The Houston Astros reassigned five prospects — Matt Ruppenthal, Austin Hansen, Ross Adolph, Grae Kessinger and Luke Berryhill — and optioned Enoli Paredes to minor league camp Friday. The Major League spring training roster is now at 47 players.
Ruppenthal has made six Grapefruit League appearances in his first year as a non-roster invitee. The righty struck out five batters over 5.2 innings of work, yielding five hits without walking one batter. Hansen bounced back in his third spring outing Sunday, striking out two batters over 2.2 innings. The righty totaled 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks, while striking out five batters in his second stint in Major League camp.
Adolph joined the Astros in Major League camp for the first time this spring. Prior to Friday, he played all three outfield positions made nine appearances, slashing 2-for-16 with eight strikeouts and one hit-by-pitch. Kessinger played in 11 games, before his reassignment, going 4-for-18 with one double, two home runs and three RBI. The righty also walked four times to his three strikeouts.
Berryhill made his way back onto the lineup card Wednesday and Thursday for the Astros, after being scratched for an undisclosed injury Saturday. The primary catcher played 11 innings at first base in four games, seeing a drought of play from Feb. 27 until Wednesday. He went hitless in seven plate appearances with one run, two walks and two strikeouts.
Ruppenthal, Hansen, Kessinger and Berryhill are destined to start the season with Triple-A Sugar Land. Adolph, who missed time last season with an injury in Double-A Corpus Christi, could also start the year with the Space Cowboys, depending on how the Major League rosters shakes out. He would likely join Justin Dirden, Marty Costes, Corey Julks and Pedro León.
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