Astros Minor League Recap

It's about dang time that Kody Hinze was promoted!  There was literally nothing else for him to prove in Lancaster.  Austin Wates broke the news on twitter last night after their game, so big thanks to him for that.  You have to love that something so simple, can the news out to the fans so quickly.  This promotion only adds to possibly the best minor league line-up that this organization has had in quite some time.  If the Hooks can't win with a line-up than includes, Hinze, JD Martinez, Jose Altuve, Chris Wallace, Jimmy Paredes, Jonathan Villar, Jacob Goebbert, and depending on the days, TJ Steele and Jonathan Gaston, I don't know what to say. Last night's performance is easily just a glimpse at the excitement they can bring, adding Hinze's power is icing on the cake.

Many have asked who is going to replace Hinze in Lancaster and the concensus idea is that Telvin Nash will be promoted.  I highly doubt that.  Nash is still very raw and has some serious work to do on his strikeout rate.  Sure, his power came around this season, but we don't know if that will continue this season after his wrist injury that is actually a pretty serious injury when we are talking about a hammate bone.  You'll probably see David Flores get more time at 1B which will allow more playing time for Jonathan Meyer who has been hitting much better lately.  Once Erik Castro comes off the DL, he will probably take the majority of the starts at 1B.

I want to discuss Chris Hicks for a moment.  Hicks was a 14th round pick out of Georgia Tech in 2008 and performed quite well in relief for Tri-City that year.  It earned him a rotation spot in Lancaster in 2009 in which he did alright considering the environment.  He gave up too many home runs and walked a few too many, and that will get you in trouble.  He did have some really good outings though.  Unfortunately, he was injured and sat out all of last year.  He's now back and has pitched in ten games, all in relief.  He's pitching very well right now, but should he get a shot back in the rotation?  He's already 24 and would have to rebuild his innings, while advancing very quickly to still be considered a prospect, despite missing a season.  Personally, I say leave him in the pen, but let him work some long relief situations on occasion as he moves up in the system.  He eventually may be able to be a guy who switches to the rotation after he establishes himself in the majors.  But, it looks like his future is in the pen because of the one year set-back.

And Happy 4th of July!

Oklahoma City lost 2-1

• Wesley Wright-4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 2 HR, 3/3 GO/AO
• Ross Wolf-2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 SO
• Mickey Storey-1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO
• Fernando Rodriguez-1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO
• Luis Durango PH, LF-0-0, 2 BB

Corpus Christi dominated 16-3

• Dallas Keuchel-7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR, 10/5 GO/AO
• Patrick Urckfitz-2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
• Jimmy Paredes 2B-3-6, HR, 2 SO
• Jose Altuve 3B-2-4, 2B, BB, SO
• JD Martinez DH-2-5, HR, SO
• Jacob Goebbert LF-1-4, 2B, BB, SO
• Chris Wallace C-1-3, HR, 2 BB
• Jonathan Gaston RF-2-5, 2B, 3B, SO, SB

Lancaster lost 2-1

• Andrew Robinson-7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO, 14/0 GO/AO
• Chris Hicks-1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
• Jose Carlos Thompson 2B-2-4, SO

Lexington lost 8-2

• Ruben Alaniz-5 1/3 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 2 SO, 10/1 GO/AO
• Telvin Nash DH-2-4, SO

Tri-City lost 6-7

• Juri Perez-4 1/3 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO, 4/5 Go/AO
• Mitchell Lambson-2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
• Miles Hamblin C-4-5, 2 2B
• Matt Duffy 3B-1-3, 2B, BB, 2 SO
• John Hinson 2B-1-4, 2B
• Kellen Kiilsgaard LF-2-4, SO
• Nick Johnson SS-1-2, 2B, BB

Greeneville won 3-2

• Luis Ordosgoitti-5 1/3 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO, 5/4 GO/AO-I'm keeping my eye on this kid, he's still 18 and has a good frame, and put up good numbers last year and is doing the same this year.
• Paris Shewey-1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO, 3/0 GO/AO
• Mattison Smith-2/3 IP, 0 H,0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO
• Ariel Ovando DH-0-4, 3 SO-It's his third game, no worries
• Ernesto Genoves C-1-3, HR
• Josh Magee 2B-1-3, 2B, SO

GCL Astros: Off

DSL Astros: PPD

DSL Astros won 7-5 (Saturday's game)

• Agapito Barrios-3 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 0 SO, 4/4 GO/AO
• Yoel Silfa 2B-2-3, 2 2B, 2 BB
• Juan Santana SS-3-5
• Teoscar Hernandez CF-2-4, BB, 2 SO, 2 SB, CS
• Mesac Laguna LF-2-5, HR
• Thomas De La Cruz RF-2-4, SO