Astros Prospect Report: July 4th, 2017

GCL Astros (3-4) 2, GCL Mets (3-5) 5

The Astros’ bats largely struggled in this contest, managing just six hits with both of their runs coming on a two-run home run by Carlos Diaz in the fifth frame. Fifth-round catcher Nathan Perry made his second start, at designated hitter, and went 0 for 4 as he continues to search for his first professional hit- he will turn 18 on Friday. The Astros may have another Troy Scribner on their hands, as undrafted free agent pitcher Kristopher Scheetz, who played college ball at Virginia Tech, went 3.1 frames and struck out 7, pushing his K/BB mark to 13/0 as a pro while keeping his ERA at 0.00. Scheetz is 23 years old and playing against hitters generally 4-5 years his junior, and has little reason to stay in GCL much longer.

Notable Lines

Carlos Diaz - 1 for 5, HR, 2 K

Hector Martinez - 2 for 4, K

Nathan Perry - 0 for 4

Ozziel Sanchez-Galan - 1 for 2, 2 BB

Kristopher Scheetz - 3.1 IP, H, 7 K

Carlos Pimental - 2.0 IP, H, 4 K

Greeneville (8-4) 4, Johnson City (7-6) 1

Chas McCormick and the G-Stros kept it rolling on the 4th, riding a four-run 1st inning to an easy victory. Brody Westmoreland’s 3-run shot represented the bulk of the offense. Ruben Castro, drafted in 2014 out of the PR Baseball Academy, went 2-for-4 to raise his average to .348 on the young season. Greeneville pitchers struck out 13 and allowed just 5 hits, with Jesus Balaguer, signed in April from Cuba, striking out 5 over two frames to earn the save. Balaguer, though 23, has now put up a 14/2 K/BB in his first 7 professional frames stateside.

Notable Lines

Chas McCormick - 1 for 4

Cody Bohanek - 1 for 3, BB

Adrian Tovalin - 0 for 4, 3 K

Brody Westmoreland - 1 for 4, HR, K

Ruben Castro- 2 for 4

Wilson Amador - 1 for 2, BB, SB

Jesus Balaguer - 2 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K

Tri-City (5-9) 9, Brooklyn (3-11) 5

The struggling ValleyCats got the remedy for their early-season funk against a nondescript Brooklyn club, racking up 11 hits on the day. Leading the way was catcher Randy Vasquez, who finished 3 for 4 with a walk. J.J. Matijevic, the club’s 2nd-rounder, was 0 for 4 with a walk and has slowed a bit after charging out of the gates with a handful of multi-hit games. 3rd-round pick Tyler Ivey started the game on the mound and couldn’t manage outs, allowing four runs on six hits in 1.1 innings. Cristian Javier was called upon to clean up, and cruised over 5.1 innings allowing just two hits. The 20-year old Javier has shown a serious proclivity for strikeouts in his young career, and had 7 in his outing yesterday. He is a name to watch.

Notable Lines

J.J. Matijevic- 0 for 4, BB

Bryan De La Cruz- 2 for 4, BB

Abraham Toro-Hernandez- 0 for 1, K

Jake Adams- 2 for 5, 2 K

Kristian Trompiz- 2 for 4, 2B, BB

Randy Vasquez- 3 for 4, BB

Miguelangel Sierra- 1 for 3, K

Tyler Ivey- 1.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R (3 ER), BB, K

Cristian Javier- 5.1 IP, 2 H, R, 7 K

Quad Cities (46-35) 5, Kane County (46-34) 4

It was a back and forth affair at home for QC on the fourth, and, for perhaps the first time with the club, Dazmon Cameron carried the team to a victory. The son of former big-league all-star Mike, Daz picked up 3 hits including a double on the night, stole a base, and walked the game off with a clutch hit in the bottom of the 9th. The effort raised Cameron’s average to .216, and a strong second half would go along way in stabilizing his stock. Carmen Benedetti continued to get on base at an outstanding rate, reaching 3 times in 5 trips. Yohan Ramirez had a decent start allowing 3 runs across five, and Salvador Montano earned the win by getting the last nine outs, six by way of the K.

Notable Lines

Carmen Benedetti - 1 for 3, 2 BB

Ronnie Dawson- 0 for 4, BB, K

Daz Cameron- 3 for 5, 2B, K, SB

Wander Franco - 1 for 4

Salvador Montano - 3 IP, 2 H, R, 2 BB, 6 K

Buies Creek (46-37) 12, Myrtle Beach (47-35) 3

Buies was just unstoppable with the bats in this one, putting up 19 hits and 12 runs. Myles Straw and Spencer Johnson each had three hits, with two of Johnson’s going over the fence. Perhaps the biggest game from defensive dynamo Jake Rogers, who picked up 4 hits including a double and a homer. Rogers is hitting .295 his first year out of college after raking at Quad Cities earlier in the year and has seriously boosted his stock in 2017. Speedy outfielder Stephen Wrenn, who has potential to reach the bigs, also had 4 hits and a homer in the contest, his first big game with Buies Creek. The BC pitching staff also managed 12 Ks, with starter Brett Adcock representing 7 of them.

Notable Lines

Myles Straw - 3 for 6, 2 2B, SB

Jake Rogers- 4 for 5, 2B, HR, SB

Stephen Wrenn - 4 for 5, HR

Spencer Johnson - 3 for 5, 2 HR

Brett Adcock - 4.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 BB, 7 K

Corpus Christi (39-43) 4, Arkansas (37-45) 1

The Hooks were paced by catcher Garrett Stubbs in this one, as he pulled himself out of the offensive doldrums with a 3 for 4 night in which all three knocks went for extra bases. 9-hole hitter Arturo Michelena picked up three of the Hooks seven other hits, moving his average to .194. Kyle Tucker had a strong night, drawing to walks, knocking a single and recording zero strikeouts while also swiping his sixth bag in Double-A. Starter Framber Valdez, making his first start at Double-A in some time, struck out 9 against 3 walks in 6 frames. The 5’11” Valdez has made a name for himself with his strikeout numbers this year, he has now totaled 85 in 73.1 innings.

Notable Lines

Ramon Laureano - 0 for 4

Kyle Tucker - 1 for 3, 2 BB

J.D. Davis - 1 for 4, K

Garrett Stubbs - 3 for 4, 2 2B, HR

Jason Martin - 0 for 4, K

Framber Valdez - 6 IP, 2 H, R, 3 BB, 9 K

Fresno (47-38) 5, Salt Lake City (47-38) 4

The story on the 4th was the same as it has been many other nights in Fresno this year, as the bats of Derek Fisher, Preston Tucker and Colin Moran carried the team to a win. The three big bats combined for six of the team’s 8 hits, which proved to be enough on the back of starter Trent Thornton’s strong effort. The short righty struck out seven over five frames, his strongest effort in some time. Tony Kemp scored two runs in the contest, continuing a strong season. He should see time with the big-leaguers later on in the year.

Notable Lines

Tony Kemp - 1 for 3

Derek Fisher - 2 for 4, 2B, SB

Colin Moran - 2 for 4, K

AJ Reed - 0 for 3, BB, K

Preston Tucker - 2 for 4, 3B, K

Trent Thornton- 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, BB, 7 K