Astros winter baseball update: Arizona Fall League and more for Oct. 13-26

Apologies for the lack of an update last week, but we have a double update this week, so you won't miss anything.

Arizona Fall League

October 13 - Salt River wins 7-4 over Surprise

-> DH Rio Ruiz: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI

October 14 - Salt River wins 1-0 over Surprise

-> 3B Rio Ruiz: 2-for-2, BB
-> C Tyler Heineman: 2-for-3
-> CF Andrew Aplin: 2-for-4, 3B, RBI

SP Mark Appel: 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 6 K
RP Mitch Lambson: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K
RP Tyson Perez: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K (save)

October 15 - Salt River loses 7-5 to Glendale

-> LF Joe Sclafani: 1-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI

SP Vincent Velasquez: 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 2 K (loss)

October 16 - Salt River wins 5-1 over Glendale

-> LF Andrew Aplin: 2-for-3, BB, 2B, SB, RBI, R
-> 3B Rio Ruiz: 1-for-3, BB, R

October 17 - Salt River ties 3-3 with Peoria

-> DH Rio Ruiz: 2-for-4, 2B
-> DH Andrew Aplin: 0-for-1, R (pinch runner)
-> C Tyler Heineman: 0-for-0 (defensive sub)

RP Mitch Lambson: 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
RP Tyson Perez: 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K

October 18 - Salt River loses 8-4 to Mesa

-> 3B Joe Sclafani: 1-for-3, BB, 2B, SB, R
-> CF Andrew Aplin: 0-for-4

October 20 - Salt River wins 4-2 over Peoria

-> 3B Rio Ruiz: 0-for-3, BB, R
-> RF Andrew Aplin: 0-for-4

SP Mark Appel: 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K (win)

October 21 - Salt River wins 5-0 over Peoria

-> 3B Rio Ruiz: 1-for-2, R, 2 BB

SP Vincent Velasquez: 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K (win)
RP Tyson Perez: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

October 22 - Salt River wins 9-2 over Surprise

-> DH Joe Sclafani: 2-for-4, BB, 2B, 3 RBI
-> CF Andrew Aplin: 0-for-4, BB, SB, R

RP Mitch Lambson: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 0 K (hold)

October 23 - Salt River wins 5-3 over Surprise

-> 3B Rio Ruiz: 1-for-3, BB

October 24 - Salt River wins 8-1 over Glendale

-> LF Andrew Aplin: 3-for-5

RP Tyson Perez: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

October 25 - Salt River loses 6-3 to Peoria

-> LF Joe Sclafani: 1-for-4, RBI
-> DH Rio Ruiz: 0-for-3, BB

SP Mark Appel: 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K
RP Mitch Lambson: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

South of the Border

Dominican Winter League

Rene Garcia: 1 G, .250/.250/.500, 1 R, 1 H
Teoscar Hernandez: 7 G, .273/.304/.455, 4 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1-for-1 SB
Domingo Santana: 6 G, .167/.286/.167, 3 R, 3 H, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 1-for-1 SB
Ruben Sosa: 6 G, .100/.182/.300, 3 R, 1 3B, 2-for-2 SB
Jonathan Villar: 5 G, .190/.182/.238, 6 R, 4 H, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2-for-3 SB

Asher Wojciechowski: 2 GS, 9.1 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 12 K

Mexican Pacific League

Leonardo Heras: 14 G, .294/.438/.608, 9 R, 15 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 12 BB, 4 K, 2-for-3 SB

Gonzalo Sanudo: 7 G, 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 8 K
Carlos Vasquez: 6 G, 3.1 IP, 2 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K

Venezuelan League

Carlos Perdomo: 1 G, 1.000/1.000/3.000, 1 3B, RBI
Carlos Perez: 7 G, .300/.286/.650, 5 R, 6 H, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Gregorio Petit: 5 G, .294/.333/.353, 2 R, 5 H, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB
Danry Vasquez: 12 G, .341/.408/.432, 7 R, 15 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 5 BB

David Martinez: 2 GS, 9.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 8 K

Notes and Thoughts

1. Just a quick word; by now, many of you have heard about Oscar Taveras' unfathomable passing. Considering he was another team's prospect and I had barely watched him play yet, I found myself surprised with how hard-hit I was by it. Part of it was just the general tragedy of someone dying so young, and some was because of his unfulfilled potential. But I think another part of it was the sobering reminder that the same thing could happen to anyone. Carlos Correa could be hit by a bus later today. A gunman could burst into George Springer's home tonight and blow him away. It doesn't matter who you are, how old, how much money or fame or potential or success you have, any day can be your day. These players, upon which we pin our hopes, our dreams, our vicarious wishes and desires, could be gone in the blink of an eye, and it could all be over. Bearing that in mind, I know that I'll be enjoying every game I get to see Jose Altuve or Springer or Jon Singleton play next year a little bit more.

2. That game on October 14 could truly be considered an Astros win; Appel was brilliant, and along with the two relievers, Astros arms pitched two-thirds of the shutout. On the other side of the ball, Astros hitters collected six of their team's seven hits, and Aplin drove in the game's only run.

3. The four hitters on that Salt River team (Aplin, Heineman, Ruiz and Sclafani) have on-base percentages of .378, .571, .380 and .350, respectively (Heineman's sample is much smaller). Appel's 17 innings has him tied for first-most in the league, and his 1.59 ERA is fifth-best among starters. Salt River, as a team is 12-4, alone in first place; the next best team is Mesa at 9-7

4. Would you like to see Mark Appel pitching live? You might just be able to. Two of Salt River's games will be broadcast on MLB.com this week; Thursday's game (7:35 PM CST) and Friday's game, (1.35 PM CST) will both be streamed, and Saturday's Fall Stars Game (6:08 PM CST) will be on MLB Network and likely MLB.com as well. Considering he's been one of the four or five best starters in the league, he's basically a shoe-in to get on that team, and since he wouldn't be scheduled to pitch until Thursday or Friday anyway, they could easily hold him back a day or two for that game. In short, if you watch those three games, you have a very good chance of seeing Appel pitching. Aplin's play has made him a contender for a spot on the Fall Stars Game roster as well; stay tuned throughout this week.