2013 Astros Minor League Thread

Solid lines in the system tonight.

Brad Peacock vs. New Orleans: 6 IP, 3 H (solo homer), ER, BB, 7 K

R.J. Alaniz vs. Springfield: 7 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K

Chris Lee vs. Bristol: 6 IP, 3 H, 9 K

 

MiLB.com: Bobby Borchering, begin again

Bobby Borchering says he's happy to be back in a lineup, even if he's returned to a level that he probably never envisioned just a year ago.

The 22-year-old infielder, a first-round pick of the Diamondbacks in 2009 who reached Double-A last season, is a Rookie leaguer again with the Greeneville Astros.

"I had some time off," said Borchering, who went home to Florida after Spring Training for what he termed a confidential matter. "It's good getting back in games and playing under lights again."

"It's kind of like reliving my Minor League career," he said. "I'm happy to be back playing baseball and getting my feet wet again."

Greeneville manager Josh Bonifay equated Borchering's appearance in the Appy League as "a rehab assignment."

"He's an older guy and has been able to help the younger guys," Bonifay said.

In reality, though Borchering's experience level is greater than others in the league, there are four position players on the Greeneville roster who are older. He became familiar with many of his current teammates during the spring, then met others who came on board from June's Draft.

"I've made a lot of good friends with the new signees," he said. "It's good to be around some guys who are around the same age. … Gives you a lot of perspective."

"He's a class act," outfielder Marc Wik said. "He keeps everyone in a good, positive mood. He's working his way back up. He's slowly getting there."

All this comes as Borchering adapts to a new organization. He called his goals undeterred.

"I'm still the same guy, the same person," Borchering said. "Doing what I can do to get back there and get to the big leagues."

 

Yes. Yes. Yes.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>An update on <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&amp;src=hash">#Astros</a> MiLB team standings &amp; the farm system's overall win percentage. (Spoiler: We're #1!) <a href="http://t.co/2KEmEmp2e9">http://t.co/2KEmEmp2e9</a></p>&mdash; Jayne (@whattheheck57) <a href="https://twitter.com/whattheheck57/statuses/353173338367082497">July 5, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Thursday Stories

Some really solid pitching in the system.

Let's play 2 in Tampa.

This George Springer guy has picked up right where he left off in Corpus.

Recap

Oklahoma City 2, New Orleans 1

The Redhawks got a fine start from Brad Peacock as they took the opener. He allowed everything in his 6 innings... but "everything" was a run (on a solo homer hit by Nick Green in the 2nd) on 3 hits. He walked 1 and struck out 7. Hector Ambriz struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 7th, Jose Valdez got a punchout in a 1-2-3 8th, and Josh Zeid did as well, as he closed the door.

George Springer was 2-4 with an RBI single in the 3rd and stole 2 bases (4, 27 season). That tied the game at 1. Che-Hsuan Lin scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the 5th. Robbie Grossman was 2-3 with a walk, a run scored, and a steal (11). Jonathan Villar doubled in his only official at-bat and walked twice.

Game 2 of this 4-game set features Jake Buchanan taking on Duane Below. First pitch is at 7:00.

Springfield 2, Corpus Christi 1

The Hooks walked off with a loss in the middle game of the series, and now they're really scuffling, as this was their 5th straight loss.

Corpus got on the board in the 4th thanks to a Rene Garcia RBI single. Ronald Torreyes, in his first game as a member of the Astros organization, started at 2B and was the leadoff man. He finished 1-5 with a strikeout. Garcia finished 2-4 with a double. Erik Castro had a double too.

R.J. Alaniz had to settle for a no-decision despite an excellent start. He threw 7 shutout innings and gave up 2 hits, walked 3, and struck out 4. I'm sure he's glad that the tandem system is over. He definitely pitched well enough for a victory. However.... Pat Urckfitz and Jorge De Leon failed. Urckfitz got 2 outs in the 8th, but before that, he allowed a solo homer to Audry Perez that tied it. De Leon got the final out of the inning, but he served up the winner for the Cardinals: a solo homer to Xavier Scruggs to lead off the 9th.

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

The Hooks will now look to avoid the sweep. I think I like their chances. That's because they'll send out Mike Foltynewicz to do that. He'll be facing Anthony Ferrara at 7:09.

Lancaster 10, Inland Empire 5

Another 10-run game? Sure why not. It's the 25th time in 84 contests that the Jethawks have scored double-digit runs. Yes, I'm keeping count.

Delino DeShields was 3-5 with 2 runs scored. He started off the game by getting plunked, and then advanced to 3rd on a Nolan Fontana double. Andrew Aplin brought DeShields home with a groundout to put the Jethawks on the board. After M.P. Cokinos walked, Telvin Nash promptly hit a 3-run homer (14). Nash, who also finished 3-5 with 2 runs scored, scored one of those 2 on a double play in the 3rd and added an RBI single in the 6th, giving him 4 RBI on the evening. Fontana finished 2-3 with the double, scored twice, and drew 3 walks, one of which was of the bases-loaded variety in the 7th.

The 66ers wouldn't go quietly, but Aplin and Cokinos put them away in the 9th with an RBI single and a 2-run single, respectively. Those were their only hits of the evening.

Luis Cruz pitched 5 2/3 effective innings, as he allowed a run on 6 hits, walked 1, and struck out 5. He now has a 96-93 lead over Vince Velasquez, as they're both looking to be the 1st in the system to 100 strikeouts. Jarred Cosart is in 3rd, with 90 whiffs. Cam Lamb was the first man out, and he allowed 2 runs (1 earned, both inherited) on 3 hits and struck out 2. Lamb got 1 out in the 8th before giving way for T.J. Geith, who couldn't retire anyone. He allowed a run on a hit and walked 2. Travis Ballew came on to prevent any further damage, and on his first pitch of the evening.... he got Brennen Gowens to ground into a double play to end the inning. Probably the biggest pitch of the night, as a hit could've opened the doors to an Inland Empire comeback. After Ballew walked Eric Stamets (this after getting ahead 0-2) to lead off the 9th, the 66ers poked out 2 singles resulting in a run. He was able to buckle down as DeShields made an unassisted double play, and suddenly, there were 2 outs in the 9th. Ballew finished it off by punching out Abel Baker.

Tom Shirley will get the start in the middle game of this series. He'll take on Alex Keudell. First pitch is at 7:05.

Kane County 7, Quad Cities 4

Coming off a 5-game sweep of Clinton, the River Bandits looked flat as they dropped the opener of another 5-game series.

Jobduan Morales drew a walk with the bases loaded in the 2nd. Jesse Wierzbicki hit an RBI single in the 4th, and Teoscar Hernandez hit a 2-run double in the 9th. Hernandez was 2-5 with a run scored to go along with his double. Wierzbicki was 3-4, and Carlos Correa had the other QC hit. Dan Gulbransen was 0-2 with 2 walks and a strikeout in his 1st game with the River Bandits.

Juan Minaya went 3 innings and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits, walked 4, and struck out 2. Mitch Lambson pitched the next 3 innings and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and struck out 2. Jamaine Cotton threw the final 2 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits (solo homer) and struck out 1.

Jordan Jankowski will be taking on Brian Smith in game 2 of this 5-game set. First pitch will be at 6:30.

Lowell 4, Tri-City 2

The ValleyCats' offense has suddenly hit a rut, as they've only been able to score 6 runs in their last 4 games. That total includes the 2 from this game.

Ernesto Genoves hit a sac fly in the 4th, and Jon Kemmer scored on a double play in the 5th. James Ramsay and Chan-Jong Moon had 2 hits apiece.

Kevin Comer went 3 1/3 innings and allowed 3 runs (1 inherited) on 6 hits, walked 2, and struck out 5. Charles Basford allowed 2 hits over 1 2/3 scoreless. Evan Grills tagged in for 2 2/3 and allowed a run on 3 hits. Richard Rodriguez pitched the final 1 1/3 and struck out 1.

Going to be a real fun Friday, as Mark Appel will make his much-anticipated professional debut. He'll be taking on Sergio Gomez at 7:00 Eastern.



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Manager Ed Romero says probable pitch count for Appel tomorrow is 30 pitches, with another start 5 days down the road</p>&mdash; Matt Appel (@mattappel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattappel/statuses/352895689845514240">July 4, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Greeneville 2, Bristol 1

7 wins in a row for the Appy Astros! After a rain delay, they came out on top in a pitchers' duel.

Sebastian Kessay pitched the first inning, and he allowed a hit and struck out 2. And then, a rain delay happened. Chris Lee, who was scheduled to start, pitched 5 scoreless after that, allowing 2 hits and striking out 7. He came on in the 2nd after play resumed.

Here's the reasoning behind that, from Appy Astros.

Unfortunately, Lee didn't get the win as the White Sox got 1 off Krishawn Holley to tie the game in the 7th. The run was unearned, as Darwin Rivera committed an error on the play. Holley allowed 2 hits and struck out 2 in the inning. Tyler Brunnemann allowed a hit in a scoreless 8th, and then J.D. Osborne slammed the door, striking out 2.

Bobby Borchering hit a solo homer (2) in the 4th to put Greeneville on the board first. Rivera redeemed himself in the bottom of the 7th with an RBI single that put the Appy Astros up 2-1. They got the win despite being held to 4 hits.

Jandel Gustave threw 6 no-hit innings his last time out. What will he have in store for tonight? He gets the start in the middle game of this series, and his opponent for Bristol will be Tony Bucciferro. First pitch will be at 7:00 Eastern.

Game 1: GCL Astros 3, GCL Yankees1 1

This game had been suspended in the 3rd yesterday due to rain. The Yankees got 1 in the 3rd after play resumed, but the Astros immediately got that run back in the bottom of the inning. They tacked on 1 more in the 6th. Tyler White hit an RBI double in the 1st before the game was halted. Jean Carlos Batista hit an RBI single in the 3rd that allowed the Astros to re-take the lead, and they got the insurance run in the 6th, thanks to a solo homer from Yonathan Mejia (1). Batista and Mejia had 2 hits apiece.

Joe Bircher went 2 1/3 and allowed an unearned run on 2 hits and struck out 3. Ambiorix De Leon got the victory after the restart, as he allowed 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 6 over 5 2/3 scoreless. Erick Gonzalez got the save, allowing a hit and fanning 2.

Game 2: GCL Astros 5, GCL Yankees1 1

Jason Martin, after going hitless in the first 2 games of his career, is now on an 8-game hitting streak after going 2-4 with 2 runs scored. He singled to lead off the game and scored the first run as Yonathan Mejia brought him home with a single in the 1st. Alex Gonzalez, who also went 2-4 with 2 runs scored, also hit a single in the 1st. He'd come home on a Tyler White single. Javaris Reynolds scored on an error in the 4th, and then Mejia hit an RBI double, and finally, Gonzalez scored on a balk. Yes, Mejia also had 2 hits.

Agapito Barrios threw 5 innings and allowed a run on 3 hits and fanned 8. Troy Scribner struck out 5 of the 6 Yankees he faced. He got Chris Breen to ground out to start the 6th and struck out the final 5 hitters.

The GCLstros are currently taking on the Blue Jays in Kissimmee.

DSL Astros 4, DSL Mariners 0, suspended after 3 innings

Before play was halted, the Academy got their 4 runs. Kristian Trompiz hit an RBI single, and then Alex Melendez had an RBI groundout. Then, Hector Roa was hit by a pitch. The next sequence of events were rather unusual.

Trompiz would score on a passed ball that allowed Roa to take 2nd. Then, two straight errant pickoff attempts allowed Roa to score. Luis Payano was 2-2 with a run scored before the stoppage. Jean Estrella hit a double in the 3rd, but was stranded there.

Harold Arauz had pitched all 3 innings up to that point. He allowed 3 hits and struck out 2.

This game will resume at the Mariners complex.


Three Stars

Pitcher-heavy flavor.

3.



George Springer, CF, Oklahoma City
2-4, RBI, 2 SB(4, 27 season)

Small sample size alert! Springer hasn't missed a beat since his promotion. At this point, there is no valid reason for him to not appear in a Houston Astros game this season. Well, the valid reasons ran out in the middle of June.

2.



Delino DeShields, 2B, Nolan Fontana, SS, and Telvin Nash, 1B, Lancaster

DeShields: 3-5, 2 R
Fontana: 2-3, 2B, RBI, 3 BB, 2 R
Nash: 3-5, 3-R HR(14), 4 RBI, 2 R, BB

These 3 played starring roles in the Jethawks offensive assault.

DeShields is on a 6-game hitting streak, and he's had multi-hit outings in 5 of those 6. He's starting to catch fire at the plate, and the steals look like they're about to come.

Fontana has realized that he should be walking more than striking out. He also hit a couple of brick walls at the plate too, so his showing in the first 4 games of July are certainly encouraging to see.

Good news: Nash only struck out once. Even Chris Carter didn't strike out this much in the minors. But even I hope that Telvin has a career like Chris Carter's, though.

1.




Ambiorix De Leon's and Agapito Barrios' photos courtesy of BeGreen90 on Flickr.

Pitcherz!!!!!!!

Brad Peacock, OKC: W(4-2), 6 IP, 3 H (solo HR), ER, BB, 7 K
R.J. Alaniz, Corpus Christi: 7 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K
Luis Cruz, Lancaster: 5.2 IP, 6 H, ER, BB, 5 K
Chris Lee, Greeneville: 5 IP, 2 H, 7 K
Ambiorix De Leon, GCL Astros: W(1-0), 5.2 IP, 2 H, BB, 6 K
Agapito Barrios, GCL Astros: W(1-0), 5 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 8 K
Troy Scribner, GCL Astros: 2 IP, 5 K

According to WTHB, these 7 guys combined to throw 36.1 innings and allowed 3 runs (0.74 ERA) on 18 hits, walked 7 (0.69 WHIP, error on her part), and struck out 42.

Peacock took his demotion in stride and he should get an opportunity to reclaim his lost rotation spot once he's back in Houston.

Alaniz has gone out and thrown his two best outings of the season, now that the tandem approach is over.

Cruz, since getting knocked around on June 3, has just been dominant.

Lee is another arm to keep an eye on in the lower levels. I believe that he'll be the system's top lefty next season.

De Leon's a little old to be in the GCL, but a few more strong outings could get him out and about.

Barrios shows some promise. He's listed at 6'2", 167, so he's got some time to fill out. He might be an interesting guy in a couple of years.

Scribner has dominated in his pro debut. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets sent to Tri-City to take on some more age-appropriate competition.

Honorable Mentions

Jason Martin, CF, GCL Astros: On an 8-game hitting streak. He won't turn 18 until September. Martin is showing quite a bit of polish for a 17-year-old.

J.D. Osborne, P, Greeneville: This year's Jordan Jankowski.

Bobby Borchering, 1B/3B, Greeneville: He's on the road to recovery. Hopefully the time off served him well, so he can move on with his career. I think he'll be in Corpus in a couple of weeks.

Rene Garcia, C, Corpus Christi: His emergence gives the Astros another option at catcher. Garcia hung around with the big club for a good portion of the spring, so the team obviously sees something in him.

Teoscar Hernandez, CF, Quad Cities: Still holding it down. He's far from a finished product, but what he's shown to this point has the makings of a really exciting player.

Jesse Wierzbicki, 1B, Quad Cities: If he were a few years younger, he'd be Conrad Gregor.

Goats



Pat, Jorge.....

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Speaking of catchers, Appy Astros delved into their caught stealing numbers.

What's impressive is that they're throwing out more guys at a higher level.

This was a tweet from Tuesday:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23qctimes&amp;src=hash">#qctimes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/QCRiverBandits">@QCRiverBandits</a> Roberto Pena throws out 3 LumberKings attempting to steal. He's denied 30 of 53. In '02 here, Joe Mauer 46-of-107</p>&mdash; Steve Batterson (@sbatt79) <a href="https://twitter.com/sbatt79/statuses/352287833198829571">July 3, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Although Peña's repeating Low-A, his 57% caught stealing attests to his reputation as a defensive ace. Now if his offense came around.... but he has value in the system as a defensive specialist.

Rene Garcia made the jump too from 27% in Lancaster/Corpus to 42% this year in Corpus, and his offense is showing signs of improvement. Carlos Perez and Max Stassi have also caught more potential basestealers, and Tyler Heineman's holding pretty steady. Jobduan Morales has also held steady, too. As of today, his CS% is 32%. Last year, it was 31%.

 

Baseball America: Prospect Hot Sheet, July 5

Nolan Fontana #5, Vince Velasquez #7, Rio Ruiz #10

Lance McCullers not so hot.