Astros Prospect Report: Oberholtzer solid in rehab; Quad Cities breaks out the lumber

AAA Fresno Grizzlies: 6-1 loss to Memphis (STL)

-> Max Stassi: 1-for-3, solo HR
-> Nolan Fontana: 1-for-3, 2B
-> Joe Sclafani: 1-for-3
-> Matt Duffy: 1-for-4
-> Carlos Correa: 0-for-3, BB

SP Brett Oberholtzer: 4.2 IP, 4 R (1 ER), 5 H, 0 BB, 5 K (loss)
RP Luis Cruz: 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 K

Sweet crap, Fresno made four errors in this game. Specifically one was on Correa, and three were on Duffy. Correa's error ended up not cost them a run, but Duffy's obviously cost them three. A two-run jack followed one of them.

Oberholtzer's only earned run was a solo shot, one of two homers he allowed. Which is kind of odd, considering he got nine outs on the ground and just one in the air. It's cool, brush it off. Focus on the grounders and the no walks and five strike outs. We're just looking for him to get healthy; we already (sorta) know who he is.

AA Corpus Christi Hooks: 9-3 win over Northwest Arkansas (KCR)

-> Andrew Aplin: 2-for-4, BB, 2B, SB, 3 R
-> Tyler White: 2-for-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI
-> Brandon Meredith: 1-for-3, BB, HR, R, 3 RBI
-> Conrad Gregor: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
-> Tony Kemp: 1-for-4, BB, SB, R
-> Leonardo Heras: 1-for-4
-> Roberto Pena: 1-for-4
-> Jiovanni Mier: 1-for-5, SB, RBI, R
-> Danry Vasquez: 0-for-4, SB

SP Kyle Westwood: 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K (win)
RP Aaron West: 4.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K (save)

Vasquez promoted to AA, as you can see. I saw a few people wondering why him and not Phillips; remember that Vasquez is Rule 5 eligible this off-season, and Phillips won't be at risk until after the 2016 season.

West's rebound continues along nicely. He's allowed more than two earned runs in just one of his eight outings, that back on April 27, a five-run drubbing. Since then, though, he's allowed just six total earnies in 21 innings, for a 2.57 ERA during that span. He continues to get grounders (five ground outs tonight) as well as post strong peripherals (1.26 BB/9 and 6.31 K/9 on the season).

Aplin is just scalding hot right now; .450/.560/.625 in 11 games since they sent him back to AA. He's walked 10 times and whiffed just thrice in that span, while stealing eight bases in nine attempts. Nice to see a guy just completely go off after a setback.

More hits from White. He's hitting .310 with a .461 OBP. Look at that separation! Just a massive walk rate, and hitting for average, not striking out much, a bit of pop...he's really getting interesting.

Speaking of pop, pop the cork, pour the wine, cut the cheese, strike up the band; Conrad Gregor has hit a homer! First time since August 28 of last year.

A+ Lancaster JetHawks: 6-5 loss to Stockton (OAK)

-> James Ramsay: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI
-> Jose Fernandez: 1-for-2, BB, 2 R
-> Alfredo Gonzalez: 1-for-4, 2B
-> Marc Wik: 0-for-2, R
-> J.D. Davis: 0-for-3, BB

SP Daniel Mengden: 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 4 K
RP Tyler Brunnemann: 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K
RP Albert Minnis: 0.1 IP, 2 R (0 ER), 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K (blown save, loss)
RP Keegan Yuhl: 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K

The final score is actually a little deceptive. You can clearly see who was responsible for virtually the entire offense. Outside of Ramsay, the rest of the lineup combined for two hits, two walks and 11 strike outs. A.J. Reed and Davis both whiffed twice.

Oof, welcome to the California League, Danny. Two solo shots accounted for half of those runs, the others coming as a result of the other nine base runners he allowed. Not a nice start for that career WHIP. He mixed in a balk and three wild pitches. Yeah, shake it of, get back out there next time. Live and learn.

A- Quad Cities River Bandits: 13-4 win over Kane County (ARZ)

-> Nick Tanielu: 3-for-4, BB, 3 R
-> Mott Hyde: 2-for-4, HR, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 2 R
-> Sean McMullen: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R
-> Jacob Nottingham: 2-for-5, RBI, R
-> Ryan Bottger: 1-for-4, BB, HR, R, 2 RBI
-> Bobby Boyd: 1-for-5, R, 2 BB, 2 RBI
-> Kristian Trompiz: 1-for-5, R
-> Jason Martin: 0-for-4, BB, 2 R
-> Derek Fisher: 0-for-4, BB

SP Austin Chrismon: 4.0 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 5 K
RP Angel Heredia: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 1 K (win)
RP Jorge Perez: 4.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K (save)

A day after QC couldn't put a single run up and lost despite solid pitching, they put 13 runs on the board. Go figure.

All four of the runs Chrismon coughed up came on a pair of homers (a three-run and a solo), which is kind of odd, considering his ground ball tendencies. But if you hang it, they will bang it. The peripherals were nice, though; 0.86 BB/9 and 5.79 K/9 on the season now. The strike outs were obviously a big deal, given that very mediocre strike out rate. But he's shown several flashes this year of more, so you may see a rise as he continues to adjust.

Nottingham has collected two or more hits in 10 of his last 16 games. He's hit .427/.466/.750 (that's a 1.216 OPS) during that span with a triple, four homers and eight doubles. He has a 1.073 OPS for the month of May (20 games).

Mr. Hyde is currently hitting .322/.421/.462 on the season after collecting his first long ball of the year. The SLG is thanks to 15 doubles (and a triple), and you just wonder if some of those doubles may eventually turn into some more homers. Even if they don't, though, the discipline and feel for hitting might carry him. He's another one of these polished, late-round college bats who will need to see AA before we're sure how real they are. Many fizzle out, but a few (Tyler White could be one) end up being legit and turn into draft steals.

Four of Tanielu's last ten games have been multi-hitters, and he's up to .310/.358/.414 on the season.

Today's Scheduled Starters

AAA: Brady Rodgers vs. John Gast
AA: Mark Appel vs. J.C. Sulbaran
A+: Evan Grills vs. Lou Trivino
A-: Brock Dykxhoorn vs. Ethan Elias