11 Sep 2015

MEMORABLE 2015 SEASON FOR ASTROS FARM SYSTEM CONTINUES

By Astros Media Relations

Highlighted by a franchise-record seven playoff teams and several individual honors

HOUSTON, TX - The 2015 season has been an outstanding one for the Astros minor league system, highlighted by a franchise-record seven teams advancing to the postseason. The Triple A Fresno Grizzlies, Double A Corpus Christi Hooks, Class A Advanced Lancaster JetHawks, Class A Quad Cities River Bandits and Class A Short Season Tri-City ValleyCats are still in playoff contention, while the Rookie Level Greeneville Astros were crowned Appalachian League Champions on Tuesday.

PLAYOFF UPDATE

The Appalachian League Championship title for Greeneville marked their second in franchise history, and their first since the club's inaugural season in 2004. After dropping the first game of the three-game series vs. Princeton, the Astros rallied for two consecutive wins to capture the title. OF Kyle Tucker, the fifth overall selection in the 2015 draft, hit .375 (9x24) with three home runs and six RBI during the postseason, including a crucial three-run homer in Game 3 of the Appalachian League Championship Series.

Last night, Fresno took Game 1 of the Pacific Coast League Pacific Conference Finals, defeating El Paso by a score of 9-1 thanks to strong performances from RHP Dan Straily (1ER/6IP) and RF Alex Presley (4x5, 2 2B). The best-of-five game series continues tonight in Fresno at 9:05 p.m. CT. This marks Fresno's second postseason appearance in franchise history, with the other appearance being the club's inaugural season in 1998.

Corpus Christi took a 1-0 lead in the Texas League South Division Series with a 9-2 win over Midland last night. Texas League Midseason and Postseason All-Star RHP Chris Devenski struck out nine batters over 6.0 innings of one-run ball, while C Roberto Pena went 2x2 with a home run and five total RBI. The Hooks and RockHounds will continue the five-game series tonight in Corpus Christi with Game 2 starting at 7:05 p.m. CT.

The Lancaster JetHawks also notched a 1-0 lead in their playoff series last night, defeating High Desert, 9-7, in Game 1 of the California League South Division Mini-Series. 3B J.D. Davis (2x4) launched a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning, while the Astros top selection in the 2015 draft, SS Alex Bregman, also went 2x4 with two RBI. Game 2 of the best-of-three game series will take place tonight at 9:05 p.m. CT.

Quad Cities dropped the first game of their best-of-three game series with Cedar Rapids, 5-2. Game 2 of the Midwest League Western Division Semifinal will take place tonight at 7:00 p.m. CT.

The Tri-City ValleyCats fell to Staten Island, 3-2, in Game 1 of the New York-Penn League Semi-Final series last night. The club will continue the best-of-three game series tonight at 6:00 p.m. CT.

The Dominican Summer League Astros Blue club was eliminated from the playoffs on Aug. 28, falling to the DSL Rangers1, 1-2, in their best-of-three game series. At 43-29, the DSL Astros Blue became the first DSL Astros team to capture a division title and postseason appearance since at least 2005 (the year stats started being recorded in the DSL).

REGULAR SEASON NOTES

Houston posted the best combined overall minor league record among all MLB organizations during the regular season with a 502-405 (.553) mark, becoming the first organization in the last 10 years to record over 500 minor league wins in a single season.

The Fresno Grizzlies set a franchise record with 84 regular season wins, leading the entire Triple A level in runs scored (804) and on-base percentage (.357).

Corpus Christi led all of minor league baseball with 89 wins, becoming the second Texas League team in the last 20 years to reach 89 wins in a single season (also San Antonio, 2011, 94-46).

The Lancaster JetHawks made the postseason for the fourth consecutive season after leading all of minor league baseball in runs scored (888), home runs (174), batting average (.291) and OPS (.850).

Quad Cities led all of minor league baseball in winning percentage (88-50, .638) for the first time in club history, and their 88-50 record was their second-best all-time, behind the 1992 River Bandits and their 91-46 record.

Tri-City won their fourth consecutive Stedler Division title.

HOME RUN KING

1B A.J. Reed led all of minor league baseball in home runs (34), RBI (127) and OPS (1.044) in what was his first full-season in professional baseball. Selected by Houston in the second round of the 2014 draft, Reed won the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Award, and was named the SEC Player of the Year, Baseball America College Player of the Year and Collegiate Baseball's National Player of the Year following his historic season at the University of Kentucky in 2014.

Reed was a finalist for USA Today's 2015 Minor League Player of the Year award, and was named the 2015 California League Most Valuable Player.

DUFFY MVP

IF Matt Duffy was named the Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player after leading the PCL in RBI (102) and runs scored (90), while batting .295 (141x478) with 29 doubles, two triples and 18 homers with an .845 OPS. A 20th-round selection by Houston in the 2011 draft, Duffy has been an All-Star in each of his five seasons in the Astros minor league system. He became the fourth Astros minor leaguer to win the PCL MVP award, and the first since right-handed pitcher Donne Wall captured the honor as a member of the Tucson Toros in 1995.

 

BATTING TITLES

Two Astros minor leaguers won batting titles in their respective leagues, as OF Jon Kemmer hit .327 (119x364) to lead the Double A Texas League, and IF Bobby Wernes batted .346 (65x188) en route to the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League batting title.

Kemmer, 24, was selected by the Astros in the 21st round of the 2013 draft out of Brewton-Parker College in Georgia. Kemmer also led the Texas League in OPS (.988) while finishing tied for second in home runs (18) and second in on-base percentage (.414). Wernes, 21, was taken by the Astros in the 30th round of this year's draft from the University of Arkansas.

MANAGERS OF THE YEAR

Corpus Christi manager Rodney Linares (Texas League) and Quad Cities skipper Josh Bonifay (Midwest League) were both named Manager of the Year for their respective leagues.

It marked the second Manager of the Year award for Linares, as he received California League Manager of the Year honors in 2012 after guiding Class A Advanced Lancaster to a championship title.

For Bonifay, it was also his second career Manager of the Year award. In 2013, he received Appalachian League Manager of the Year honors when he led the Greeneville Astros to their second-best record in club history (38-30) and an appearance in the league championship series.
04 Sep 2015

ASTROS ANNOUNCE MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST

By Astros Media Relations

HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros Player Development Department has named August's Minor League Pitchers and Players of the Month at each of their minor league affiliates. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team.

The Astros have the best combined overall minor league record among all MLB organizations at 481-390 (.552). Six of the Astros nine minor league clubs have qualified for the playoffs (Fresno, Corpus Christi, Lancaster, Quad Cities, Greeneville, DSL Astros Blue), while the Tri-City ValleyCats are in first place by 4.5 games with six games remaining.

At Triple A Fresno, IF Tyler White picked up his second consecutive Player of the Month award after hitting .375 (36x96) with seven doubles, one triple, four homers, 32 RBI and a 1.094 OPS (.500 OBP/.594 SLG) in 27 games in August. Among all Triple A players during the month, White ranked first in on-base percentage and third in OPS. RHP Jordan Jankowski was named Fresno's August Pitcher of the Month after tossing 12.0 scoreless innings in 10 August appearances. Jankowski, who has gone 8-3 with a 3.34 ERA (22ER/59.1IP) at Fresno this season, went 3-0 while recording 19 strikeouts, four walks and a .150 opponent batting average in August.

OF Jon Kemmer was named the Double A Corpus Christi Player of the Month, as he led all Texas League hitters in batting average (.376, 38x101) and OPS (1.145, .462 OBP/.683 SLG) in August while adding 13 doubles, three triples, four homers and 19 RBI. Kemmer, who was also named the Texas League August Player of the Month, currently leads the Texas League in batting average (.328) and OPS (.993), while ranking second in homers (18). For the second straight month, Corpus Christi Pitcher of the Month honors went to RHP Michael Feliz, who went 1-1 with a 0.87 ERA (3ER/31IP), nine walks, 33 strikeouts and a .176 opponent batting average in five starts in August. Since his first start with Corpus Christi on May 26 following a promotion from Class A Advanced Lancaster, Feliz has ranked among the top five Double A pitchers in ERA (5th, 2.17), opponent batting average (1st, .185) and WHIP (2nd, 0.92).

At Class A Advanced Lancaster, OF James Ramsay was named August Player of the Month and RHP Francis Martes was named August Pitcher of the month. A seventh round pick in the 2013 draft, Ramsay hit .373 (44x118) with 12 extra-base hits, 24 RBI and a .441 on-base percentage in 28 games in August. He currently ranks third in the California League in batting average (.322) and OBP (.385). In four August starts with Lancaster prior to a promotion to Double A, the 19-year-old Martes went 4-0 with a 0.68 ERA (2ER/26.1IP) and 25 strikeouts. Martes, who is currently the youngest pitcher in the Double A Texas League, has gone 7-3 with a 2.06 ERA (21ER/91.2IP) between Lancaster (6g), Corpus Christi (1g) and Class A Quad Cities (10g) in what has been his first full season with the Astros since getting acquired from Miami in the RHP Jarred Cosart trade in 2014.

OF Bobby Boyd was named the Quad Cities August Player of the Month after hitting .330 (32x97) with 10 stolen bases and a .405 on-base percentage in 24 games in August. Boyd, an eighth round pick in last year's draft, ranks tied for fourth in the Midwest League with 34 steals on the year. River Bandits Pitcher of the Month honors went to RHP Dean Deetz, as he posted the lowest ERA among all full-season minor league pitchers during the month of August. In 27.0 August innings, he allowed just one earned run for a 0.33 ERA, going 4-1 with 22 strikeouts and a .106 opponent batting average.

At Class A Short Season Tri-City, 2015 draftees OF Johnny Sewald (14th round) and RHP Kevin McCanna (13th round) were named August Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively. Sewald batted .340 (32x94) with 11 steals and a .451 on-base percentage in 27 August games. He currently leads the New York-Penn League in steals (29). McCanna went 3-0 with a 2.18 ERA (5ER/20.2IP), three walks and 19 strikeouts in six August games.

Appalachian League Postseason All-Star Connor Goedert was named Greeneville's August Player of the Month after going 27x111 (.243) with seven doubles, three homers and 15 RBI in 28 August games. RHP Samil De Los Santos earned the August Pitcher of the Month Award for Greeneville, as he posted a 1.80 ERA (2ER/10IP) with 13 strikeouts, no walks and just three hits allowed in seven August appearances.

For the GCL Astros, IF Marcos Almonte was named August Player of the Month, and RHP Hector Perez was named August Pitcher of the Month. Almonte hit .299 (23x77) in 19 August games, while Perez threw 12.2 scoreless innings in the GCL across five outings during the month.

For the DSL Astros Blue club, OF Andy Pineda was tabbed the August Player of the Month after hitting .273 (18x66) with four doubles, eight RBI and a .400 on-base percentage in 18 August games. RHP Cristian Javier went 1-0 while tossing 10.0 scoreless innings, striking out 12 en route to August Pitcher of the Month honors.

The DSL Astros Orange August awards went to IF Nicolas Miranda and RHP Juan Cuevas. Miranda posted a .403 (27x67) batting average with a .908 OPS in August, while Cuevas went 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA (4ER/17.1IP) in four August games.
06 Jul 2015

ASTROS ANNOUNCE MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE

By Astros Media Relations

Pitcher and position player honored at six affiliates 

 

HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros Player Development Department has named June's Minor League Pitchers and Players of the Month at each of their four in-season minor league affiliates and two Dominican Summer League affiliates. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team.

At Triple A Fresno, IF Matt Duffy was named the June Player of the Month after hitting .298 (31x104) with four doubles, three homers, 24 RBI and a .369 on-base percentage in 27 games. Duffy is hitting .277 (76x274) with nine homers on the season, while ranking sixth in the Pacific Coast League and second on the Grizzlies in RBI (57). RHP Brady Rodgers earned Fresno's June Pitcher of the Month award after recording his best month of the season. The Astros third round pick in the 2012 draft went 4-1 with a 3.07 ERA (10ER/29.1IP), five walks and 18 strikeouts in five June starts.

OF Jon Kemmer was named Corpus Christi's June Player of the Month after leading the Double A level with a .403 (29x72) batting average in June. The left-handed hitter added three doubles, four homers, 14 RBI and a 1.062 OPS (.451 OBP/.611 SLG) in 21 games during the month, and is hitting .321 (54x168) with a .929 OPS on the season. Corpus Christi's June Pitcher of the Month honors went to RHP Aaron West, who posted a 2-1 record with a 1.29 ERA (2ER/14IP), one walk and 13 strikeouts in 7 June outings. West has posted a 2.54 ERA (14ER/49.2IP) in 15 outings (4 starts) at Corpus Christi this season.

At Class A Advanced Lancaster, IF A.J. Reed was named the Player of the Month and RHP Edison Frias was named the Pitcher of the Month for June. Last year's second round pick by the Astros, Reed led the minors in RBI (30) in June, while also hitting six homers and leading the Class A Advanced level in batting average (.434, 43x99) and OPS (1.206) during the month. Reed currently leads all of minor league baseball in RBI (72) and OPS (1.036) this season while ranking second in home runs (20). Frias went 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA (9ER/22.2IP) and 17 strikeouts in four games (three starts) in June. The Dominican-native leads the JetHawks in innings pitched (65.1) this season and has a 3.73 ERA (21ER/50.2IP) since the beginning of May.

OF Jason Martin took home Quad Cities June Player of the Month honors after hitting .294 (25x85) with three doubles, three homers and a .384 on-base percentage. Martin has hit .287 (54x188) in 50 games for the River Bandits this season. RHP Joshua James earned the River Bandits Pitcher of the Month award for June, as he went 1-0 with a 2.14 ERA (5ER/21IP), 18 strikeouts and a .186 opponents' batting average during the month. James has been one of the rotation leaders for Quad Cities this year, ranking second on the club in innings pitched (63.1) while posting a 2.70 ERA (19ER/63.1IP) in 14 games (nine starts).

For the DSL Astros Blue squad, IF Reiny Beltre was named Player of the Month and RHP Hector Perez was named Pitcher of the Month for June. Beltre, who was recently promoted to the GCL Astros, hit .338 (25x74) with four doubles, three homers, 19 RBI and a .938 OPS (.398 OBP/.541 SLG) in 18 games in the DSL. Perez gave up just three earned runs in 17.0 innings in June for a 1.59 ERA, striking out 18 with four walks in his four starts.

The DSL Astros Orange Player of the Month award went to IF Miguelangel Sierra, who hit .256 (23x90) with nine extra-base hits (seven doubles, two homers) and a .364 on-base percentage in 24 games in June. Sierra currently leads all DSL shortstops in double plays (18) and ranks second in assists (82) and total chances (124). RHP Juan Robles earned June Pitcher of the Month honors for the DSL Astros Orange after posting a 0.87 ERA (2ER/20.2IP) with 21 strikeouts and a .173 opponents' average in five June starts. Robles currently ranks fourth in the DSL in ERA (0.70, 2ER/25.2IP).
18 May 2015

LANCE MCCULLERS TO MAKE MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT TONIGHT

By Astros Media Relations

Scheduled to start 7:10 p.m. game at Minute Maid Park vs. Oakland 

 

HOUSTON, TX - Right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers will make his Major League debut on Monday night in a start vs. the Oakland A's at Minute Maid Park, General Manager Jeff Luhnow announced today.

McCullers was recently a member of the Quad Cities River Bandits in 2013.

McCullers, 21, was promoted to Triple A Fresno yesterday after going 3-1 with a 0.62 ERA (2ER/29IP) and 43 strikeouts in six games (four starts) with Double A Corpus Christi. A supplemental first round pick by the Astros in the 2012 draft (41st overall), McCullers led all Double A pitchers in opponents' average (.146) during his time with Corpus Christi, while ranking second in ERA and tied for fourth in strikeouts.

Currently ranked by MLB.com as the Astros No. 10 prospect, McCullers will be youngest Astros player to make his Major League debut (21 years, 228 days) since Jose Altuve on July 20, 2011 (21 years, 75 days).

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