Astros Future Player of the Week: Spencer Johnson
Another week, another outstanding performance by a player within the Astros minor league system. The one player that stood out more than the rest is Quad Cities River Bandits outfielder, Spencer Johnson. Johnson went 10-for-24 with five runs scored, two doubles, two home runs, and 12 RBI which earned him the Player of the Week honors.
Johnson, 22, was the Houston Astros 16th round selection in this years player draft. After signing his first professional contract, he started the year playing for the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League. After just nine games at that level, Johnson was promoted to the Tri-City Valley Cats of the New York-Penn League.
Things didn’t start off all that well with the ValleyCats, but a surge in the beginning of August led him to yet another promotion this past week to the Quad Citites River Bandits. In his first two games in the Midwest League (which happened to be a double header), Johnson is 2-for-6 with both hits being extra-base hits (double and a home run).
Quad Cities is sitting in fourth place in the Midwest League’s West Division eight games behind the Clinton Lumberkings. They finish up their last of four against the Peoria Chiefs before heading out to face the Lumberkings in an important four-games which wraps up their 9-game road trip.
Honorable Mentions
Myles Straw started out the week in Quad Cities but was promoted to Single-A Advanced Lancaster earlier in the week. Straw went 12-for-25 with four runs, a double, and four driven in at both levels.
Bryan Muniz also had a nice week for the Lancaster JetHawks. The first baseman went 8-for-23 scoring seven runs with two bombs and six RBI.
Last week’s honoree Jon Kemmer kept it going this week and almost had back-to-back honors if it wasn’t for Spencer Johnson. Kemmer ended the week 9-for-25 with three runs scored, a double, a triple, two home runs, and seven driven in.
Corpus Christi starter Francis Martes had a nice week in his two starts. Martes went 13 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and collected 14 strikeouts.
Tri-City ValleyCats pitcher Tyler Britton made two appearances this week. The righty picked up his first save of the season, giving up four hits in six innings, with no walks allowed and 10 strikeouts.
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**Photo Credit: John Ginder**
