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Houston Astros trade Brett Phillips and Josh Hader

By Larry Manch

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Astros Double-A Report: Corpus Christi Hooks (July 27-August 2)

The Hooks lost a top hitter and two pitchers when the Astros gave up four top prospects including Brett Phillips in a trade with Milwaukee on July 30. Corpus Christi took the biggest hit, as three of the four traded players were members of the Hooks.

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Brett Phillips, Josh Hader, and Adrian Houser, along with Triple-A outfielder Domingo Santana, were sent to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for OF Carlos Gomez and RHP Mike Fiers. Minor league fans, especially those in Corpus Christi, should be used to changes, as it has been a revolving door at Whataburger Field this season. As mentioned in a previous post, the Hooks’ continued success, despite a constantly changing lineup, is further proof that Manager Rodney Linares is very good at his job, and the Astros have a deep farm system.

Phillips was #2 and Hader #14 in the Astros top 30 prospects list, with Phillips at #21 on Baseball America’s Midseason Top 50 list. Phillips was batting .321, with a .372 OBP and four triples in 31 games with the Hooks. Hader, who pitched for the US in the recent Pan American Games, was 3-3, with a 3.17 ERA in 65.1 innings, while Houser’s record stood at 1-2, 6.21 ERA in 33.1 innings.

Wrote Phillips: “Thank-you to the Houston Astros and staff for developing me into the player I am today. I also want to thank the fans of Houston who have been nothing but supportive since the start of my career!” – via Twitter.

"A Picture says more than a Thousand Words going to miss you guys but I'm happy for ya best of luck to all 3"

Corpus stands in second place in the second half, three games behind the Midland RockHounds, and maintains the best overall record in the Texas League, 67-37.

Despite losing several top players, the Hooks are still a strong team with sluggers A.J. Reed (.284/.382/.568/.950 OPS, and zero errors in 20 games), Jon Kemmer (.305/.396/.537/.933 OPS, only three errors in 76 games), and Colin Moran (.306/.367/.448/.816 OPS). Linares also has a fine pitching staff with Joseph Musgrove, Chris Devenski, Kyle Westwood, Aaron West, Jandel Gustave, Michael Feliz and others.

Other notes:

  • Teoscar Hernandez hitting streak ended at 11 games on July 28. It is the second longest Hooks streak this year, behind Tony Kemp‘s 13 game effort (Kemp was promoted to Triple-A with his steak still going.)
  • According to a Bleacher Report story by Joe Pantorno, Phillips reported to the Double-A Southern League Biloxi Shuckers, with Houser and Hader heading to the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox in the Pacific Coast League.
  • Vincent Velasquez returned to Corpus on August 2, after Houston acquired pitcher, Mike Fiers. Astros’ manager A.J. Hinch said, “I sent down a Major League pitcher tonight.” – via Twitter.
  • Kemmer is second in the Texas League in OBP (.396), slugging percentage (537), and OPS (.933).
  • Hernandez still leads the league in runs scored (70), despite hitting .214, with a .268 OBP.
  • Colin Moran is the Texas League Player of the Month for July. During the month, Moran hit .349 with three home runs, 22 RBI, and a .407 OBP.

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