Astros Minors: The Corpus Christi Hooks Are Playoff Ready

Offense

J.D. Davis ranks in the top ten in nearly every offensive statistic in the Texas League this year. The young infielder leads the league in doubles and is tied for first in total bases after yet another productive week at the plate driving in 10 runs and mashing a pair of doubles and two home runs. Davis is the first Hooks player to win the Texas League Player of the Week four times in a single season. In Monday’s regular season finale Davis hit a go-ahead grand slam in the 9th inning. Not bad J.D.

Davis has plenty of help this week from Drew Ferguson and Ramon Laureano. This relatively new outfield duo has combined for just 161 at-bats at the Double-A level in 2016 yet have a combined slash line of .324/.411/.568 with 13 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, and 20 RBI in 51 combined games. It’s a luxury to have one player with a .900 or better OPS on your team, but the Hooks have three in Ferguson, Laureano, and catcher Garrett Stubbs.

Related Story: Corpus Christi Player of the Week: Drew Ferguson

The future Astros catcher?

Stubbs had an impressive week of his own going 5 for 13 with a pair of doubles and scoring three runs. Stubbs continues to keep his name at the periphery of the catching conversation that has rumbled in Houston all year.

With Jason Castro a coin flip to return in 2016, Stubbs might find a way to earn himself an invitation to spring training next year. Tyler White is proof that the Astros aren’t afraid to start the season with a fresh face if he’s playing good baseball.

We talked to Ferguson about Stubbs on last night’s Talking Stros.

Time will tell, but the Hooks backstop has a .304 average with a 1.12 strikeout to walk ratio in the minors this season. Castro is hitting .218 with a 2.58 strikeout to walk ratio, and Evan Gattis is hitting .250 with a 3.18 strikeout to walk ratio. They’re playing at completely different levels, but Stubbs has learned at least a look from the Astros.

Next: Defense and Pitching