Nearly seven years ago, Deury Carrasco signed with the Houston Astros. A 17-year-old shortstop at the time, Carrasco garnered a $480,000 signing bonus and praise for his defensive ability from Baseball America.
Fast forward five seasons, and Carrasco is no longer a shortstop. Through 234 games across three levels, he never played past High-A, appearing in 52 games last season for the Asheville Tourists. He missed time in late May and early June with an undisclosed injury, and he never found an offensive stroke to consistently see himself in the starting nine.
This spring, everything changed for Carrasco. In West Palm Beach, Florida, where the Astros hold spring training, Carrasco received a new assignment. Since last year in Asheville, he posted videos of himself throwing on a mound. And as of this spring, he officially switched to being a pitcher
“Well, the truth is the team made the decision,” Carrasco said. “I imagine because I have always had a good arm thanks to God.”
Carrasco profiled as a plus arm to scouts in the early stages of his professional career. And translating that arm to the pitcher’s mound offered more for Houston’s player development to toy with, as his delivery resembles that of Chicago Cubs All-Star Marcus Stroman.
“The truth is, since they put the mechanics on me, I said, ‘Wow, I look like Stroman,'” Carrasco said. “We do almost the same thing.”
Throwing a six-pitch mix, Carrasco is touching 93-94 mph on his four-seam fastball and 91-92 mph on his two-seam fastball. He’s working in a changeup, a slider, a cutter and a curveball to follow his pair of heaters.
Carrasco started the first week of the season in extended spring training at the Florida complex. The Astros sent him to Single-A Fayetteville on Monday to begin this next chapter in his professional career.
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