Astros: Hooks Miss Alex Bregman

The Corpus Christi Hooks struggle to replace production following the recent promotions of Alex Bregman and Teoscar Hernandez to the Astros Triple-A affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies.

Alex Bregman and Teoscar Hernandez have both been missed. Following the promotion of the two best hitters on the team over the All-Star break, the Corpus Christi hitters were batting .220 before a 12 run outburst on Sunday. Bregman leaves AA with a .297/.415/.559 slash line and 14 home runs. He had 70 hits in 62 career games with Corpus Christi. Hernandez leaves the Hooks with a .305/.384/.437 slash line with 19 doubles and 85 hits in 69 games this year for the Astros Double-A affiliate.

Jack Mayfield and Chan-Jong Moon rejoins the Hooks this week, making way for their former teammates Bregman and Hernandez who were called up following the AA All-Star game. Gonzalo Sanudo and Albert Minnis both joined the Hooks from Lancaster. Sanudo is coming back from a rehab assignment while Minnis saw his first AA action this week. David Paulino has been placed on the seven-day disabled list, effective June 28th.

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 Game Results

Monday: no game, All-Star break

Tuesday: no game, All-Star break

Wednesday: no game, All-Star break

Thursday:  Springfield, L 1-3 

Friday: Springfield, L 1-11

Saturday: Springfield, W 6-3

Sunday:  Tulsa, W 12-6

Current Record: 6-4, 2nd in South Division, one game behind Midland

Next: Offense

Offense

When Danry Vasquez was on the disabled list after his collision with Mott Hyde in May, the Hooks struggled to find production from their third outfield position. With Hernandez off to Fresno, that hole looms large again for the Hooks. Derek Fisher has secured the left field spot, but he has seen a decline in production recently. In 15 at bats this week Fisher struck out eight times. Except Vasquez, the Hooks outfield assortment of Fisher, James Ramsay, and Alejandro Garcia hit .216 this week with only one extra base hit. Vasquez had a pair of doubles with a 1.071 OPS in his first four games back from the All-Star Break.

Vasquez had a pair of doubles with a 1.071 OPS in his first four games back from the All-Star Break.

J.D. Davis hasn’t missed a beat, picking up right where he left off before the break. The 23-year-old is arguably more deserving of a call up to AAA than Hernandez but rather than sulk he continues to make his case for a promotion. He led the team this week with nine total bases and a .529 on-base-percentage, thanks in part to drawing three walks. Davis’ 32 walks this season are second on the team to only Fisher, who has amassed 59 free passes.

Former Hooks catcher Alfredo Gonzalez was removed from the 40-man roster to make room for A.J. Reed on the big league club last week. Gonzalez’s .121 batting average and 2.86 strikeout to walk ratio were the last memories he’ll have as a member of the Houston Astros organization. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox this week for cash. In his place, Roberto Pena figures to get more playing time. Pena has a terrific arm behind the plate and is continuing to work on making contact at the plate. He did blast two home runs this week, bumping his slugging percentage up to .454, second best on the team.

Next: Pitching and Defense