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Infielder Nick Tanielu hoped to get a jump on the 2017 season with a stint the Arizona Fall League. But Tanielu has derailed by ACL surgery following in injury unrelated to the AFL — reports the Houston Chronicle's Jake Kaplan.
A note on an Astros minor leaguer: IF Nick Tanielu to miss much of 2017 after recent surgery to repair ACL. Injury occurred after AFL.
— Jake Kaplan (@jakemkaplan) January 13, 2017
Tanielu, 24, was drafted in the 14th round of the 2014 Draft out of Washington State. He split time between Single-A Lancaster and Double-A Corpus Christi in 2016. Tanielu batted .253 (94x371) with 15 doubles, seven home runs, 35 runs scored, 47 RBIs, and .298 on-base percentage.
He batted .352 (19x54) with one home run and five RBIs in the AFL.
He spent his first season with the Astros in Tri-City and the follow season with Quad Cities.
2017 will be a lost year for the for Tanielu, but it also hurts the Astros depth at second base. The Major League level is locked up by Jose Altuve, followed by Tony Kemp and Marwin Gonzalez.
But the Astros felt it was important enough to add Reid Brignac to help at second base. Not having Tanielu could hurt down the line.