Let’s take a look at the best performances in the Astros system in July.
*Just a note, these are my picks for the month*
Previous POTM:
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys
HITTER: Jesus Bastidas, INF
- July Stats: 20 G, .325 BA/.393 OBP/.525 SLG, 7 2B, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 3 SB
Bastidas was a sneaky good pickup for the Astros last year with a strong 2024 but he got off to a slow start this year. He has improved every month with July being his best month, posting a .918 OPS in 20 games. This included 7 doubles, 3 home runs and 17 runs batted in. He leads the system with 29 doubles this season.
PITCHER: AJ Blubaugh, RHP
- July Stats: 5 G, 2.31 ERA, 23.1 IP, 16 H, 6 ER, 13 BB, 19 SO
After an early season call-up, Blubaugh saw some struggles in Triple-A. He got things turned around in July as he posted a 2.31 ERA over 23.1 innings while racking up 19 strikeouts. He also held opposing hitters to just a .190 BAA during the month. He should get another shot in Houston at some point.
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks
HITTER: Pascanel Ferreras, SS
- July Stats: 22 G, .284 BA/.392 OBP/.522 SLG, 5 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB
Ferreras, the last pick in the 2023 draft, made a quick rise in 2024 but has had a tough go of it early in the season. He got things going in July though hitting .284 with 5 doubles, 3 home runs and 10 runs batted in over 22 games. He also boasted a strong walk to strikeout rate with 10 walks and 14 strikeouts in July.
PITCHER: Ethan Pecko, RHP
- July Stats: 6 G, 1.75 ERA, 25.2 IP, 19 H, 5 ER, 6 BB, 27 SO
Continuing with the same theme here, Pecko got off to a slow start with injuries after being the Astros minor league pitcher of the year in 2024. July was a different story though as the right-hander dominated. In six games, he posted a 1.75 ERA with 27 K in 25.2 innings. The 22-year-old also had a 0.974 WHIP for the month.
A+: Asheville Tourists
HITTER: Walker Janek, C
- July Stats: 20 G, .231 BA/.322 OBP/.513 SLG, 2 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 10 RBI, 8 SB
Janek has been steady this season with the bat and put together his best month during the month of July. While the 22-year-old hit just .231, he had a .835 OPS including 6 home runs and 8 stolen bases in 20 games. Nice to see him find the power stroke as he had only 4 home runs through the first three months of the season.
PITCHER: Railin Perez, RHP
- July Stats: 7 G, 0.64 ERA, 14.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6 BB, 24 K
While these honors typically go to starters, Perez had about as dominant of a month as one could image. The right-hander pitched in 7 games totaling 14 innings and allowed just 3 hits while striking out 24. He held opponents to just a .316 OPS as hitters went 3-for-43 against him during the month.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers
HITTER: Jancel Villarroel, C
- July Stats: 21 G, .275 BA/.372 OBP/.388 SLG, 3 2B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 5 SB
Villarroel made some waves last year making it to Single-A as a teenager. He had been a steady bat for the Woodpeckers this season and had a nice month of July hitting .275 over 21 games. This included 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 14 runs batted in and 5 stolen bases. He also had 11 walks to 11 strikeouts in those 21 games.
PITCHER: Dylan Howard, RHP
- July Stats: 5 G, 2.70 ERA, 20.0 IP, 18 H, 6 ER, 8 BB, 19 K
Howard was the Astros 8th round pick in 2024 and after starting the year injured, he has came back to pitch well. In five games in July, the right-hander posted a 2.70 ERA racking up 19 strikeouts over 20 innings. He finished the month tossing 9 scoreless innings over two appearances.
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