Recapping the Minors: Weekend Edition

While the Astros were in L.A. helping wake up the Angels’ big bats, the future Astros weren’t fairing too well either. (Note: The weekend recaps will have the combined lines from the weekend’s games in the minors.)

OKC (5-5) swept by Memphis

Jake Elmore – 7/15, 3 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 CS

Marc Krauss – 4/12, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 K

Jonathan Villar – 1/10, 2 BB, 1 K, 3 Errors

Brandon Laird – 6/15, 1 HR, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 4 K

Fernando Martinez – 0/3, 1 RBI, 2 K – Rehab Assignment

Brett Oberholtzer – 3 IP, 6 Hits, 6 Runs, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K , 1 HR

Kyle Hallock – 2 IP, 3 Hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Josh Zeid – 2 IP, 2 Hits, 1 ER, 2 K – 4 IP, 7/3 – K/BB, 2.25 ERA on season. Could use him in MLB bullpen.

Jose Cisnero (L) – 2.2 IP, 7 Hits, 8 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

Kevin Chapman – 2.1 IP, 1 Hit, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Rudy Owens – 4 IP, 3 Hits, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K – 9 IP, 0.00 ERA on the season.

Jordan Lyles – 5 IP, 5 Hits, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR – Not quite ready yet. 4.85 ERA in 13 IP so far.

Ross Seaton (BS, L) – 3 IP, 6 Hits, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR

Thoughts: With several of these guys likely having a shot at playing for the Astros over the course of the year, it is important for them to have big starts. Jake Elmore and Brandon Laird have both accomplished that, and they may see their time in the majors soon. With Ronny Cedeno stinking up the joint, Jonathan Villar has done nothing to help his chances as being the shortstop for the Astros some time this year. He is batting just .059 on the season, and his defense has been a disaster with his four errors already. If his bat comes around, we may see him in a backup role sometime in the summer.

CC (7-3) went 1-2 in last three games against Springfield/Tulsa.

Austin Wates – 2/11, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 SB, 1 CS – 5/1 – SB/CS on season.

Jiovanni Mier – 2/12, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 SB, 1 Error

Michael Burgess – 0/12, 2 BB, 8 K – How’s that for a DH? 

George Springer – 3/11, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 CS

Domingo Santana – 2/12, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 SB

Matthew Heidenreich (L) – 2 IP, 4 Hits, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Pat Urckfitz – 2 IP, 1 Hit, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Ruben Alaniz – 3 IP, 3 Hits, 2 ER, 1 K, 1 HR

Jake Buchanan (W) – 5 IP, 4 Hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

Carlos Quevedo – 2.2 IP, 2 Hits, o ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Jason Stoffel (S, 3) – 1 IP, 2 Hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K – Already 24. Could see him in Astros bullpen this year.

Nick Tropeano (L) – 5 IP, 5 Hits, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR

Bobby Doran – 3 IP, 4 Hits, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

Thoughts: Springer and Santana are really trying to mimic their fellow MLB Astros with the amount of strikeouts they have produced. They have combined for 29 strikeouts in 66 AB’s this year, and they can improve their respective prospect status if they lower their strikeout totals. Nick Tropeano had his first “weak” start of the year. His three earned runs were the most given up in an appearance this year, and his four strikeouts were a low. ESPN’s Keith Law (in a twitter response to a fan) believes Tropeano’s ceiling is as an 8th inning guy. I personally believe Tropeano can be a #4 or #5 for the Astros in the future, but then again, I’m no scout.

Lancaster (7-3) went 1-2 against Modesto this weekend.

Andrew Aplin – 3/13, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 BB

Brandon Meredith – 3/10, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 CS

Matt Duffy – 4/11, 1 HR, 1 2B, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K – Batting .371 on the season!

MP Cokinos – 2/4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K

Luis Cruz – 4.2 IP, 3 Hits, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K – LOVE THOSE K’s!!!

Aaron West (L) – 2.2 IP, 6 Hits, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Michael Foltynewicz – 5 IP, 3 Hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K – Great start after bad last two outings.

Alex Gillingham (L) – 1.1 IP, 5 Hits, 5 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Brady Rodgers – 5 IP, 4 Hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K – Also a great start after bad last two outings.

Chris Devenski (W) – 4 IP, 2 Hits, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K – 1.50 ERA in 12 IP this year. 

Thoughts: It’s always tough to pitch in Lancaster, so when a pitcher has a nice line, it’s even that much nicer. Both Foltynewicz and Rodgers had great starts, after two sub-par performances through their first two starts respectively. West has struggled in his first two appearances giving up 7 ER in 7 IP. I thought West could have a big year, and I think he will rebound in the tough Lancaster environment.

Quad Cities (7-2) went 2-1 against Peoria this weekend. 

Teoscar Hernandez – 4/7, 1 K, 2 SB – Batting .400 on the season!

Carlos Correa – 1/4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K – Sat last two games with back stiffness.

Rio Ruiz – 1/12, 1 HR, 2 RBI  1 BB, 6 K – About time he hit a HR. 

Ariel Ovando – 0/12, 5 K’s

Mike Hauschild – 5 IP, 3 Hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

John Neely (Loss, Save (in two different games)) – 2.2 IP, 4 Hits, 3 Runs, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Colton Cain – 3 IP, 3 Hits, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Jordan Jankowski – 3.1 IP, 6 Hits, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Brian Holmes (BS, W) – 4 IP, 2 Hits, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Vincent Velasquez (W) – 5 IP, 3 Hits, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Joe Bircher – 3 IP, 3 Hits, 1 Run, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K – 1.50 ERA in 12 IP this season.

Thoughts: I love following the QC games on twitter, as many of these players can be future Astros. Unfortunately, this weekend was not too good for these players. Astros top prospect, Carlos Correa, sat the last two games with back stiffness. It seems like he is day-to-day, and I’m sure the Astros will be extra cautious with him. The other two big hitters in QC, Rio Ruiz and Ariel Ovando, were not able to muster many hits this weekend. Though Ruiz homered, that was his only hit of the series, which dropped his batting average to .121 on the season. Ovando did not fair better, having an 0-fer-weekend, including five strikeouts. The good news is that Velasquez has been looking real good in QC. His 1.93 ERA through 14 innings pitched this year is impressive, and I wonder how aggressive or conservative the Astros will be with him if he continues his dominance over the season.