Astros prospect shares special moment after being signed (video)
The Astros continue their splash in the world of Cuban prospects, sparking a wholesome moment for their latest signee.
Since Yuli Gurriel’s signing in 2016, the Houston Astros have been on the hunt for the best talent from Cuba. From huge splashes like Pedro Leon to having the most Cuban-born players within their system in Major League Baseball, the Astros are making strides to be find the best talent in the Latin country.
More recently, the Astros signed 17-year-old shortstop Alejandro Nuñez, Héctor Gómez of Z101 Digital reported Thursday. Nuñez is Cuban-born but is now playing at El Niche Baseball Academy in the Dominican Republic, the same academy Juan Soto attended.
Independent journalist Francys Romero reported Nuñez as 18-years-old, leaving Cuba in 2019 at the age of 15-years-old. Nuñez was signed to a $10,000 signing bonus and is now the 20th Cuban-born player in Houston’s system.
Nuñez heard the news in front of his teammates, getting the opportunity to celebrate with them.
Nuñez is a left-handed hitting shortstop with a clean, balanced swing. With speed behind him, the 17-year-old displayed clean plays in a highlight reel posted by JDB Baseball RD to YouTube from mid-February.
Astros Orbit:
Pitching prospect Seth Martinez was reassigned to Double-A Corpus Christi from Triple-A Sugar Land. The 40-man rostered righty had a 5.40 ERA in five Triple-A innings this year with two walks and five strikeouts.
With J.J. Matijevic moving to the major-league roster, Houston reassigned infield prospect AJ Lee to Triple-A from High-A on Wednesday. Lee played a short time with Sugar Land last year, while playing at four different levels.
Right-handed pitcher Nick Hernandez was also reassigned to Double-A Corpus Christi from Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday. Hernandez had a 2.84 ERA over 6.1 innings in Triple-A with eight strikeouts to two walks this season.
Righty Shawn Dubin is slated for his first Triple-A start of the season Thursday for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. The 40-man rostered hurler has allowed only one hit and two walks over three innings this year with six strikeouts.