Astros Minor League Weekly Update (5/7-5/12)

A look back on this week’s performances in the Astros minor league levels

Triple-A: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (3-3)

Sugar Land split their series with Oklahoma City this week, despite having their worst offensive series of the season. The Space Cowboys hit just 4 home runs and had a league-low RBI total and slash line of .205/.329/.637. The bats should bounce back this week as they head to Albuquerque which sits in last place and boasts a 7.86 team ERA. The Isotopes have a rather hitter-friendly park so expect the ball to be flying this week. 

Note: The Space Cowboys have the highest scoring offense in the PCL (6.8 runs/game)

• Berryhill: 5-16, 3R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0BB(4K)
• Hensley: 5-22, 3R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1BB(5K), 1 SB
• Hummell: 7-20, 5R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 6BB(1K)
• Salazar: 4-13, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 6BB(2K)

Although the bats struggled this series, a solid pitching performance from the staff helped Sugar Land earn a series split. After a rough few starts the last two weeks, AJ Blubaugh bounced back nicely in his 4.1 innings of work allowing just 2 runs. Parker Mushinski and Conner Greene were lights out in their five combined relief outings, surrendering just 1 hit. The staff struggled with location this week walking 36 batters in the six games played. This week’s series will be a tough test in the hitter-friendly park in Albuquerque. 

Note: Pitching has allowed 47 home runs this year

• Blubaugh: 1GS, 4.1 IP, 8H, 2R(2ER), 4K(0BB), 1HBP
• Gordon: 1GS, 5.1 IP, 5H, 1R(1ER), 3K(2BB)
• Greene: 2G, 4.0 IP, 1H, 0R(0ER), 5K(0BB)
• Mushinski: 3G, 3.1 IP, 0H, 0R(0ER), 5K(0BB)

Double-A: Corpus Christi Hooks (3-3)

Corpus Christi followed in the steps of the and split their series with Amarillo this week. The Hooks bats produced much better than they had been this year, as they tied for second in the Texas League with six long balls. Staying active on the basepaths has been a key for this Hooks team this season, and they collected nine more stolen bases this week while only being caught twice. The lineup will hope to keep this production against a top three pitching staff in San Antonio this week.

Note: The Hooks have stolen 54 bases and been caught 12 times this season (.818%)

• Arocho: 3-11, 4R, 1 RBI, 4BB(1K), 1SB
• Brewer: 6-14, 2R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 3BB(3K), 1SB
• Espinosa: 4-12, 2R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2BB(4K), 2 SB
• Sacco: 7-24, 4R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3BB(5K)

The pitching continues to carry most of the load for the Hooks, and Jake Bloss continued his hot start with 6 innings of shutout ball which earned him Texas League Pitcher of the Week. Julio Robaina turned in another quality start as he remains the most consistent start for Corpus this season. Miguel Ullola racked up an impressive season high 12 strikeouts in his start while only walking one. The pitching staff will look to control the series this week against a San Antonio lineup that has struggled this season, posting just a .639 OPS.

Note: Hooks pitching struck out a league best 59 this week while also surrendering a league low 12 walks (4.91 K/BB)

• Bloss: 1GS, 6.0 IP, 2H, 0R(0ER), 4K(0BB)
• Guilfoil: 1GS, 5.2 IP, 3H, 0R(0ER), 6K(1BB), 2 HB
• Robaina: 1GS, 6.1 IP, 6H, 2R(2ER), 2HR, 7K(0BB)
• Ullola: 1GS, 6.0 IP, 4H, 3R(3ER), 2HR, 12K(1BB)

High-A: Asheville Tourists (2-4)

Even with a series loss, there were some positive signs out of the Tourists lineup, most notably Luis Baez. After a tough few series, the Astros #2 prospect has started to find his groove again as he led the team in hits and RBIs this week raising his season average back up to .295. Jeron Williams tied Baez for the lead in hits this week (8) and continues to impress at the plate as he is hitting .347 through his first 20 games this season. Hopefully these trends continue against a good pitching from Rome in their 7-game series this week (make-up double-header Wednesday)

Note: Asheville stills holds a league best .741 team OPS

• Baez: 8-18, 3R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2BB(4K)
• Cruz: 6-18, 3R, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 2BB(5K)
• Guillemette: 5-21, 1R, 2 RBI, 0BB(8K)
• Williams: 8-26, 4R, 3 2B, 1 RBI, 2BB(5K), 3 SB

The pitching in Asheville continues to be their undoing at the beginning of the season with a team ERA of 5.00. Derek True had a decent start but only pitched into the third inning, and James Hicks had a short leash as well, pitching just 4. Franny Cobos put together the two best outings out of the bullpen, pitching a combined seven innings with the only damage coming on a solo homerun. The Tourists’ staff will be looking to shut down a Rome lineup that holds the second best team average in the league (.234).

Note: While the lineup has a league best AVG, the pitching is allowing a league high AVG of .241

• Cobos: 2G, 7.0 IP, 2H, 1R(1ER), 1 HR, 4K(3BB)
• Guedez: 1G, 3.0 IP, 1H, 0R(0ER), 2HB, 6K(1BB)
• Hicks: 1G, 4.0 IP, 4H, 1R(1ER), 1HB, 5K(1BB)
• Mancini: 1G, 4.0 IP, 3H, 2R(0ER), 7K(0BB)

Low-A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (2-4)

The Woodpeckers dropped their first series of the season this week against Carolina after losing the last two games by one run each. Fayetteville collected 7 home runs to lead the league, but had almost 3x the amount of strikeouts to walks at the plate. Chase Jaworsky led the team in HRs(2) and RBIs (9) as he continues to impress at the plate in his first full season of professional baseball. The Woodpeckers head to Kannapolis this week for their series.

Note: Fayetteville leads the league with 24 home runs so far this season

• Carrillo: 6-18, 7R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 3BB(7K)
• Encarnacion: 6-21, 10R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4BB(3K), 4 SB
• Jaworsky: 5-19, 4R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 3BB(2K), 2 SB
• Santander: 5-19, 2R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2BB(4K)

The pitching struggles continue after a few graduations to Asheville and it showed with a 1.53 team WHIP this week. Jackson Nezuh turned in the Woodpeckers’ best start going five scoreless innings. Chirinos looked good on the mound in his two relief outings, but did not get much help from the defense behind him as he allowed three unearned runs this week. Control was a common issue as the team walked 30 in their 6 game set. Pitching will need to compliment the bats if they want to continue above .500 this season. 

Note: The Woodpeckers’ staff has thrown a league best 3 shutouts 

• Chirinos: 2G, 5.0 IP, 6H, 4R(1ER), 7K(0BB)
• Nezuh: 1G, 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0R(0ER), 6K(1BB)
• Pecko: 1GS, 4.0 IP, 1H, 0R(0ER), 1HB, 4K(2BB)
• Rodriguez: 1GS, 5.0 IP, 2H, 1R(1ER), 1HB, 4K(5BB)

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