Center fielder, right-hander win first of Astros' monthly awards for affiliate's top player and pitcher
DAVENPORT, Iowa (MAY 2, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits center fielder Teoscar Hernandez is the team's Player of the Month for April, and right-hander Vincent Velasquez is the team's Pitcher of the Month, the Houston Astros announced on Thursday.
The Houston Astros Player Development Department named a Pitcher and Player of the Month at each of their four in-season minor league affiliates. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team.
A 20-year-old native of Bonao, Dominican Republic, who signed with the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in February 2011, Hernandez started as the center fielder and leadoff batter in 21 of the River Bandits' 23 games in April. He hit .297 in April and led the team with 27 hits, 91 at-bats, 18 runs, seven doubles, three triples, 10 extra-base hits, 40 total bases and eight stolen bases. He is currently 10th among all Astros minor leaguers in batting average.
Velasquez, a 20-year-old native of Pomona, Calif., and a second-round draft pick by Houston in 2010, tied for the organizational leads with three wins and 31 strikeouts in April. He was undefeated in six appearances, including three starts, with two saves and a 2.45 ERA. Velasquez is holding opponents to a .156 average - second-lowest in the Midwest League. He had a 16 2/3 inning scoreless streak from April 14 to April 30, and the River Bandits are 6-0 in games he has pitched.
In April, the Astros' minor league affiliates went a combined 58-39 (.598) for the third-highest winning percentage of any minor league system, trailing only Minnesota and San Francisco. Three of the four full-season affiliates are in first place in their respective divisions, and Class-A Quad Cities (15-8 in April) is in second place in the Midwest League Western Division.
UP NEXT: Time is running out to reserve tickets for the Mother's Day Brunch on the Sky Deck of Modern Woodmen Park. Reservations must be made in advance by Monday, May 6, for the brunch preceding the River Bandits game Sunday, May 12. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
