The Crawfish Boxes - Houston Astros Minor League System ReviewAstros baseball: we've got uniforms and everything.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/11437/crawfishboxes-fv.gif2023-02-02T11:56:43-06:00http://www.crawfishboxes.com/rss/stream/31580392023-02-02T11:56:43-06:002023-02-02T11:56:43-06:00Oops! All Astros: Kyle Gruller
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<img alt="Houston Astros vs Colorado Rockies" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MFaJQB_KsuJ6JJqz-hkkVDow_UE=/0x0:3900x2600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71933772/1228516996.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Set Number: X163332 TK1</figcaption>
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<p>Kyle Gruller played in 15 games at the High-A level for Houston in 2022. </p> <h3 id="F0hXqx"><em><strong>I’m reviewing all 316 players to appear in Houston’s system through the 2022 season. I’ve left no-one out.</strong></em></h3>
<p id="dqlEdx"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=grulle000kyl">Kyle Gruller</a> is a six-foot-three, 234 lb. right-handed pitcher from Katy, TX. Born on May 21, 1998, he signed with Houston as an undrafted free agent on June 19, 2020 out of Houston Baptist. ‘</p>
<p id="8fqsj1">Gruller pitched in 10 games between Houston’s three lowest levels of minor league ball through the 2021 season. Over 29 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings, he struck out 37 and went without a decision, posting a 4.30 ERA. In 122 plate appearances, he allowed his opponents a .151/.331/.290 slashline. He did this by both being hard to hit (14 hits allowed) and unsure where the ball would wind up (24 bases on balls).</p>
<p id="4Sb6U9">The 2022 season would see Gruller open the year with the High-A Asheville Tourists. On <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/tourists-vs-braves/2022/07/08/669133#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=669133">July 8</a>, he struck out three over 1 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> scoreless relief innings in an 11-5 loss to the Rome Braves. In 15 games in total, he held the opposition to a .212/.391/.385 slashline, walking 14 and striking out 19 in 14 innings. The goodwill generated from an elite 12.2 K/9 was largely offset by an unwieldy 1.786 WHIP. On July 30, Houston released Gruller. </p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2023/2/2/23575214/oops-all-astros-kyle-grullerKevin Kraczkowski2023-01-31T12:34:56-06:002023-01-31T12:34:56-06:00Oops! All Astros: Valente Bellozo
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<img alt="Houston Astros v Los Angeles Angels" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Lj4XzYdQhGle1sTIQK2zYZCoCt0=/0x0:8192x5461/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71926048/1390706892.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Valente Bellozo is an under-the-radar prospect that you may be getting more familiar with. </p> <h3 id="8Vk1vE"><em><strong>We’re reviewing all 316 players to appear in Houston’s system through the 2022 season. </strong></em></h3>
<p id="cFU7ZJ">Valente Bellozo is a five-foot-10, 170 lb. right-handed pitcher from Mexicali, MX. Born on January 4, 2000, he signed with the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com">Astros</a> through free agency on July 3, 2017. In 2018 and 2019, between Houston’s three lowest levels of minor league ball, Belloso put up a 0.827 WHIP in 110 innings of work. He also struck out 111, and went 8-2 overall with a 1.72 ERA. </p>
<p id="21HiED">Not only did Bellozo miss the 2020 season along with everyone else, he also was laid up through the 2021 season due to an undisclosed ailment. At the start of June, 2022, he was sent to the Florida Coast League for some work at the Rookie-level. He struck out 11 in seven frames, but also gave up six earned run on a walk and 11 hits. Nevertheless, he was promoted to the Low-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers in early July. </p>
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</div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgpTJEBLvnK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Valente Bellozo (@vbp_12)</a></p>
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<p id="mmk5FS">On <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/mudcats-vs-woodpeckers/2022/07/29/669743#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=669743">July 29</a>, Bellozo struck out six over four shutout innings in a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Mudcats. On <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/wood-ducks-vs-woodpeckers/2022/08/11/669598#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=669598">August 11</a>, he collected seven strikeouts over five shutout innings, giving up only two hits and a walk in a 2-1 loss to the Down East Wood Ducks. On <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/hillcats-vs-woodpeckers/2022/09/09/669584#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=669584">September 9</a>, in his final appearance of the campaign, he struck out a season-high 10 over five shutout innings in a 4-3, 11-inning win over the Lynchburg Hillcats. Bellozo walked one and gave up one hit in the effort. </p>
<p id="ReOAjD">Not counting his time in rehab, Bellozo was 3-2 with a 1.73 ERA in 10 games, including five starts. He held his opponents to a .193/.276/.283 slashline while striking out 43 in 41 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings. His 9.3 K/9 can be at least partially attributed to his 65 percent strike-rate, gained on 628 Low-A pitches. Look for Bellozo to start his 2023 season with the High-A Asheville Tourists. </p>
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https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2023/1/31/23578979/oops-all-astros-valente-bellozoKevin Kraczkowski2023-01-29T16:20:58-06:002023-01-29T16:20:58-06:00Oops! All Astros: Leomar Rosario & Narbe Cruz
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<img alt="Houston Astros v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xYE6E4BKmbzPwftepTyJNSx7KZU=/0x256:3600x2656/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71918776/1332394084.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>An Oops! for Sunday.</p> <h3 id="295pcf"><em><strong>We’re reviewing each of the 316 players to appear in Houston’s system in 2022. </strong></em></h3>
<p id="cbMEoU"><strong>Leomar Rosario</strong></p>
<p id="VDK359"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rosari001leo">Leomar Rosario</a> is a six-foot-six, 217 lb. right-handed pitcher from San Cristobal, DR. Born on June 11, 2003, he signed with the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com">Astros</a> through free agency on October 18, 2021. </p>
<p id="CEr6P1">Assigned to the Rookie-Level DSL Astros Blue squad to begin his professional career, Rosario opened his season by striking out six over a three-inning start on <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/dsl-hou-blue-vs-dsl-white-sox/2022/06/09/712074#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=712074">June 9</a>. He also allowed three runs on four walks and a pair of hits in a 10-9 loss to the DSL <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a>. On <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/dsl-hou-blue-vs-dsl-bos-blue/2022/07/25/711299#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=711299">July 25</a>, he struck out four over three hitless shutout innings for no decision in a 2-1 loss to the DSL Blue <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a>. </p>
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</div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjc1sZAutKe/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Leomar Rosario (@l.rosari_42)</a></p>
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<p id="jwoMP4">Rosario appeared in a total of only 10 games for the Blues, holding opponents to a .215 batting average with a .392 OBP (due to his 21.7 percent walk rate). In spite of that sky-high walk-rate, Rosario managed an OPS of .661 over 120 plate appearances. He struck out 27 in 25 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings, with a 1.792 WHIP and an 0-2 record with a 7.01 ERA. </p>
<p id="VhLRtI">Notably, Rosario had extreme starter vs reliever splits, with 9.22 ERA and 2.195 WHIP as a starter and a 4.50 ERA and a 1.333 WHIP as a relief pitcher. still not-yet-20, I would be surprised to see him start the season anywhere but back in the DSL for another campaign.</p>
<p id="ntJQMC"><strong>Narbe Cruz</strong></p>
<p id="cjyZFD"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cruz--000nar">Narbe Cruz</a> is a six-foot-three, 181 lb. infielder from Havana, Cuba. Born on October 1, 2000, the Astros signed him through free agency for $218,000 on September 16, 2020. </p>
<p id="LRZhiA">Cruz received his first assignment to join the FCL Astros in 2021, and played in 34 games at first, second, and third base. He hit .221/.361/.291 with one homer and seven RBI. He drew 14 walks against 24 whiffs in 108 plate appearances. </p>
<p id="cLqkqB">In 2022, Houston split their FCL affiliate (and the DSL affiliate for that matter), into two (the orange squad and the blue). Cruz went back and forth between them at least seven times through the season. In 48 games, he collected multiple hits nine times. On <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/fcl-astros-orange-vs-fcl-cardinals/2022/08/20/712470#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=712470">August 20</a>, he hit two doubles for four RBI in a 10-1 Orange win against the FCL Cardinals. </p>
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</div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CS0LmtLFZqU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Narbe Cruz (@narbe_cruz_03_)</a></p>
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<p id="aVn1St">Overall, Cruz slashed .260/.313/.383 with two homers and 21 RBI in 48 combined games between the two affiliates. He drew 10 walks and struck out 28 times in 166 plate appearances. He also stole five bases in seven attempts. </p>
<p id="oLvThM">Defensively, Cruz spent the lion’s share of his playing time at second base (169 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings, .943 fielding percentage). He also spent time at third base (73, .964), first base (48 1/3, .975), and shortstop (13 2/3, .667)</p>
<p id="Y1N5mV">I don’t have the inside track on what the Astros have planned for any of their minor league assets, but Cruz is likely ticketed for the Low-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers. Thanks for reading. </p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2023/1/29/23576872/oops-all-astros-leomar-rosario-narbe-cruzKevin Kraczkowski2023-01-27T16:46:39-06:002023-01-27T16:46:39-06:00Oops! All Astros: Cesar Salazar
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<img alt="MLB: MAR 20 Spring Training - Nationals at Astros" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uxGp6z88yYDRFd9nOciSvgsfYTQ=/0x0:8256x5504/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71914077/1239383329.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Cesar Salazar is yet another solid depth option behind the plate for the Astros. </p> <h3 id="LaezSl">
<em><strong>Oops! All </strong></em><a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com"><em><strong>Astros</strong></em></a><em><strong> is a series where we’re taking a look at all 316 players to appear at any level of Houston’s system in 2022. </strong></em>
</h3>
<p id="DxsUeT"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=salaza002ces">Cesar Salazar</a> is a five-foot-nine, 185 lb. catcher from Hermosillo, MX. Born on March 15, 1996, he was a seventh-round pick of the Astros in 2018, out of the University of Arizona. Taken with the 222nd overall selection, Salazar could be the eighth to make the majors out of the group. Out of the group, only Coco Crisp (28.9 WAR) has a WAR figure above zero. </p>
<p id="MyLxSa">Salazar made his way up through Houston’s minor league system bit by bit, splitting the 2021 season between their three highest non major league levels. In 2022, he opened the season with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks. He started the season out with a bang, collecting multiple hits in three of his first four appearances. That includes <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/hooks-vs-rockhounds/2022/04/12/671756#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=671756">April 12</a>, when he hit three singles and a home run, totaling three RBI and scoring four runs in an 11-4 win over the Midland RockHounds. </p>
<p id="RhAejp">Salazar spent his first 22 games of the season with the Hooks, hitting .277 with three round trippers and 14 RBI. On May 18, he joined the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. Although he collected multiple hits three times during 17 games with the affiliate, including a pair of three-hit efforts, he only managed one extra base hit (a double) through the stretch. Hitting just .203, the Astros sent him back down to Corpus Christi for the rest of the season. </p>
<p id="r6gH32">At the lower level, Salazar’s bat once again woke up. He resumed his Double-A effort with a seven-game hitting streak, during which he hit .462 and slugged .885 with three home runs and 12 RBI. On <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/sod-poodles-vs-hooks/2022/06/26/671958#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=671958">June 26</a>, he hit a single, a double, and a home run with three RBI in a 7-0 win against the Amarillo Sod Poodles. On <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/hooks-vs-wind-surge/2022/08/14/670998#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=670998">August 14</a>, he went deep twice with three RBI in a 10-4 loss to the Wichita Wind Surge. </p>
<p id="KmzeQA">In his 63 games through his second hitch with the Hooks, Salazar again hit .277, but slammed 13 jacks with 40 RBI. in 102 games overall, he slashed .265/.338/.445 with 16 home runs and 60 RBI. He stole eight bases in 11 attempts, and drew 29 walks against 71 whiffs in 417 PA. </p>
<p id="XV3maZ">Defensively, Salazar played 538 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings behind the dish between the two clubs, with a .989 fielding percentage and a solid 34 percent kill-rate on runners trying to steal. He also pitched in with 142 innings at first base (.991), 52 innings in left field (1.000), and 26 innings at second base (.929). </p>
<p id="fqKhD0">Far from sitting pat, Salazar played 41 games in the Mexican Pacific Winter League through the MLB offseason for Naranjeros de Hermosillo. He hit .232/.309/.282</p>
<p id="UyIHj9">When discussing depth options at catcher, we here in the TCB comment section tend to default to talking about <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leeko01.shtml">Korey Lee</a> and <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/diazya02.shtml">Yainer Díaz</a>, and to a lesser extent, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=berryh000luk">Luke Berryhill</a>. Salazar is an oft-overlooked option. He is invited to major league Spring Training. Currently fifth on Houston’s depth chart, it’d be interesting to see if he can jump a few spots and surprise everyone. Thanks for reading. </p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2023/1/27/23573055/oops-all-astros-cesar-salazarKevin Kraczkowski2023-01-24T12:00:00-06:002023-01-24T12:00:00-06:00Oops! All Astros: Darwin De Leon
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<img alt="League Championship Series - New York Yankees v Houston Astros - Game Two" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/jUhBJ-c2ZVTdmGhZC3Vw37f2Zdg=/129x0:2871x1828/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71901003/1181320923.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Darwin De Leon got his introduction to professional baseball in 2022.</p> <h3 id="dlvMHb"><em><strong>We’re reviewing all 316 players to appear in Houston’s system in 2022.</strong></em></h3>
<p id="ne8O88"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=deleon001dar">Darwin De Leon</a> is a five-foot-nine, 156 lb. right-handed infielder from Monte Plata, DR. Born on October 31, 2003, the still-18 De Leon signed his first professional deal with the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com">Astros</a> on June 28, 2022. </p>
<p id="r2p4r3">De Leon received his first professional assignment soon following his contract, joining the Rookie-level DSL Astros Orange on <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=deleon001dar&type=bgl&year=2022">July 2</a> and hitting a two-run homer in his debut, a 5-3 loss to the DSL Astros Blue. He hit a home run in his second game as well, a two-run shot in an 8-3 loss to the DSL Red <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> on <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/dsl-hou-orange-vs-dsl-bos-red/2022/07/04/711657#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=711657">July 4</a>. In his third game, the <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/dsl-cle-red-vs-dsl-hou-orange/2022/07/05/711624#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=711624">next day</a>, the DSL Red Guardians held him homerless, but still gave up a three-run double to De Leon. </p>
<p id="6Q2YTM">De Leon started his career with seven RBI in his first three games. Unfortunately he couldn’t keep that pace up, but really, who could? On August 3, he hit two singles and a double, scoring three runs in an 8-4 win against the DSL Braves. </p>
<p id="gj9Crr">De Leon appeared in a total of 33 games in 2022, collecting multiple hits six times. He ended with a .265/.339/.431 slashline, with two doubles, a team-third five home runs, and 18 RBI. He stole nine bases in 12 attempts, and drew 13 walks versus 17 strikeouts in 111 plate appearances. </p>
<p id="13bBw3">Defensively, De Leon played 138 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings at second base, making one error in 71 chances for a .986 fielding percentage. He also played 47 innings at shortstop and 14 at third without an error. </p>
<p id="pr6TYR">Between De Leon’s power, speed, patience, and fielding acumen, it’s possible he’s slightly fast-tracked in 2023. Look for him to start the season with the stateside rookie-level FCL Astros. </p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2023/1/24/23568933/oops-all-astros-darwin-de-leonKevin Kraczkowski2023-01-21T14:40:16-06:002023-01-21T14:40:16-06:00Oops! All Astros: Luis Vega
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<img alt="Houston Astros v New York Mets" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/d74V0EJmmPNA-B7Q0iUBc9J5ZYg=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71891707/932086498.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Luis Vega spent the 2022 campaign with the FCL Astros Blue squad.</p> <h3 id="TOiSeU">
<em><strong>We’re reviewing all 316 players to have appeared with the </strong></em><a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/"><em><strong>Houston Astros</strong></em></a><em><strong> at any level through the 2022 season. </strong></em>
</h3>
<p id="Jiyag7"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=vega--002lui">Luis Vega</a> is a six-foot-three, 165 lb. right-handed pitcher from Matanzas, Cuba. Born on November 16, 2001, he signed his first professional contract with the Astros on May 21, 2019 to a deal that included a $300,000 signing bonus.</p>
<p id="FnkuGd">Vega joined the DSL Astros at the rookie level after signing, and pitched 30 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings over 14 appearances, including a pair of starts. He was 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA, a 1.451 WHIP, and struck out 33 while walking only 11. </p>
<p id="WpiVNh">Vega split the 2021 season between the FCL Astros at the rookie level and the Low-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers. He pitched another 17 games, starting five times and putting up a 1.395 WHIP over 52 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings. He struck out 54 and walked 26 while going 4-5 with a 5.50 ERA. </p>
<p id="NhWyCk">Vega opened the 2022 season back a the rookie level with the FCL Astros Blue. After starting four times, and striking out 18 over 15 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings, but also giving up 10 earned runs, he came on in relief for a <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/fcl-astros-blue-vs-fcl-cardinals/2022/07/05/712719#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=712719">July 5</a> matchup between the Blues and the FCL Cardinals. That was the only appearance he made through the season in which he did not allow at least one earned run. In five innings, he struck out six while walking zero, allowing one unearned run on four hits to earn the win in a 10-3 final. </p>
<p id="rucMgB">Vega started seven times in total and appeared another five times in relief, with marked differences in his basic metrics. He posted a 1.111 WHIP in 18 frames as a reliever versus 1.778 in 27 innings as a starter. Conversely, he struck out 9.3 per nine as a starter against 7.5 K/9 as a relief pitcher. Make of that what you will. </p>
<p id="Ou0VRS">Overall, Vega was 1-5 with a 5.80 ERA, a 1.511 WHIP, and an 8.6 K/9 over 45 innings. He allowed opponents to slash .256/.356/.523 for a way-too-hefty .879 OPS, especially for a four-year pro at the rookie level. If the Astros elect to keep him, I don’t think he would be anywhere above the FCL level, at least to start the 2023 campaign. Thanks for reading. </p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2023/1/21/23564874/oops-all-astros-luis-vegaKevin Kraczkowski2023-01-20T12:19:07-06:002023-01-20T12:19:07-06:00Oops! All Astros: Rolando Espinosa
<figure>
<img alt="League Championship Series - New York Yankees v Houston Astros - Game Six" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9YsmH5fxm6ScoyEVc5n55UxGi94=/0x1:3962x2642/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71888190/1182374799.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Rolando Espinosa is the 248th player to get the Oops! treatment this offseason.</p> <h3 id="3xTvKH"><em><strong>We’re reviewing all 316 players to have appeared in Houston’s system in 2022. </strong></em></h3>
<p id="Eyw9p1"><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=espino001rol">Rolando Espinosa</a> is a six-foot, 170 lb. infielder from Diego de Avila, Cuba. Born on January 5, 2001, he signed with Houston through free agency for $175,000 on August 21, 2017. </p>
<p id="oY8b4J">Espinosa played at the rookie level in 2018 and 2019, between the Dominican Summer League and the Gulf Coast League, both of which run from June through August. He appeared in 101 games in total between the two, hitting .183. He also boasted a much more solid .272 on base percentage thanks to a 9.4 percent walk rate. </p>
<p id="Ssq0Qd">The 2022 season would open for Espinosa still with the Florida-based rookie-level affiliate, split off to the Orange squad. He collected multiple hits in eight of 45 appearances, including <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/fcl-astros-orange-vs-fcl-mets/2022/06/21/712797#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=712797">June 21</a>, when he collected three singles in a 4-2 loss to the FCL <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>. After 17 games, he was only hitting .211, but he somehow had racked up a .348 OBP due to his 11 walks in 69 PA. He also totaled 14 stolen bases in 17 attempts. Houston sent him up to the Low-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers on July 2. </p>
<p id="EuWoOy">Espinosa only appeared four times for the Peckers, going 0-for-9 with three walks and five strikeouts. Sent back down to the rookie level, he put up a much-improved .265/.396/.434 slash over the next 28 games, with four round-trippers and 21 RBI. He also added another 18 stolen bases in 20 attempts. On <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/fcl-nationals-vs-fcl-astros-orange/2022/08/09/712529#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=712529">August 9</a>, he totaled four RBI on a single and a two-run shot in a 10-5 win over the FCL Nats. </p>
<p id="HmDk5F">Espinosa’s last dozen games of the season were unique in that he not only got a second taste of life in another four games at the Low-A level, but he also played three games for the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks and five games for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. At the higher levels, he was only four-for-34 with another four stolen bases. </p>
<p id="nZ7MtP">So Espinosa completed the 2022 season with an aggregate .208/.339/.339 slashline, along with an FCL-leading six homers, 32 RBI, an FCL-leading 36 stolen bases in 42 attempts, and an FCL-fifth 34 walks in 224 PA. Defensively, he played all over the place. He spent 167 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings at shortstop (.960 fielding percentage), 114 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings at second base (.889), 46 innings in centerfield (1.000), 35 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings at the hot corner (1.000), 28 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings in right field (1.000), 23 innings at first base (.960), and 17 innings in left field (1.000). </p>
<p id="pNQU1i">Despite Espinosa’s current standing as number 27 in Houston’s organizational infield depth chart (according to baseball reference), Espinosa’s utility lay in his ability to play everywhere. Look for him to start the 2023 season with the Woodpeckers.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2023/1/20/23563573/oops-all-astros-rolando-espinosaKevin Kraczkowski2023-01-19T16:50:46-06:002023-01-19T16:50:46-06:00Oops! All Astros: Daniel Castro
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<img alt="Houston Astros v Los Angeles Angels" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aJB-KjjyqmKd4TUh7n4bJkv2ZYM=/0x2:8192x5463/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71885418/1390706892.0.jpg" />
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<p>Daniel Castro got his first licks in at the professional level in 2022. </p> <h3 id="465RiF"><em><strong>We’re reviewing all 316 players to appear in Houston’s system in 2022. </strong></em></h3>
<p id="hRzLWK">Daniel Castro is a five-foot-10, 190 lb. switch-hitting catcher from Puerto La Cruz, VZ. Born on October 21, 2003, he signed his first professional contract with the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com">Astros</a> on September 24, 2021. His first assignment was to the DSL Astros Blue, in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in time for their full season. </p>
<p id="qLnALn">On <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/dsl-kc-stewart-vs-dsl-hou-blue/2022/06/23/711818#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=711818">June 23</a>, Castro hit two singles and a triple, scoring twice in a 12-4 win over the DSL Royals Stewart. In 51 games in total, Castro slashed .206/.333/.348 with four doubles, a pair of triples, four homers, and 11 RBI. He stole five bases in 10 attempts, and drew 18 walks versus 39 strikeouts in 168 plate appearances. </p>
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<p id="vlVXFa">Of course, for minor league catchers, the name of the game is defensive progress. Castro is no exception. He played 159 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings behind the plate and made two errors for a .989 fielding percentage. He also threw out 10-of-37 runners trying to steal, a 27 percent kill-rate. In addition, he played 109 <sup>2</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings at first base without an error, as well as 3 <sup>1</sup>⁄<sub>3</sub> innings in the outfield. </p>
<p id="42IKAf">Castro has a lot of utility simply as a switch-hitting catcher with a modicum of defensive prowess. That prowess will only grow as he racks up time behind the plate through Houston’s minor league system. Look for him to begin the 2023 campaign likely with either the rookie-level FCL Astros or the Low-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers. Thanks for reading. </p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2023/1/19/23561858/oops-all-astros-daniel-castroKevin Kraczkowski