Houston Astros MiLB Players Of The Month: August
Let’s take a look at the best performances in the Astros system in August.
*Just a note, these are my picks for the month*
Previous POTM:
AAA: Fresno Grizzlies
HITTER: Kyle Tucker, OF
- August Stats: 17 G, .471 BA/.542 OBP/.943 SLG, 3 2B, 10 HR, 27 RBI, 12 BB/13 SO, 6 SB
Tucker was sent down by the Astros in August and ended up putting together one of the best stretches I have seen. Overall he hit .471 with 10 HR in 17 games. This included a 10 game stretch where he had 10 HR and 21 RBI in 10 games. Tucker had a 276 wRC+ in his 17 August games.
PITCHER: Dean Deetz, RHP
- August Stats: 10 G, 1.00 ERA, 18.0 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 7 BB, 25 SO
Since coming back from his suspension, Deetz has been dominant. He worked his way back up to Fresno and had a great month of August striking out 25 in 18 innings while allowing just 9 hits. Overall he has a 0.55 ERA with 50 K in 33 innings for Fresno.
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks
HITTER: Ronnie Dawson, OF
- August Stats: 25 G, .293 BA/.333 OBP/.535 SLG, 4 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 5 SB
Following a promotion from Buies Creek, Dawson took his game up to another level in Corpus Christi. He finished the month with a .242 ISO and a 134 wRC+. Nice to see the power showing up at the higher levels.
PITCHER: Ryan Hartman, LHP
- August Stats: 2-1, 2.08 ERA, 30.1 IP, 18 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 40 SO, .171 BAA
Hartman has flown under the radar this season but has had a really good season overall. He put together his best month of the season in August posting a 2.08 ERA (3.17 FIP). He had a 35.2 K-BB% with a minuscule 1.9 BB% during the month of August. Overall he has 143 K in 120.2 innings.
A+: Buies Creek Astros
HITTER: J.J. Matijevic, OF
- August Stats: 26 G, .260 BA/.350 OBP/.548 SLG, 9 2B, 7 HR, 23 RBI
Matijevic wasn’t drafted with a high power profile but he has shown off his power this season. In August he had a .288 ISO and now has 26 2B and 21 HR in 100 games. While the BA wasn’t very high, he still had a 149 wRC+. He also had 12.5 BB% and lowered his strikeout rate a bit. Corey Julks also had a very good month.
PITCHER: J.B. Bukauskas, RHP
- August Stats: 5 G, 3-0, 1.61 ERA, 28.0 IP, 13 H, 5 ER, 13 BB, 31 K, .138 BAA
After dealing with injuries to start the season, Bukauskas finally got healthy and has been rolling. He started five games in August and allowed just 5 earned runs with a .138 BAA. He struck out more than one per inning and earned a promotion to AA. LaRue was also good but JB had better peripherals.
A: Quad Cities River Bandits
HITTER: Jonathan Lacroix, OF
- August Stats: 26 G, .310 BA/.330 OBP/.540 SLG, 6 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 14 RBI
Lacroix started the season a bit slow but really put things together in August collecting 31 hits in 26 games. He had a 142 wRC+ and clubbed 13 XBHs in the month of August.
PITCHER: Chad Donato, RHP
- August Stats: 6 G, 6-0, 1.23 ERA, 36.2 IP, 19 H, 5 ER, 7 BB, 46 K, .154 BAA
Really impressive month from Donato. He made six starts and earned a win in all of them. He posted a phenomenal 29.8 K-BB% and had a 1.56 FIP to go along with his 1.23 ERA. He held opponents to just .154 BAA and did so with a .244 BABIP.
Be sure to subscribe to receive weekly updates on the Astros minor league system. Also be sure to follow on Twitter, @AstrosFuture, and like my Facebook page, facebook.com/AstrosFuture.
**Photo Credit: Tammy Tucker**
