Astros: Andre Scrubb impressed in first Spring Training

Houston Astros pitcher Andre Scrubb impressed in his first big league Spring Training.

Now that Spring Training has come to an unceremonious end, we can step back and dissect individual performances and how they’ll set these players up for the 2020 season once it starts. Shortly before the remainder of the spring was canceled, Spring Training ended for Houston Astros pitcher Andre Scrubb, but he made an impression.

Scrubb came to the Astros from the Dodgers in the Tyler White trade last July. He was an eighth-round draft pick in 2016 and has spent most of his career as a reliever. He’s yet to reach Triple-A, so he had little to no chance of making the major league roster, but he still performed well among the big leaguers.

In four appearances spanning 4.2 innings, Scrubb allowed one run on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts. That works out to a 1.93 ERA, which any team would be happy to have from one of its relievers.

The Outlook

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Scrubb is not ranked among the Astros’ Top 30 prospects, and he’s got some work to do if he’s going to become a solid big leaguer. The most important thing is cutting down on the walks, which have been a problem for him throughout his career.

He has an impressive 2.48 ERA for his minor league career and a robust 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings, but he’s also averaged 4.9 walks per nine. In his 12-game stint with Corpus Christi following the trade, his 3.71 ERA covered an ugly 1.824 WHIP. He allowed 21 hits and 10 walks in 17 innings, which isn’t sustainable.

He’s generally done a pretty good job of limiting hits, though his stint with the Hooks might suggest otherwise. But the 25-year-old can miss his share of bats, which will serve him well moving forward. He just has to cut down on missing the strike zone.

If he can make strides in that department, he could have a future in the big leagues. He may have a legitimate shot at making the major league roster next spring if he shows continued improvement and can pitch effectively at Triple-A in 2020.