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Astros’ AA Corpus Christi Hooks Continues to Roll

By Matthew Bartlett |
Oct 9, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a ball and glove on the field before the Kansas City Royals and the Houston Astros play in game two of the ALDS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a ball and glove on the field before the Kansas City Royals and the Houston Astros play in game two of the ALDS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
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There’s no stopping this train. The Astros ‘Corpus Christi Hooks have won 17 of their last 20 games.

If there were any doubts as to which team was in control in the Texas League the Corpus Christi Hooks put them to bed this week, winning four games out of five from the Frisco Roughriders and seven of their eight contests this week. A month ago it was the Roughriders who held a commanding leading in the South Division as the Hooks scuffled out of the gate. With the offense clicking and the pitching staff coming into form, the Houston Astros’s AA affiliate has seized control of their own destiny 69 games into the season. The Hooks have locked up first place in the South Division at the midway point.

Danry Vasquez, Mott Hyde, and Gonzalo Sanudo were activated from the disabled list this week – all seeing action against the Frisco. Pitchers Evan Grills and Edison Frias were placed on the temporary inactive list while lefty Brian Holmes was placed on the disabled list.

Game Results

Monday: San Antonio, W 8-1

Tuesday: San Antonio, W 4-3

Wednesday: @ Frisco, W 7-3

Thursday: @ Frisco, L 4-3, @ Frisco, W 2-0

Friday: @ Frisco, W 10-3

Saturday: @ Frisco, W 6-2

Sunday:  @ San Antonio, W 8-4

Current Record: 46-23, 1st in South Division, eight and one half games ahead of Frisco

Next: Offense

Offense

Vasquez saw his first action since returning to the team after being injured in a collision with shortstop Hyde. He went 1-3 in his first game back with an RBI single and a pair of walks. Even with a somewhat pedestrian .236 batting average this season the Hooks will be happy to have his bat back in the lineup.

Over the past month, the hole in the outfield has been filled by James Ramsey (.164 BA) and Rodrigo Ayarza (.200 BA). Hyde saw his first action this week as well, going 1-4 on Friday. His one hit was a Grand Slam that put the Hooks ahead 10-3 in the 7th inning. Hyde is hitting .200 this season, but his reinsertion into the lineup enables skipper Rodney Linares to move Alex Bregman to third base and let Hyde fill in at shortstop.

More from Prospects

Teoscar Hernandez led the team in hits, doubles, home runs, and total bases this week. Hernandez bumped his average up 11 points to .310, and that’s six points better than Bregman. That being said, Bregman continues to crush AA pitching, leading many to wonder how much longer the young infielder will be playing in Corpus Christi.

On the week, Bregman posted a modest .231 batting average with just one home run – dropping his season OPS to .981, his first time under 1.000 in 2016. His ability to get on base combined with a tremendous plate discipline makes his arguably the most dangerous hitter in AA, if not the minor leagues. Bregman’s home run to strikeout rate is .667, 14 HRs and 21Ks – to put that in perspective the rest of the team’s home run to strikeout rate is .132.

Next: Pitching and Defense

Pitching and Defense

Sanudo made his 2016 debut for the Hooks this week, throwing two and two-thirds innings in relief over the course of two games, allowing one run and two hits while striking out two batters. Sanudo had a 0.00 ERA in 6 games with last year with the Hooks. Aaron West earned two more saves this weekend, bringing him to a team-leading 13 saves on the season.

Keegan Yuhl improved to 7-1 following another pair of terrific outings against San Antonio on Monday and Sunday. On Monday, Yuhl threw five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five. On Sunday night, he was breezed through seven innings, allowing a pair of unearned runs while striking out three.

Yuhl is one of five Corpus Christi starters with an ERA under 3.00 (his is 2.10), the other four being David Paulino (1.86), Edison Frias (2.74), Kent Emanuel (2.95), and Evan Grills (1.98). Yuhl’s WHIP now sits and 1.02 this season due in part to his masterful command and his ability to limit walks, only surrendering 1.83 free passes per nine innings.

***Stats from MiLB.com and Baseball Reference***

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