Below is a weekly update around the Astros farm system.
Triple-A: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (5-1)
The Space Cowboys traveled to Albuquerque this week to take on the Rockies AAA affiliate, the Isotopes. Joey Loperfido continued his offensive tear, belting another 5 home runs this series. This included a 3 HR performance that he capped off with a grand slam and a double that just missed going out by a few inches. Joey leads the PCL with 10 HRs. Sugar Land also had great production from two new faces this year in Trey Cabbage and Jacob Amaya (acquired April 6th), combining for 3 home runs and 13 runs batted in this series. The Space Cowboys have a league leading team OPS of .890 to begin the year.
Note: The Space Cowboys outscored Albuquerque 72-36 this series
- Loperfido: 11-26, 2 2Bs, 5HRs, 13RBI, 6BB(10Ks)
- Cabbage: 9-17, 4 2Bs, 1 3B, 2 HRs, 7RBI, 7BB(5Ks)
- Bastides: 9-17, 3 2Bs, 2HR, 7RBI, 3BB(5Ks)
- Amaya: 7-21, 2 2Bs, 1HR, 6RBI, 2BB(4Ks)
JOEY LOPERFIDO GRAND SLAM!!
His 3rd HR of the game and 9th HR of the season! #Astros pic.twitter.com/bMimvGleVC
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) April 13, 2024
Despite the Pacific Coast League’s (PCL) reputation for its high-scoring affairs, the Space Cowboys produced some solid pitching performances in this series, highlighted by AJ Blubaugh’s AAA debut, where he tossed 5 scoreless innings. Logan VanWey continued to be a calming presence out of the bullpen, appearing in three games, allowing no runs and just two hits. We also saw Spencer Arrighetti graduate to the big league club and make his first start this week. He will have a second start tonight, in Houston against the Braves.
Note: Sugarland pitchers have collected 154 Ks so far this year, good for second in the PCL (OKC-156)
- Blubaugh: 1GS, 5.0IP, 2H, 0R, 6Ks, 3BB
- Vanwey: 3G, 3.2IP, 4H, 2R(1ER), 7Ks, 1BB
- Kouba: 1G, 1GS, 3.2IP, 4H, 2R(0ER), 6Ks, 3BB, 1HBP
- King: 3G, 3.0IP, 2H, 0R, 2Ks, 1BB
AJ Blubaugh punched out six in his Triple-A debut with @SLSpaceCowboys. pic.twitter.com/sTWAifB3rs
— Astros Player Development (@AstrosPlayerDev) April 13, 2024
Double-A: Corpus Christi Hooks (1-5)
The Hooks played in Frisco this week and only managed to scrape out one game as the bats have continued to stay cold through the first two weeks of the season. Tommy Sacco Jr. remains one of the few lone bright spots in this lineup, collecting 7 hits, but struggling to slug as all seven were singles. The Hooks have struggled to hit for power, but Colin Barber has the weight off his back belting his first home runs of the season. Jacob Melton had a better week at the plate collecting 5 hits.
Note: Hooks are slashing .177/.304/.262 for a league-worst .566 OPS so far this season
- Sacco jr: 7-20, 2RBI, 2BB(3Ks)
- Melton: 5-18, 2RBI, 2BB(5Ks)
- Arocho: 3-10, 2 2Bs, 4RBI, 5BB(4Ks)
- Barber: 3-15, 1HR, 1RBI, 2BB(9Ks)
Colin Barber solo HR for the Hooks! His first HR of the season! #Astros pic.twitter.com/kMuVDvb4EN
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) April 11, 2024
While the bats continued to struggle, Hooks pitching produced some solid outings, despite the inability to pick up more than one win. Miguel Ullola had another great outing, although struggled mightily with his command, walking 7, but did not surrender a hit in his four innings of work. Justin Verlander threw his second straight rehab assignment for a minor league affiliate, but again was touched up for a decent amount of hits and runs, albeit some questionable defense being played behind him. Verlander is most likely done with his rehab assignments and will return to the big league club later this week.
Note: Alex Santos touched 97 mph in his outing
- Ullola: 1GS, 4.0IP, 0H, 1R(1ER), 6Ks, 7BB
- Verlander: 1GS, 4.0IP, 7H, 6R(5ER), 3Ks, 1BB
- Santos: 1GS, 4.0IP, 4H, 5R(1ER), 4Ks, 1BB
- Guilfoil: 1GS, 4.1IP, 3H, 2R(2ER), 3Ks, 3BB
Justin Verlander’s first strikeout as a Hook! pic.twitter.com/If0qInzRyP
— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) April 14, 2024
High-A: Asheville Tourists (2-4)
Speaking of Verlander, the Tourists squared off against one of the prospects sent to the Mets for JV last year, Ryan Clifford in Brooklyn. The Tourists took a small step back offensively this week but still ranked third in their league with a .706 OPS as a team. Collin Price belted his second home run of the season while collecting 6 hits in the series. Luis Baez had a more quiet week at the plate, but still leads the team in hits and runs in the young season. Tyler Whitaker added 5 hits but struggled with contact, striking out 8 times.
Note: Collin Price and Luis Baez share the team lead with 2HRs and 7RBIs
- Williams: 4-11, 1 2B, 2RBIs, 1BB (3Ks)
- Price: 6-14, 2 2Bs, 1HR, 3RBIs, 2BBs (6Ks)
- Whitaker: 5-17, 2 2Bs, 2RBIs, 1BB(8Ks)
- Demming: 4-11, 3R, 2BBs (4Ks), 1HBP
Ryan Johnson grand slam for @GoTourists his first HR of the season! #Astros pic.twitter.com/IK5lCoHzsf
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) April 13, 2024
The Asheville pitching staff produced some of the best outings amongst the affiliates this week, good enough for top 5 in both WHIP and AVG in their respective league. Jose Guedez continued his dominant tear this year with another solid outing, surrendering only a solo shot. Batista earned our pitcher of the week tossing 5 scoreless, striking out 6, and not allowing a walk. Jake Bloss put together a solid first outing with the team as well. Asheville has yet to put together their good pitching outings with their hitting ones, as seen by their 4-5 record, but this is an exciting group of prospects.
Note: Jose Guedez has a 0.93 ERA with 13Ks in 9.2IP this season
- Bloss: 1G, 1GS, 4.0IP, 3H, 2R(1ER), 5Ks, 2BBs
- Guedez: 1G, 1GS, 5.0IP, 1H, 1 ER(1HR), 6Ks, 1BBs
- Taylor: 1G, 1GF, 4.0IP, 2H, 1H, 1ER (1HR), 6Ks, 2BBs
- Bautista: 1GS, 1W, 5.0IP, 2H, 6Ks, 0BBs
Andrew Taylor had a nice outing for Asheville tonight:
4 IP | 2 H | 1 R | 1 ER | 2 BB | 6 K#Astros @andrewtaylor112 pic.twitter.com/5dHjMXcxbp
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) April 13, 2024
Single-A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (4-2)
The Woodpeckers belted 6 home runs and scored 30 runs this week en route to a series win. Kenni Gomez led the team with 7 hits and Luis Encarnacion was right behind him. Despite a slow start to the year, Nehomar Ochoa belted the go-ahead home run to give the Woodpeckers the lead and eventually the game and series win. Alejandro Nunez has continued to be a consistent bat for the team. They head to Fredericksburg this week.
Note: The woodpeckers collected 13 XBHs this series (7 2Bs & 6HRs)
- Encarnacion, Lu: 6-14, 1 2B, 1HR, 4RBI 1BB(0Ks)
- Gomez, Ke: 7-19, 1 2B, 4RBI, 3BB(8Ks)
- Ochoa: 4-18, 2 2B, 2RBI, 3BB(5Ks)
- Nunez: 5-17. 2 2B, 2BB(6Ks)
FREAKIN’ NUKES pic.twitter.com/3f5SqatenW
— Fayetteville Woodpeckers (@WoodpeckersNC) April 15, 2024
Astros second-round pick from a year ago, Alonzo Treadwell, made his professional debut this week, pitching into the second while allowing 4 runs on 4 hits and striking out 3. Overall a decent outing that the young prospect will look to build on in his second appearance this week. Last year’s 6th round pick, Ethan Pecko, had the best outing of the series for the Woodpeckers, tossing 4 scoreless innings and striking out six. The right hander continues to impress in his young professional career.
Note: Pecko has 12 Ks in 6.1 IP so far this season
- Pecko: 1GF, 4.0IP, 1H, 0R, 6Ks, 2BB
- Pena: 1GF, 4.0IP, 2H, 1R(1ER), 1HR, 6Ks, 1BB
- Treadwell: 1GS, 2.1IP, 4H, 4R(4ER), 3Ks, 1BB
- Hicks: 1S, 4.0IP, 2H, 0R, 5Ks, 1BB
James Hicks dealt in his affiliate debut with @WoodpeckersNC on Wednesday, touching 95 MPH.
Full line: 4.0 IP | 2 H | 0 R | 1 BB | 5 K pic.twitter.com/W5nqteM275
— Astros Player Development (@AstrosPlayerDev) April 11, 2024
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