Minor League Recap- June 29th, 2013

With July 2 rapidly approaching and the Astros possessing the largest bonus pool, a new talent infusion is due to come to their already very strong farm system in short order. The Astros' biggest fish from 2011's J-2 class was shortstop Luis Reynoso, an 18 year old from the Dominican Republic who is making his USA debut this year in the GCL. Reynoso is starting to look like a future top prospect, something he always had the potential to be with his athletic 6'1" frame, fast hands and fluid motion in the field, and it's great to see the Astros' $700,000 investment in 2011 starting to pay some tangible dividends. Including last night, Reynoso's first 31 plate appearances in America have included eight hits, two of which have been triples, and a nice 6/6 K/BB ratio. The sample size is small, but Reynoso looks like he could hit his way to an ambitious assignment next season and become the club's most relevant international prospect since Jose Altuve.

Ruiz, Correa, Velasquez Put On Show in Quad Cities

There was a point this season when Carlos Correa was sitting around .220 and some fans were beginning to question the pick, but those days are long, long gone. On Saturday night, Correa continued to rake, going 3 for 4 with a double and a home run to raise his batting average to .324. His teammate, Rio Ruiz, also got in on the action with a home run and a walk to raise his batting average to .227, a mark that has been rising steadily as of late. Vincent Velasquez pitched four frames to close out the game, allowing just four hits, one run and one walk while striking out eight.

Bushue, Houser Keep it Rolling in Tri-City Doubleheader

As far as Astros pitching prospects go, Adrian Houser and Tanner Bushue have been the enigmas. Bushue was a second round pick in the Ed Wade era and once looked like one of the more promising arms in the system, but injuries and velocity issues derailed him. Now in Tri-City and just 21 years old, Bushue has gotten off to a nice start in 2013 and Saturday continued that as he tossed 6 two-run frames while striking out four and walking none. He has a long way to go to regain his former luster, but it's a start, and that's more than he's been able to put together the last two seasons. Houser is on a better track than Bushue thus far, the club's 2011 second rounder and just a young 20 year old, but many hoped he'd have made the jump to full season ball by now. After a rough first outing in Tri-City, Houser has strung together 9 scoreless frames including his 4 shutout innings yesterday, and has allowed just eight baserunners in that stretch. The Astros pitching depth is starting to look very strong, and the emergence of arms like Bushue and Houser could really bolster the system.

Foltynewicz Takes Loss in Up and Down Outing

Mike Foltynewicz has been a breakout star this season, showing absolutely dynamic stuff and baffling AA hitters. He's sat in the high 90s, touching 100, and shown a plus curveball to go with his solid slider and changeup, and his ERA in Corpus Christi has hovered around 2.00. That said, Folty still shows his youth now and then, and Saturday was an example of that. Though he struck out five in his five innings and allowed a respectable three runs, he walked four and allowed a home run to show that, impressive as he may look, he has some polish that still needs to be applied.

Notable Lines

GCL Astros (Rk.)

Jason Martin- 1 for 4, BB, SB

Luis Reynoso- 2 for 4, 3B, 2 K

Greeneville Astros (Rk.)

Bobby Borchering- 2 for 5, 2B, K, CS

Wallace Gonzalez- 2 for 4, BB, 2 K

Ariel Ovando- 1 for 5, 2 K

Jordan Mills- 4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K

Sebastian Kessay- 2.1 IP 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K

Krishawn Holley- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

J.D. Osborne- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Tri-City ValleyCats (SS)

Tony Kemp- 0 for 2, BB

D'Andre Toney- 1 for 4, K, SB

Conrad Gregor- 0 for 5, BB

Dan Gulbransen- 3 for 7

Adam Nelubowich- 0 for 2, BB (Professional debut)

Adrian Houser- 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Tanner Bushue- 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HRA

Chia-Jen Lo- 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HRA

Quad Cities River Bandits (A)

Teoscar Hernandez- 2 for 4, 2B, 3B, K

Carlos Correa- 3 for 4, 2B, HR

Rio Ruiz- 1 for 3, HR, BB, K

Brett Phillips- 0 for 3

Juan Minaya- 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K

Vincent Velasquez- 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K

Lancaster JetHawks (A+)

Delino DeShields- 2 for 4, BB, SB

Nolan Fontana- 1 for 4, BB, K

Andrew Aplin- 2 for 3, 2B, BB

M.P. Cokinos- 0 for 1, 2 BB

Tyler Heineman- 0 for 3

Luis Cruz- 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K

Travis Ballew- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Corpus Christi Hooks (AA)

Preston Tucker- 0 for 3

Max Stassi- 0 for 3, K

Jiovanni Mier- 0 for 3, K

Rene Garcia- 1 for 4, K

Mike Foltynewicz- 5 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 HRA

Ross Seaton- 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K

Oklahoma City RedHawks (AAA)

Jonathan Villar- 1 for 5, 2B, K

Marwin Gonzalez- 2 for 4,

Jimmy Paredes- 1 for 3

Brandon Laird- 2 for 4, 2 2B, K

George Springer- 1 for 3, 2 K, SB

Carlos Perez- 0 for 4, K

Robbie Grossman- 0 for 4, K

Brad Peacock- 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 9 K

Kevin Chapman- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K