Down On The Farm

Yesterday, I wrote an article about top prospect George Springer being promoted (finally!) to AA Corpus Christi. I wake up this morning to see that Delino DeShields Jr. had also been promoted to AA, which was later clarified that he was actually promoted to High A Lancaster, but still, a promotion nonetheless. Also, late last night, J.D. Martinez and Matt Downs were optioned from Houston to AAA Oklahoma City. One was moved to make room on the roster for newly acquired Tyler Greene, the other vacated spot was filled by Fernando Martinez, who has officially been called up from AAA to Houston. Then later on I read that we have promoted several more prospects. More on that after the jump.

Promotions among the Astros minor league system were a long time coming. DeShields and Springer had both been tearing up their levels and needed to be promoted. Aside from them, there were some other promotions including some draft picks from this year’s class. These players will all likely begin next season at the level they have now been promoted to. They are:

OF Andrew Aplin promoted from Tri-City to Lancaster.

LHP Kenny Long promoted from Tri-City to Lancaster.

2B Delino DeShields Jr. promoted from Lexington to Lancaster.

OF George Springer promoted from Lancaster to Corpus Christi.

OF Enrique Hernandez promoted from Lancaster to Corpus Christi.

SS Jose Martinez promoted from Corpus Christi to Oklahoma City.

C Jobduan Morales (acquired earlier this year for Justin Ruggiano) promoted from Tri-City to Lexington.

Although there were plenty of promotions to go around, there were also some reassignments (demotions) as well. Those include:

SS Chan Moon reassigned from Lancaster to Lexington.

RF Emilio King reassigned from Lexington to Tri-City.

C Cristian Moronta reassigned from Lexington to Tri-City.

Of all the movements that took place, I’m especially excited to see how both Andrew Aplin and Kenny Long perform in Lancaster. Both were mid to late 2012 draft picks who have been on fire since entering the Astros system. As a club desperate to improve its farm system, finding hidden gems in the later rounds is a must. Jarred Cosart was drafted by the Phillies in the 38th round of the 2008 draft and Jonathan Singleton was also drafted by the Phillies in the eighth round of the 2009 draft. As you all know, those two were sent to Houston in a package for Hunter Pence.

These moves should all have Astros fans excited. The kids are coming and they’re coming fast. Some should be arriving in Houston around a year from now and from there, they should all start trickling in each year. Exciting times are on the horizon for a club left in disarray by the previous regime and being resurrected by the current one.

UPDATE: Both SS Carlos Correa (2012 1st overall pick) and 3B Rio Ruiz (2012 4th rnd pick) have been promoted from the GCL to Greenville and are headed there now.