Astros Minor League Pitcher Ryan Deemes Promoted

Astros Class-A Report: Quad Cities River Bandits (May 8-14)

Most Class-A travel is via bus. However, that wouldn’t do last week for Bandits pitcher Ryan Deemes. His latest road trip put him on a plane, and included a uniform change, as he was promoted on May 12 to the Lancaster JetHawks of the Advanced-A California League. The Quad Cities April Pitcher of the Month was 1-0 with a 0.87 ERA, 0.73 WHIP in nine games, 20.2 innings. For the River Bandits, he had given up only two earned runs and four walks, while striking out 19, earning him a plane ticket to California.

Deemes, 22, was chosen in the 36th round of 2015 Amateur draft by the Astros and began his professional career with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian (Rookie) League. At Greeneville, he was 2-0, 0.75 ERA in 24 innings, allowing 16 hits, only two earned runs, one walk, and 16 strikeouts. In late July, Deemes moved up to the Tri-City Valley Cats of the New York-Penn League (Class-A short season). In seven games, he threw 25.1 innings, giving up 20 hits, nine earned runs, and eight walks, striking out 24. He was 1-0 with a 3.20 ERA. 

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Deemes began the 2016 season with Quad Cities, and it didn’t take long before he moved up to Lancaster. The right-hander will have his hands full in the hitter-friendly ballparks of the California League, however, if he continues his solid pitching, he likely won’t be there for long.

Other notes:

• Kyle Tucker has an eight-game hitting streak, and nine multi-hit games in the last eleven, including a three-hit game and three RBI on May 9. From May 2 through May 14, Tucker hit .462, and raised his average in that span from .247 to .328.
• In the May 9, 12-4 win over Burlington, Quad Cities base runners stole nine bags. Both the runs and stolen base totals were season highs. Tucker and Aaron Mizell each stole three.
• Jacob Dorris moved up to Lancaster (Advanced-A, California League) on May 11. He was 1-0 with a 4.22 ERA in seven games, 10.2 innings, all in relief.
• Chris Murphy picked up his third win of the season on May 11, pitching a four hit, zero walks, seven-inning gem.
• RHP Yoanys Quiala moved on May 12 to Quad Cities from the Dominican Summer League Astros Blue squad (Rookie). On the same day, RHP Juan Santos joined the River Bandits from Astros Extended Spring Training.
• Former River Bandit Marc Wik, playing for Lancaster, was suspended on May 13 for 50 games for a second positive drug test, according to this story. Wik was hitting .234 with no home runs and seven RBI in 23 games with the JetHawks before the suspension.
• Matt Bower was assigned on May 13 to Lancaster from Quad Cities. The LHP appeared in five games for the River Bandits. He left Iowa with a 1-0 record, in 19.2 innings, six walks, and an impressive 28 K’s.

Next: Astros Prospect Alex Bregman Plays Third Base For 1st Time

Quad Cities went 2-4 this past week. Next week, (May 15-21), the River Bandits finish an away series with one more game against the Beloit Snappers. After that, they play three home games with the Clinton LumberKings and the first two of four games on the road at Cedar Rapids.

**Statistics provided by MiLB.com. Cover photo courtesy @QCBanditPhotog**