Astros Minor League Recap (5/22): Jake Buchanan And 'Baby Pedro'

Jake Buchanan Allows a Run

He is the most interesting non-prospect in the system. He hasn't allowed an earned run since April 26 (!!!). He is, Jake Buchanan. One of the big storylines of Wednesday night was Buchanan's scoreless inning streak being snapped at 25, the run wasn't even earned!

Buchanan is having the least dominant, dominant season of all-time. The 23-year-old groundball artist has walked a minuscule four batters in 53.1 inning this season, while allowing only five earned runs – good for a 0.84 ERA. This after finishing 2013 with a combined ERA of 5.25 between AA/AAA. With 50+ innings in the books, we're only a few exits away from the SSS freeway turning into #FreeJakeBuchanan beltway. Significant regression has to happen, right?

Meanwhile, Buchanan's blistering start to the season has forced fans to take notice. He received some serious air-time on the latest Minor League Podcast, where Brooks compared him to former Astro, Chris Sampson, and talked Tim into re-naming the podcast 'Grounded, with Jake Buchanan', starting next week. One of those things isn't true, but I highly recommend listening anyway. And start paying attention to Jake Buchanan, dammit, before he turns back into a 5.00+ ERA pumpkin.

River Bandits Lose Fifth Straight

Quad Cities is struggling. Coming into the night, they had lost four straight games. Momentum seemed to be on their side when they scored two runs in the eighth and another in the ninth to force extra innings. Then they allowed seven runs in the 11th and go back to the drawing board tomorrow. Outside of Carlos Correa, most of the "name" prospects are struggling at the plate. Hopefully they catch fire soon.

Hooks Rock Top Prospect

Between the aforementioned Jake Buchanan and #SPRINGERDINGERS, the Astros AA-affiliate own the best record in the Texas League. On Wednesday night they showed it, when given the tough task of facing the Kansas City Royals' second best pitching prospect, Yordano Ventura.

The unreasonably nicknamed "Baby Pedro" has touched triple digits multiple times in his career, and shown flashes of dominance in 2013. He had a two-start stretch this season when he pitched 11 IP, allowed only 3 H, while striking out 20. Besides that, he hadn't given up more than two runs all season. Until tonight, that is, when he couldn't make it out of the fifth inning. He finished with a line of 4.1 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 K. Springer, Santana, Burgess and Stassi were the main culprits of the onslaught, as expected.

Oklahoma City (27-18)

• Jonathan Villar - 1-5, K
• Jake Elmore - 2-5, HR, E
• Brett Wallace - 2-3, 2 BB
• Fernando Martinez - 1-5, HR, K
• Mark Krauss - 1-4
• Carlos Perez - 1-2, BB
• Ross Seaton - 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 8/3 GO/AO
• Jason Stoffel - 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Eric Berger - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Corpus Christi (26-19)

• George Springer - 1-3, 2 BB
• Domingo Santana - 1-3, 2B, 2 BB, K, SB, Assist
• Erik Castro - 3-4, 2B
• Max Stassi - 2-3, 2B, BB, K
• Michael Burgess - 2-3, HR
• Jake Buchanan - 5 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 5/4 GO/AO

Lancaster (25-20)