Astros

Astros Minor League Weekly Update (4/23-4/28)

Griffin Cowan

Published

April 29, 2024

Kiel Maddox

A look back on this weeks action in the Astros organization

Triple-A: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (5-1)

The Space Cowboys visited Reno this week, where they dominated the Aces; dropping just one game this series. Joey Loperfido continued his hot streak, belting another 3 home runs, and leading the team in runs and hits this week. Joey earned his long awaited promotion and will join the Astros this week in Houston. Will Wagner finally got the bat going after some tough luck to begin the year, leading the team with a .400 average this week. Jesus Bastides and Pedro Leon shared the team lead in RBIs with 7. The Space Cowboys remain on the road this week, and they come back to Texas to take on El Paso

Note: Pedro Leon leads the team in hits (30), avg (.313) and stolen bases (9)

Bastides: 6-24, 4R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1BB(5Ks)
Loperfido: 9-24, 10R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 3 RBI, 5BB(6Ks), 3 SB
Leon: 6-18, 7R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6BB(4Ks), 4 SB (1CS)
Wagner: 8-20, 3R, 2 2B, 8 RBI, 3BB(3Ks)

Misael Tamarez and Blair Henley turned in the two best starts of the week for Sugarland, surrendering a combined 7 hits and just one earned run. AJ Blubaugh ran into his first trouble of the season, allowing 7 runs across 7 innings in his two starts this week, raising his season ERA from a 0.79 to a 3.93. Sugarland pitchers walked 30 batters this week and struck out 41. The pitching will look to have a better week this week in

Note: Tamarez generated 12 whiffs and 14 called strikes in his outing. He was up to 98.1mph with his fastball

Gaither: 3G, 3.0 IP, 1H, 0R(0ER), 2Ks(0BB)
Gusto: 1G, 1GS, 5.1 IP, 6H, 2R(2ER), 2Ks(1BB), 1 HB
Henley: 1G, 1GS, 6.0 IP, 3H, 1R(1ER), 1 HR, 2Ks(3BB)
Tamarez: 1G, 1GS, 5.0 IP, 4H, 0R(0ER), 8Ks(1BB)

Bonus note: Sugar Land is 6-1 in 1-run games this season

Joey Loperfido solo HR for Sugar Land! His 13th HR of the season! #Astros pic.twitter.com/3AUcv5a8i3

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) April 28, 2024

Double-A: Corpus Christi Hooks (2-4)

The Hooks dropped their series to the hooks, losing the first four and winning the last two. Astros top prospect, Jacob Melton, lead the Hooks with 3 home runs and 9 runs batted in. Melton earned out Astros Future player of the week this week for his performance on the diamond. Beyond Melton, most of the hooks lineup struggled this week as the rest combined for just 17 RBIs. The Hooks best weapon continues to be creating chaos on the base paths as they once again lead their league in stolen bases this week. The bats will look to heat up this week back in Corpus where they will take on Frisco.

Note: The Hooks have stolen 41 bases this season and been caught just 9 times

Arocho: 5-22, 5 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 3Ks(3BB), 1 SB
Brewer: 6-22, 3 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6Ks(2BB), 2 SB
Melton: 9-24, 5 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 5Ks(2BB), 1SB (1CS)
Sacco: 7-26, 3 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 7Ks(2BB), 1SB

Julio Robaina continued his impressive start to the season with another solid start this week, where he owns a 1.69 ERA on the season. In addition, Miguel Ullola pitched twice this week (one start) and allowed just 3 runs across his 9 total innings of work. The bullpen outperformed the starters this week as we saw 3 relievers have scoreless outings of multiple innings. Corpus pitchers struck out 57 batters this week while allowing 29 free passes; 26 walks and 3 hit batters. Corpus will hope for some more consistent pitching and fewer free bases this week against the Roughriders.

Note: The Hooks staff has a a league best .220 AVG against on the season

Betancourt: 1G, 2.2 IP, 1H, 0R(0ER), 1K(0BB)
Brown: 1G, 3.0IP, 1H, 0R(0ER), 4Ks(0BB), 1 HB
Robaina: 1G, 1GS, 6.0 IP, 6H. 2R(2ER), 6Ks(1BB)
Ullola: 2G, 1GS, 9.0 IP, 3 H, 3R(3ER), 1 HR, 8Ks(3BB), 1 HB

Jacob Melton solo HR for the Hooks! His 3rd HR of the season! #Astros pic.twitter.com/2kIJOK7RfU

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) April 28, 2024

High-A: Asheville Tourists (3-3)

The Tourists split their series this week against the Hickory Crawdads, pushing their record to 9-11 on the young season. Astros 4th round pick from last year, Cam Fisher, continued his power stroke at the plate hitting 2 more long balls this week, but he struggled otherwise. John Garcia and Ryan Johnson led the team in hits and average this week. Luis Baez continues to struggle at the dish after a hot start to the season. The Tourists return to Asheville this week to host Greenville.

Note: Asheville leads the league in HRs(25),R/RBIs(113/106), AVG(.239), OBP(.345), SLG(.409), OPS(.749) but also Ks (245)

Cerny: 5-19, 4R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 9Ks(1BB)
Ferreras: 5-18, 3R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 5Ks(4BB)
Garcia: 7-15, 4R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 4Ks(3BB)
Johnson: 5-16, 6R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4Ks(4BB)

Jake Bloss turned in two great starts this week and it was enough for him to earn a promotion to Double-A Corpus; Bloss continues his quick ascension through the organization. Trey Dombrowski turned in a great start as well, pitching four innings and allowing just one unearned run. Similar to the Corpus staff, the bullpen performed well this week outside of one Edinson Bautista appearance where he conceded 4 runs (3 earned) across three innings of work. With Bloss’ promotion, Asheville should expect a promotion to their club from Fayetteville.

Note: Prior to his promotion, Jake Bloss had a 2.08 ERA in 17.1 innings pitched with 25 Ks

Bloss: 2G, 2GS, 9.0 IP, 6H, 3R(3ER), 1 HR, 15Ks(4BB)
Dombrowski: 1G, 1GS, 4.0 IP, 1H, 1R(1ER), 6Ks(0BB), 1HB
Torres: 1G, 2.0 IP, 0H, 0R(0ER), 5Ks(0BB)
Urias: 1G, 4.0 IP, 1H, 0R(0ER), 5Ks(1BB)

Jake Bloss with another great outing for Asheville:

5 IP | 4 H | 1 R | 1 ER | 1 BB | 8 K

He has a 2.08 ERA with 25 K in 17.1 innings this season. #Astros pic.twitter.com/O77p0TjETh

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) April 28, 2024

Single-A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (4-2)

The Woodpeckers took the series from Down East to improve to their best start in franchise history (13-8). This week we saw the professional debut of Cesar Hernandez for the Astros after being signed this past International Signing Period. Hernandez greeted his new home crows with a 3-5 debut at the plate. Nehomar Ochoa continued his hot stretch at the plate leading the team with 7 hits this week and second in RBI. The woodpeckers won the series despite boasting a team OPS of .679 this week.

Note: Despite the hot start, the plate discipline has been a sore sight as the woodpeckers have struck out 216 times to just 98 walks this year as a team

Carrillo: 7-23, 4R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7Ks(1BB)
Hernandez, C: 4-14, 1R, 3Ks(1BB), 1SB
Ochoa: 7-13, 1R, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 2Ks(2BB), 1SB
Santander: 3-12, 3R, 1HR, 1 RBI, 3Ks(3BB)

The Fayetteville pitching staff produced some of the better outings amongst the organization this week, highlighted by James Hicks’ stellar outing where his only blemish was a solo home run. Hicks earned a promotion to High-A Asheville after his dominant start to the season. Derek True earned out Astros Future Pitcher of the Week for his five innings of scoreless work where he retired 8 via the strikeout. Raimy Rodriguez and Alain Pena provided much needed relief out of the pen; a common theme throughout the levels this week. The Woodpeckers head to Maryland to take on the Delmarva Shorebirds this week.

Note: James Hicks posted a 0.50 ERA and .143 opponent average with 25 strikeouts in his 18 innings os Low-A ball before being promoted

Hicks: 1G, 1GS, 5.0 IP, 2H, 1R(1ER), 1 HR, 8Ks(2BB)
Pena: 1G, 3.2IP, 2H,0R(0ER), 6Ks(2BB)
Rodriguez: 1G, 4.0 IP, 1H, 1R(0ER), 4Ks(2BB), 1HB
True: 1G, 1GS, 5.0 IP, 3H, 0R(0ER), 8Ks(0BB)

James Hicks, the #Astros 13th round pick in 2023, was promoted to High-A. The right-hander had a 0.50 ERA with 25 K in 18 innings in Single-A. #Relentless pic.twitter.com/eN0uZtgdDH

— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) April 29, 2024