The Houston Astros have yet to ink one of their minor leaguers that elected free agency in November, but that didn’t stop one arm from continuing his development in a winter league.
Nick Hernandez was rostered this offseason by the Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Winter League, where the reliever made a dozen appearances. The righty posted a 2.20 ERA in 16.1 innings pitched with 18 strikeouts and five walks without yielding a home run in 63 matchups.
“I left right before the playoffs, because I had to come home,” Hernandez said. “I loved it there though.”
Hernandez remains a free agent, following five seasons in Houston’s system. The hometown product pitched the majority of the 2022 season with Triple-A Sugar Land, where he struckout 85 batters in 64 innings pitched.
Westlake receives a Triple-A promotion
Aaron Westlake, Double-A Corpus Christi’s hitting coach for the 2022 season, will be the hitting coach for Triple-A Sugar Land in 2023. Westlake joined the Astros in 2021 as a player development coach in the Florida Complex League.
Westlake fills the role held by Rafael Pena, who was with the Space Cowboys for just one season following the 2021 season with the Hooks. Pena was promoted this offseason to the Astros minor league hitting coordinator position.
Mejias signs with Milwaukee
Former Astros prospect Christian Mejias signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on Dec. 9 and was assigned to High-A Wisconsin six days later. Mejias elected free agency in November, following six seasons in Houston’s system.
The righty posted a 5.40 ERA across 25 innings pitched with 16 strikeouts and 17 walks for the Tiburones de La Guaira of the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason. Mejias is the second Astros prospect that elected free agency in November to sign elsewhere. The first was infielder Alex De Goti, who signed with the Miami Marlins.
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.
