Astros Minor Leaguer Edwin Fidel Suspended for Failed Test

Astros Class-A and Rookie League Report: (August 7-13)

GCL Astros RHP Edwin Fidel was released on August 11 and placed on the restricted list on August 12. This was after being suspended by the Office of the Commissioner, according to this Danny Wild/MiLB.com story. Fidel’s suspension and release came after a drug test revealed the presence of the steroid Stanozolol.

Fidel, 21, along with Athletics Minor Leaguer Yeudy Minaya, were suspended for 56 games. While Minaya was expected to continue in the A’s organization after serving his suspension, Fidel’s days as a Stros farmhand are over.

They signed Fidel in September 2015 as an International free agent, and he began his professional career this season for the Dominican Summer League Astros Blue. After nine games, he moved up to the Gulf Coast League Astros, where he made six starts and five relief appearances. His overall record was 1-0, with a 2.15 ERA, with 24 walks and 36 strikeouts.

Fidel cannot begin to serve his suspension until he signs with another team, putting his future as a pro in jeopardy.

As the Astros minor league teams enter the final stretch of the 2016 season, several prospects were on the move up the system ladder. Solid performers all over the Houston organization earned promotions as teams continue to battle in their league standings.

Other Class-A notes:

Elieser Hernandez was promoted on August 6 to the Lancaster JetHawks (Advanced-A, California League), from Quad Cities. In 11 games with the River Bandits, Hernandez pitched 57 innings, nine starts, with a 2.37 ERA. He allowed 12 walks while striking out 68.

OF Myles Straw had another outstanding game at the plate on August 8. He knocked out four hits to lead a River Bandit barrage of 14 total hits, where every man in the lineup got at least one. Unfortunately, the Burlington Bees got 17 hits and eight runs to take the game in 15 innings.

In that August 8 game, Juan Santos threw three hitless innings in relief. He walked three, struck out four, and did not allow any runs before giving way to Adam Whitt, who was saddled with the loss.
Straw was promoted on August 12 to Lancaster. Straw was hitting .374 with 101 hits in just 68 Midwest League games. Also an outstanding defensive outfielder, he has nine assists in 2016, three from each outfield position.
OF Spencer Johnson advanced from Tri-City to take Straw’s place. Johnson was batting .276 with six home runs and 20 RBI in 23 New York/Penn League games.

1B Taylor Jones was also promoted to Quad Cities from Tri-City on August 12. Jones had a .258 average with six home runs in 49 games for the Valley Cats.
C Christian Correa moved up on the same day, along with Straw, to Lancaster. He was hitting .215 in 59 River Bandits games.
#4 prospect Kyle Tucker has enjoyed a reasonably consistent season for the River Bandits. In 97 games, he is hitting .277/.350/.405, with six home runs. Over his last ten Midwest League games, his average is .310, with three homers.
#10 Albert Abreu. Over his last ten appearances, Abreu’s ERA is 1.66 in 48.2 innings. Overall, he is 2-8 with a 3.66 ERA in 20 games.
#13 Franklin Perez is 2-2 with a 3.07 ERA, with an impressive walk to strikeout ration (15/63). He is giving up a lot of hits, though, allowing his opponents a .247 average.
#27 Jake Rogers is hitting .167 in his first four games with Quad Cities.
#28 Stephen Wrenn got off to a spectacular start with Tri-City but has cooled off since his promotion to the River Bandits (.156 in the last ten games, .220 in 13 games).

Other Prospects:

Yulieski Gurriel moved up to the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks on August 9 and is expected to make his MLB debut on Tuesday, August 16.
#5 prospect Forrest Whitley was promoted on August 6 to the Greeneville Astros (Appalachian Rookie League) from the GCL Astros.

Astros Minor Leaguer Edwin Fidel Suspended for Failed Test

Astros Class-A and Rookie League Report: (August 7-13)

Other Class-A notes:

Other Prospects:

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