Below is a weekly summary of the Astros’ minor league affiliates
Triple-A: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (4-2)
The Space Cowboys returned home to Constellation Field for a series with their cross-state rivals, the Round Rock Express, where they would win the first three and eventually claim the series on Saturday. Jesus Bastides collected 5 extra-base hits (XBH) this series and tallied 6 RBIs to lead the team. Pedro Leon continued his hot start to the season as well collecting 6 hits and two stolen bases. Joey Loperfido struggled this week (1-20). The Space Cowboys head to Reno and then El Paso for the next two weeks on the road.
Note: The Space Cowboys are off to their best start in history at 14-7 with a +40 run differential
- Bastides: 5-18, 4 2B, 1HR, 6 RBI, 6K(2BB), 2 HBP
- Julks: 4-13, 1HR, 2 RBI, 3K(3BB), 1SB
- Leon: 6-19, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 7K(1BB), 2SB (1CS)
- Salazar: 5-15, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 4K(2BB), 1HBP
Jesús always got us. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/NVJAG6QreK
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) April 21, 2024
As the Astros continue to struggle with pitching injuries, the Space Cowboys have played some pitcher roulette the last few weeks. After being thrown to the wolves, Blair Henley returned to the team and had a solid outing, allowing no runs despite 8 hits (0 walks). Forrest Whitley returned to the team as well, where he threw two solid innings in relief, surrendering just one hit. The start of the week goes to AJ Blubaugh for his 6.1 masterful innings, with his only blemish being a solo home run. Blubaugh has been a fast riser in the organization and his success continues.
Note: Sugar Land boasted a league best 3.50 ERA this week
- Blubaugh: 1GS, 6.1IP, 3H, 1R(1ER), 1HR, 8K (0BB)
- Henley, 1GS, 4.2IP, 8H, 0R, 6K (1BB)
- Suero: 3G, 3IP, 1H, 5K (3BB), 1SV
- Whitley: 2G, 2.0IP, 1H, 4K (0BB)
AJ Blubaugh was DOMINANT tonight for Sugar Land:
6.1 IP | 3 H | 1 R | 1 ER | 0 BB | 7 K
He was up to 96.3 MPH with the fastball and generated 15 whiffs. #Astros
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) April 18, 2024
Double-A: Corpus Christi Hooks (4-2)
After two lastlucker weeks at the plate, the Hooks finally started swinging the bats and winning games. Kennedy Corona finally showed off his speed on the offensive side of the ball collecting 3 XBHs and swiping three bags. The Hooks added some much needed excitement this week with two come from behind walk offs, one from Quincy Hamilton and the other Jordan Brewer. The Hooks won their first series on the year, and will look to build off this success in Midland this week.
Note: The Hooks stole 11 bases and were caught just 3 times (Tommy Sacco 0-3 SB attempts)
- Arrocho: 7-18, 1R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 7K(1BB), 2 SB
- Corona: 7-18, 3R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 4 RBI, 1K(2BB), 3 SB
- Palma: 4-13, 1 2B, 1HR, 2 RBI, 2K(7BB), 1SB
- Brewer: 4-19, 3R, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 5K(3BB), 4SB
Hey @Whataburger, y’all ever seen a Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit hit a home run? pic.twitter.com/M3Eqq6gv8G
— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) April 18, 2024
The Hooks had some great pitching performances this week, including two solid starts from Julio Robaina and a dominant showing from Aaron Brown, who struck out 10 and walked none in 5 innings of 1 hit ball. Julio Robaina also turned in two great starts this week, allowing just 5 hits across his 10 innings of work. The relief pitching was solid as well as the team collected all their wins in 1-run games this series (previously 0-3 in 1-run games). The pitching staff remains the consistent strength of this team 3 weeks into the season. Brown was named Texas League pitcher of the week this week.
Note: Hooks pitching recorded 63Ks to 27BBs this series
- Brown: 1GS, 5.0IP, 1H, 0R(0ER), 10K(0BB)
- Gomez: 1G, 2.2IP, 3H, 0R(0ER), 1K(0BB)
- Robaina: 2GS, 10.0IP, 5H, 1R(1ER), 13K(5BB)
- Ullola: 1GS, 5.0 IP, 2H, 2R(2ER), 8K(3BB)
Hey @Whataburger, y’all ever seen a Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit hit a home run? pic.twitter.com/M3Eqq6gv8G
— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) April 18, 2024
High-A: Asheville Tourists (2-3)
The Tourists opened the series with two wins before dropping the final 3 of the series; game six was postponed due to weather. We saw a massive display of power from last year’s 4th round pick, Cam Fisher, who belted 3HRs Wednesday night, including a go ahead blast in the 8th. He hit a total of 4 this weekend raising his OPS to 1.022 for the season. The Tourists lead their league in AVG, OBP, SLG, & OPS with a .266/.366/.449/.815 slash line
Note: The Tourists collected 22 XBHs this series; 12 2Bs and 10 HRs
- Cruz: 4-13, 2R, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 6K(1BB)
- Ferreras: 5-14, 5R, 5K(4BB) 1SB
- Fisher: 7-17, 7R, 2 2B, 4HR, 9RBI, 6K(2BB), 1SB
- Garcia: 5-12, 5R, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 3K(3BB)
Video of Cam Fisher’s 3 homer game. The last one was a three run shot to take the lead in the bottom of the 8th. #Astros pic.twitter.com/jFl7rNYBcr
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) April 19, 2024
While the bats have been hot, the pitching has struggled, leading their league in AVG and WHIP against. Jake Bloss not only turned in the best outing of the week, but Bloss was the only pitcher to not surrender a run while pitching this weekend. Bloss ran his fastball up to 98 mph in his outing, punching out 5. This pitching staff will need to regroup and put together some better outings this week in Hickory as they take on the Crawdads.
Note: Tourists’ pitching surrendered a league high 55 hits this week, while striking out a league low 50
- Bautista: 1GS, 5.0IP, 5H, 5R(5ER), 1HBP, 8K(2BB)
- Bloss: 1GS, 4.1IP, 2H, 0R(0ER), 6K(2BB)
- Dombrowksi: 1GS, 6H, 1HR, 5R(5ER), 4K(3BB)
- Swanson: 1GS, 9H, 2HR, 6R(6ER), 6K(3BB)
Jake Bloss was lights out for @GoTourists on Tuesday, punching out 5 batters in 4.1 IP and touching 98 MPH with his fastball 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4pRglz4YyO
— Astros Player Development (@AstrosPlayerDev) April 17, 2024
Low-A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (3-3)
The Woodpeckers split their series this past week, and struggled at the plate for the most part this week plating just 21 runs in their 6 game series (3.5 R/G). Kenni Gomez and Juan Santander lead the way with 5 hits each. Kenni and Waner Luciano were the only two players to hit a homerun this week. The Woodpeckers tried to make moves on the base path with their lack of extra base hits this week, but were caught stealing 5 times, only successfully swiping 3 in the process. The Woodpeckers still sit in the middle of their league offensively with a .653 OPS. The lineup will look to turn this around this week at home.
Note: The lineup struggled this series recording just a .184/.293/.556 slash line in the 6 game set
- Gomez, K: 5-20, 2R, 1HR, 2 RBI, 9K(0BB), 1HBP, 1 sacrifice fly
- Jaworsky: 4-13, 3R, 3 2B, 0 RBI, 3K(3BB), 1SB
- Luciano: 4-19, 1R, 1 2B, 1HR, 1 RBI, 5K(2BB)
- Santander: 5-18, 1R, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2K(1BB)
Luciano ready for launch! 🚀
An estimated 417 feet and 106 MPH off the bat for Waner Luciano’s first HR of the year! pic.twitter.com/mzLqSs0OmV
— Fayetteville Woodpeckers (@WoodpeckersNC) April 17, 2024
Despite a lackluster series at the plate, the Woodpeckers put together a solid series from the mound. Alonzo Treadwell made his second professional start pitching 3.1 innings and striking out 7 while not allowing a hit; he walked 3. This staff also produced their first two shutouts of the season on Tuesday and Thursday. This is a series that the pitching staff will look to build off of into their next series as they return home to host the Down East Wood Ducks.
Note: The Woodpeckers lead the league with 171Ks and tied for first with 2 shutouts (both this week)
- Hicks: 2G(1GS), 9.0IP, 5H, 0R(0ER), 12K(4BB)
- Langford: 1G, 3.0IP, 1H, 0R(0ER), 4K(1BB)
- Rodriguez: 2G(1GS), 7.0IP, 4R(4ER), 7K(4BB), 2 HB
- Treadwell: 1GS, 3.1IP, 0H, 0R(0ER), 7K(3BB)
Be sure to follow on Twitter, @AstrosFuture, follow me on Instagram, @AstrosFuture and like my Facebook page, facebook.com/AstrosFuture.
