Let’s take a look at the best performances in the Astros system in June.
*Just a note, these are my picks for the month*
Previous POTM:
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys
HITTER: Shay Whitcomb, INF
- June Stats: 26 G, .347 BA/.414 OBP/.653 SLG, 4 2B, 9 HR, 29 RBI, 13 SB
Back to back months here for Whitcomb. After a solid May, he put together a really good June hitting .347 with 9 homers, 29 runs batted in and a perfect 13-for-13 on stolen bases. He’s hitting .310 with 18 homers, 20 stolen bases and a .956 overall this season. More on Whitcomb here.
PITCHER: Ryan Gusto, RHP
- June Stats: 4G, 1.57 ERA, 23.0 IP, 19 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 20 SO
Gusto had a nice spring and seemed like a dark horse to get a call-up this year. After a tough start, he turned things on in June. The right-hander started four games and posted a 1.57 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 23 innings, including a 7 shutout inning performance last week.
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks
HITTER: Brice Matthews, INF
- June Stats: 21 G, .313 BA/.400 OBP/.602 SLG, 3 2B, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 8 SB
Matthews was promoted mid month after destroying the ball for Asheville. Between Asheville and Corpus Christi, the 22-year-old hit .313 with 2 doubles, 7 homers and 8 stolen bases. Overall this season he is hitting .305 with a .933 OPS. Read more on Matthews here.
PITCHER: Joey Mancini, RHP
- June Stats: 6 G, 2.10 ERA, 25.2 IP, 16 H, 6 ER, 9 BB, 16 SO
Mancini has made a nice rise in the system. The right-hander turned in his best month in June appearing in six games and posting a 2.10 ERA. While he doesn’t rack up the strikeouts, he has limited baserunners posting a WHIP below 1.00 in Double-A.
A+: Asheville Tourists
HITTER: John Garcia, C
- June Stats: 23 G, .376 BA/.431 OBP/.699 SLG, 9 2B, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 3 SB
Garcia put together a ridiculous month of June. The 23-year-old hit .376 with 9 double, 7 homers and 19 runs batted in over 23 games for Asheville. Overall this year he is hitting .300 with a .882 OPS in High-A. I wrote about him flying under the radar here.
PITCHER: Ethan Pecko, RHP
- June Stats: 5 G, 1.50 ERA, 18.0 IP, 14 H, 3 ER, 7 BB, 28 K
Pecko was flat out dominant in Fayetteville earning his promotion to Asheville. He pitched for both teams in June and posted a 1.50 ERA with 28 K in 18 innings. Overall this year, he has a 2.35 ERA with 72 K in just 53.2 innings between Single-A and High-A.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers
HITTER: Yamal Encarnacion, INF
- June Stats: 18 G, .319 BA/.402 OBP/.347 SLG, 2 2B, 6 RBI, 12 SB
Encarnacion kind of came out of nowhere. While he doesn’t have a ton of power, the 20-year-old was still able to hit .319 with a .402 OBP in June. He also racked up 12 stolen bases, giving him 25 total on the season in just 49 games overall.
PITCHER: Jackson Nezuh, RHP
- June Stats: 5 G, 1.80 ERA, 25.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 9 BB, 28 K
Nezuh has the most dominant month on the mound in the system. The right-hander struck out 28 over 25 innings while posting a 1.80 ERA. Even better was he held opponents to a .111 BA and .356 OPS against him. He leads the Carolina League with 88 K in 71.2 innings this season.
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