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Astros: Jonathan Arauz Making Major Progress for Bandits

By Jake Schornick

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 06: The Grapefruit League logo on the third base line before a spring training game between the Houston Astros and New York Mets at First Data Field on March 6, 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 06: The Grapefruit League logo on the third base line before a spring training game between the Houston Astros and New York Mets at First Data Field on March 6, 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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As the Bandits fight through a difficult early-season schedule, Astros prospect Jonathan Arauz is starting to make a name for himself.

Like many prospects in the Astros farm system, prospect Jonathan Arauz is probably not a household name. Even though he has been with the club since December of 2015, he has yet to move up past Class A Quad Cities.  

If you do know his name, it is because he was the player who came over with Ken Giles in the big trade with the Phillies. Or possibly from the fact that he was yet another Astros prospect to be suspended last year. 

Either way, it has been a rocky start to his career. But the 19-year-old international signee from Panama seems to have finally found his form at Quad Cities. 

Arauz having a solid start to the 2017 season

Through 166 Minor League games before this year, Arauz had never hit for better than a .264 average. His best OBP was .341 in a 33 game stint with the Tri-City ValleyCats last year.

Even though there is still a small sample size, Arauz has shown great improvement in 2017. Through the first eight games (30 at-bats), he is hitting .300/.400./.333 with two stolen bases. He leads the team in batting average and stolen bases and is second on the team in RBI.  

Arauz has also been an asset in the field, capable of playing shortstop and second base.  Already having compiled ten put-outs and been a part of two double plays, Arauz will always have a spot in a lineup if his defense continues to shine.  

Prospect Showdown On Road Trip

The Bandits are in the midst of an extended road trip. Currently, they are facing the Burlington Bees, of the Angels farm system.  They play a doubleheader on Saturday, with one of the games being a make-up game from last week. He’s a prospect to keep track of.

Next: Astros starters continue to put up video game stats

Top prospects Jo Adell and Torii Hunter patrol the outfield for the Bees. Playing opposite of those two will be a good measuring stick for the progress that Arauz has made. (Updated: Arauz had two hits in six at-bats with a single, double, walk, and a stolen base.)

***Stats from MiLB.com***