowed just one hit in one inning of work.  In a game with that much scoring, there is bound to be plenty of notable performances, so lets get to them.  Jay Austin has been slumping, but went 2 for 5 with a walk and two stolen bases.   Albert Cartwright went 3 for 5 with a double, homerun, and a stolen base.  Brian Pellegrini, in just his fifth game all season because of an injury, went 3 for 4 with a homerun and a walk.  Brandon Barnes went 3 for 5 with TWO homeruns and a strikeout.  John Curtis went 2 for 5.  Barry Butera went 1 for 4 with a double.  Andrew Simunic continues to dominate in his return to Lancaster by going 2 for 5 with triple, homerun, and two strikeouts. 

Lexington won 4-3

Now this was a Luis Cruz start that I can get really excited about.  He has an electric fastball and has some upside.  He pitched six innings and allowed just one run.  He allowed three hits and walked two while striking out six.  Kirk Clark picked up another save on a scoreless inning of work in which he allowed one hit and one walk with two strikeouts.  The compact slugger, Jose Altuve, went 1 for 5 with a homerun.  Jake Goebbert went 2 for 2 with a homerun and two walks.  Grant Hogue went 2 for 4 with a strikeout and a stolen base.  This is the bad news, Jonathan Meyer had a terrible night with four strikeouts. 

Tri-City won 3-2

Carlos Quevedo did his job, in a not so typical outing.  He allowed just two runs on seven hits and no walks in six innings.  It wasn't typical because of the league leaders in strikeouts didn't strikeout anyone.  Joan Robinson pitched two scoreless innings and allowed just one hit.  Jorge De Leon picked up the only strikeout for Greeneville in two-thirds of an inning of work and allowed two hits.  Ben Orloff went 2 for 5.  Enrique Hernandez went 2 for 5.  Ben Heath went 2 for 5 as well with a strikeout.  Jacke Healey went 1 for 4 with a triple and a strikeout.  Wilton Infante went 2 for 4 with two strikeouts and a stolen base. 

Greeneville won 14-12

Angel Gonzalez has struggled since his hitless performance.  He allowed six runs (all earned) on seven hits and two walks in just two and two-thirds innings.  He struck out one.  Travis Smink picked up the save with a strikeout in one hitless and scoreless inning.  Ricardo Garcia went 3 for 5 with a strikeout.  Jhonny Medrano went 4 for 6 with a homerun.  Chris Wallace went 1 for 4 with another homerun, walk, and two strikeouts.  Telvin Nash went 2 for 4 with a walk, a strikeout, and a homerun.  Emilio King went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk. 

GCL Astros won 4-2

Jose Perdomo had another dominant outing.  He pitched six innings and allowed two runs, none of which were earned.  He allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out an impressive seven.  Third year Italian, Andrea Lucati pitched a scoreless inning and gave up just one hit.  Mattison Smith pitched two inning and allowed no runs on two hits, a walk, and a strikeout.  Jose Monzon went 2 for 5 with a strikeout.  Joshua Magee went 2 for 5 with a double and a strikeout.  Jose Fernandez went 2 for 4 with a strikeout.  Jose (how many Jose's are on this team) Vargas went 1 for 4 with a double and a strikeout.  Garen Wright went 2 for 4 with a strikeout and a stolen base.

DSL Astros lost 9-0

The game was shortened to just five and a half innings.  The lanky 6-5, 150 lb Felix Ramirez pitched the exact opposite of his last dominant three inning outing.  He pitched two and a third innings and gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks without striking out anyone.  Raymir Lopez, Yoiner Angulo, and Max Ayarza all went 1 for 2. 

Saturday

Round Rock won 3-2

Andy Van Hekken pitched deep, eight innings deep.  He allowed just one run on six hits, one walk, and struck out three.  Drew Locke picked up the only extra base hit and went 1 for 2 with a double, walk, and a strikeout.  Nobody picked up more than one hit. 

Corpus Christi lost 12-6

Douglas Arguello was a tough luck loser.  In three and two-thirds innings, he allowed seven runs (only one earned).  That is tough luck, and what shortened his outing.  He gave up six hits and fours walks while striking out four.  Jailen Peguero had an impressive three scoreless innings.  He allowed three hits and walked none while striking out five.  Koby Clemens went 2 for 5.  Jonathan Gaston went 1 for 4  with a homerun and a walk.  Jonathan Fixler went 1 for 2 with a double and a strikeout. 

Lancaster won 5-3

Leandro Cespedes return to the rotation was solid with giving up two runs on eight hits, no walks, and six strikeouts in six innings.  Brain Pellegrini went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk.  Brandon Barnes went 1 for 4 with a double and a strikeout.  Federico Hernandez went 2 for 4 with a double and a triple.  Andrew Simunic went 1 for 4 with a double. 

Lexington lost 6-5

Brad Dydalewicz is still struggling with control as he gave up four walks to two strikeouts three and a third innings.  The walks and four hits led to five earned runs.  Brendon Stines struck out one, walked one, gave up two hits in two and two-thirds scoreless innings.  JD Martinez went 3 for 4 with a double and another homerun.  Kody Hinze went 1 for 4 with a homerun and a strikeout.  Aaron Bray went 1 for 4 with a double and a strikeout. 

Tri-City lost 8-4

Robby Doran's struggles to transition to the pros continue.  He gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk while striking out one.  Alex Sogarg struck out two in an inning and a third of hitless and scorless ball.  Ben Orloff went 2 for 5.  Tyler Burnett went 2 for 4.  Daniel Adamson went 2 for 2 with a walk.  The new Lexington Legend, Renzo Tello, went 2 for 4 with a strikeout in his last game in Tri-City.

Greeneville lost 15-5

Not a lot to talk about when a team gives up 15 runs.  I like Ruben Alaniz, but he gave up ten runs, all of them were earned.  Ricardo Garcia didn't pick up a hit but drew two walks.  Jhonny Medrano went 2 for 3 with a double and two walks.  Marcus Nidiffer went 2 for 5 with a homerun and two strikeouts.  Telvin Nash went 2 for 3 with a double and a strikeout.  Ricardo Heredia went 2 for 3 with a walk. 

GCL Astros lost 14-3

Francis Ramirez gave up three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four in five innings.  Jeremiah Meiners struck out two and gave up two hits that led to one unearned run in an inning of work.  Jose Monzon picked up one hit on his homerun. Joshua Magee went 2 for 4 with a triple.  Rafael Valenzuela went 2 for 4 with a double and a triple.  Jose Fernandez went 1 for 4 with a triple. 

DSL Astros lost 4-0

Roliner Iturralde gave up three runs on one walk and four hits while striking out three in four and a third innings.  Max Ayarza went 1 for 3 with a double and a strikeout.  Sorry, but thats the only notable happening in this game. 

 

Sunday

Round Rock lost 15-2

T.J. Burton is the only pitcher worth mentioning with his one and a third innings of hitless and scoreless ball while striking out two and walking one.  Wladimir is heating up.  He went 3 for 5.  Brian Bogusevic went 2 for 5 with a double.  Ramon Vazquez went 1 for 4 with a double, and a strikeout.  Drew Locke went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk.  Collin DeLome went 1 for 4 with a triple and a strikeout. 

Corpus Christi won 6-5

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm not a big fan of moving Henry Villar to the rotation.  In his second start, he pitched three and two-thirds innings and allowed five runs.  He gave up nine hits and no walks while striking out just one.  Fernando Abad is getting stretched out from his long DL stint.  he pitched four and two-thirds innings and only allowed three hits and no walks which led to no runs.  He also struck out six!.  ABAD IS BACK!  Danny Meszaros pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up no hits or walks while striking out one. Jonathan Gaston went 2 for 5 with a strikeout and a stolen base.  Jhon Florentino went 1 for 3 with a double, walk, and a strikeout.  David Cook went 2 for 4 with a double and a strikeout.  Marcos Cabral went 1 for 3 with a homerun and a walk.  Jonathan Fixler went 3 for 4 with a triple, homerun and a strikeout. 

Lancaster won 4-0

Ross Seaton had his second solid start.  He only struck out three (eight in his last start) and walked two.  He allowed five hits but gave up no runs, which is a real nice surprise from him, in seven and a third innings.  Albert Cartwright went 2 for 4 with a triple and two strikeouts.  Jay Austin went 2 for 4 with a stolen base.  Federico Hernandez went 1 for 4 with a triple.  David Flores went 1 for 4 with a homerun. 

Lexington won 3-2

Robbert Donovan had a bounce back start where he gave up two runs on five hits and a walk in five and a third innings.  He also struck out five.  Kirk Clark pitched an inning of no hits with one walk and a strikeout.  Jose Altuve went 2 for 5 with a strikeout and three stolen bases, which brings his total up to thirty on the season.  Miguel Arrendell went 1 for 4 with a triple and a strikeout.  JD Martinez went 1 for 3 with even another homerun and a walk. 

Tri-City lost 9-6

David Martinez allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits and two strikeouts in three and a third innings. Wilton Infante went 4 for 5 with a homerun.  Enrique Hernandez went 2 for 5 with a double.  Michael Kvasnicka went 2 for 4 with a walk and a strikeout.  It's good to see a multi-hit game from him.  Adam Bailey went 2 for 4 with a strikeout.  Frank Almonte went 1 for 3 with a double, walk, and a strikeout. 

Greeneville won 6-5

Jeiler Castillo didn't start the game but he struck out five and gave up one run on two hits and no walks in four and two-thirds innings.  Ryan Humphrey went 2 for 5 with two two stolen bases.  Chris Wallace went 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.  Marcus Nidiffer went 3 for 4 with a homerun and a strikeout.  Bubby Williams went 2 for 4 with a strikeout.  Hector Rodriguez went 2 for 4 with two doubles and a strikeout. 

GCL Astros off

DSL Astros 10-9

Leonardo Alayon gave up three runs but only one was earned on one walk and five hits.  He also struck out an impressive seven in six innings of work.  Yonathan Mejia went 3 for 6 with a double, triple, and a stolen base.  Franny Polanco went 3 for 5 with a walk and a strikeout.  Ydarque Marte went 3 for 5.  Rainer Perez went 2 for 6 with two strikeouts.  Max Ayarza went 4 for 4. 

 

Impressive Performances (stats are from last Sunday through games on Friday)

Jose Solano (SS-DSL)-The 18 year old short-stop was great this week.  He went 8 for 15 with a double, homerun, and three stolen bases. He struck out twice and didn't walk.  He is listed at 6-2 175, so he seems to be a pretty athletic player.  Although, with that type of height and weight at 18, I wouldn't be surprised if he adds some mass, but since he does have some speed to have stolen seven bases this season, he could stick at SS.  So it'll be interesting to see how he does the rest of the season.

Elias De Leon (P-DSL)-The lefty made just one appearance this week and was out of the pen but it lasted as long as a start. He pitched six and two-thirds innings but only allowed three hits and one walk while striking out six.  He's twenty and has had some success in his two previous seasons.

Ryan Ditthardt (1B-GCL)-Yes, he'll be 22 next month, but he is powering the GCL Astros.  He has been a steal of a undrafted FA and probably needs to advance in order to be considered a prospect.  But, he went 4 for 13 with two doubles, a walk, and two strikeouts. 

Jose Perdomo (P-GCL)-The 18 year old starter isn't the projectible type but he has had success in his second professional season.  In his third start of the year, he allowed two runs that weren't earned in six innings while striking out seven and walking two.  He has only allowed one earned run in his 15 innings and has struck out 16.  That all leads to an impressive 2.37 FIP.

Chris Wallace (C-Greeneville)-Nobody expects a 16th rounder to dominate the way Chris has.  He went 10 for 25 last week and hit two homeruns.  He has also hit two doubles and has walked twice but has struck out six times.  He's a hometown guy so it will make a good story if he is able to succeed.  I like that kind of power production from a catcher.

Ricardo Garcia (2B-Greeneville)-He mostly get recognition for the picture on his profile.  Could he not go ahead and add the moustache?  Even if it was fake?  It looks like a reverse handlebar.  If your gonna do the chin, stop it at the chin, not the lips.  At least thats what I do.  But he did hit for good average by going 8 for 18, but that was all singles. 

Telvin Nash (OF-Greeneville)-Not a lot of average but its great to see such a high pick from last season hitting for the power that is expected from him.  He went 5 for 20 with three homeruns, which is already two more than last season.  He also drew four walks and struck out six times. 

Ben Orloff (2B-Tri-City)-The former ninth rounder was a little disappointing last season but is a different batter this year.  He went 9 for 21 with a double, three walks, and just one strikeout.  He also stole one base.

Ben Heath (C-Tri-City)-A guy who could be the steal of the draft! He went 6 for 20 with a homerun and a double.  He also drew four walks and struck out four times.  He has really good plate discipline and currently has some of the best power in the NYPL, especially for a catcher. 

Tommy Shirley (P-Tri-City)-What would this list be without the hottest pitcher from this years draft class?  It may have only been one start that lasted just four innings, but six strikeouts with only one walk!  Here is to deserved recognition.  Lets gawk at that 2.09 FIP!

Jorge De Leon (P-Tri-City)-The former Lexington SS has turned closer and he's been solid.  He has an electric mid-90's fastball and used it to pick up two saves this past week.  He pitched two and two-thirds innings and struck out three and walked two. 

Zachary Grimmett (P-Lexington)-I'm going to once again campaign for him to be in the rotation.  He's 20 so its not a concern about him being able to slowly add innings to season totals without it being a concern.  The guy either has solid stuff or excellent pitchability if not both.  At 6-3, 185, he has some projectibility and should at least be given a chance to start. 

J.D. Martinez (OF-Lexington)-The well known outfielder went 9 for 17 with a double and two homeruns.  He also drew two walks and struck out just twice.