Houston Astros MiLB Players Of The Month: May
Let’s take a look at the best performances in the Astros system in May.
*Just a note, these are my picks for the month*
Previous POTM:
AAA: Round Rock Express
HITTER: Kyle Tucker, OF
- May Stats: 28 G, .333 BA/.429 OBP/.741 SLG, 7 2B, 2 3B, 11 HR, 28 RBI, 16 BB/23 SO, 8 SB
Alvarez had a good month too but I went with Tucker for this one. He had a team high 1.169 OPS in May and showed off the power and speed with 11 HR and 8 SB. This was good for a 179 wRC+. After a rough month of April, Tucker got back on track in May.
PITCHER: Kent Emanuel, LHP
- May Stats: 8 G, 3.13 ERA, 23.0 IP, 20 H, 8 ER, 5 BB, 19 SO
He wasn’t a great month for the Express pitching but Emanuel has been solid out of the pen. He pitched in 8 games and had a 3.13 ERA in May. He has also held lefties to a .182 BAA. He showed solid control walking just 5.4% of batters faced in May.
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks
HITTER: Joshua Rojas, INF
- May Stats: 27 G, .367 BA/.434 OBP/.706 SLG, 10 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 12 BB/17 K, 4 SB
Rojas has since been promoted to AAA but what he did in May couldn’t be ignored. He played in 27 games and had a 199 wRC+. That also included 10 2B, 3 3B, and 7 HR. Hopefully he can continue this in AAA. Toro had a really good month of May too.
PITCHER: Colin McKee, RHP
- May Stats: 7 G, 0.60 ERA, 15.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 23 SO, .106 BAA
McKee has flown under the radar a bit but had a dominant month of May posting a 0.60 ERA with 23 K in 15 innings. He also held opponents to a .106 BAA. He struck out 42.6% of batters he faced in May and had a 33.3 K-BB%. Overall he has 43 K in 29.1 innings.
A+: Fayetteville Woodpeckers
HITTER: Jonathan Arauz, INF
- May Stats: 25 G, .298 BA/.362 OBP/.468 SLG, 7 2B, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 1 SB
Arauz had a pretty brutal April but found his stoke in May slashing .298/.362/.468. He is still young for the league and plenty of time left for him to breakout. After hitting 7 2B, 3 HR, 17 RBI in May, maybe he is ready to have that breakout season.
PITCHER: Enoli Paredes, RHP
- May Stats: 5 G, 1.82 ERA, 24.2 IP, 13 H, 5 ER, 9 BB, 31 K, .157 BAA
Paredes had a good April and followed that up with a strong May. In May he pitched in 5 games and struck out 31 in 24.2 innings while posting a 1.82 ERA with 2.84 FIP. He also struck out 32.6% of the batters he faced in May and has 53 K in 40 innings this season.
A: Quad Cities River Bandits
HITTER: Jeremy Pena, SS
- May Stats: 26 G, .378 BA/.453 OBP/.582 SLG, 5 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 9 SB
Pena raised his stock like no other in May. We already knew his was great in the field but he put together a great month slashing .378/.453/.582 good for a 190 wRC+. He has 11 XBH and 9 SB. If he can continue to put up anything close to these numbers as a plus defensive shortstop, his stock will soar.
PITCHER: Austin Hansen, RHP
- May Stats: 4 G, 0.00 ERA, 17.2 IP, 8 H, 0 ER, 9 BB, 24 K, .133 BAA, 2.50 FIP
Hansen has had a great season and probably won’t be in QC much longer. After posting a 2.00 ERA in April, he followed that up without allowing a single run in May. His scoreless streak is at 33.2 innings and still going. Overall he has 52 K in 41.2 innings with a 0.86 ERA.
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**Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Round Rock Express**
