The Houston Astros weren’t eager to re-sign minor leaguers this offseason. In November, a handful of prospects’ contracts expired, granting free agency for the first time to many. One of those tenured prospects was Chad Donato, who signed a minor-league contract with the Minnesota Twins on Feb. 8.
Over five seasons in the system, Donato collected 413 innings of work, sporting a 4.18 ERA with 427 strikeouts through those 95 outings. The 2016 11th-round pick spent time in Triple-A Sugar Land the last two seasons, starting 24 games for the Space Cowboys and the Skeeters.
In 2018, Donato saw his most impressive numbers. For the Class-A Quad Cities River Bandits, the righty posted a 2.04 ERA in 12 outings, 10 being starts. Through 61.2 innings pitched, Donato struck out 77 opposing batters and issued 19 walks. For his efforts, he received Midwest League Pitcher of the Week honors twice and Midwest League Pitcher of the Month for August of that season.
Donato isn’t the only farmhand Houston lost to Minnesota this offseason, as Jose Bravo signed a minor-league contract on Dec. 28. Minnesota assigned Bravo to Double-A Wichita, but Donato is still waiting on an assignment.
