Every now and then there's been a catcher in the minors doing well and we all pondered if that guy (someone like Tyler Heineman or Jamie Ritchie) could step up and replace Castro. For once we're all happy with the ML catching situation, but the minor league catchers are also doing well nearly across the board. AAA: Juan Centano .358/.397/.453 with 6.7%BB, 11.7% and 128 wRC+ AAA: Max Stassi .333/.433/.471 with 13.3% BB, 18.2% K, and 148 wRC+ AA: Garrett Stubbs .303/.372/.566 with 8.5% BB, 11.9% K, and 157 wRC+ AA: Jamie Ritchie .269/.397/.404 with 15.9% BB, 11.1% K, and 129 wRC+ LoA: Jake Rogers .268/.358/.561 with 8.4% BB, 23.2% K and 159 wRC+ The HiA guys aren't doing particularly well but not terribly either. Edward de Oleo .400/.500/.1050 slash line in 6 games, SSS obviously. I daresay this is the strongest I've seen the organization's catching depth from top to bottom. Small sample size, these numbers won't hold over a full season, but it's mighty encouraging. I expect 4 of those top 5 guys (Ritchie being exception) to see ML ball in the future in some form. Ritchie could make the majors if he continues to post a healthy OBP.
Nice! Gotta have depth at C, even if it's just for minor league innings. Stubbs & Rogers (I don't think he'll ever hit even barely enough though, without a serious mechanical adjustment) are the only 2 I'd take seriously for a future role right now. Maybe Stassi still.
Jason Martin has 2 home runs in the first 2 innings of Buies Creek's game in Myrtle Beach. He now has 4 on the year. Kyle Tucker just sent one out as well. He's got 7. Apparently this one was absolutely smoked.
Centano is what he is: AAA depth. He'll likely see major league at bats again at some point in his career. Stassi seems to be trending in that direction career-wise as well. I won't say Rogers has been a revelation, but he is hitting well beyond what his college numbers suggested. I'd like to see some double A production before getting too excited about him. It's just not super predictive for a college player to hit well in low-A, regardless if he was a good or poor hitter beforehand. Not a lot has been published on what's fueling his strong start. Was there a mechanical adjustment? Was it just as simple as switching from half student/half ball player to full-time ball player? There's an insightful article out there to be written.
The Buies Creek Astros have hit 7 home runs today, which account for all 12 of their runs against Myrtle Beach.
I was always surprised he started the year in High A. He played there all last year, and had a 20-20 year with an 890 OPS... I thought that'd be more than enough for a bump to AA (even in Lancaster). He's been off to a so so start, so hopefully he catches fire and moves up soon.
Odd, that would mean his next scheduled start is moved up to Saturday...the same day Fiers is scheduled to pitch next.[/tinfoil hat]
Rogelio Armenteros vs. San Antonio: 5 IP, 3 H, BB, 7 K Enoli Paredes @ Bowling Green: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Trompiz just made his season debut with Corpus. Kahana hasn't pitched in 3 years. His player card on MiLB lists him as "inactive." I guess Weathersby got hurt during spring training. Marlow's probably injured too.
Francis Martes @ Colorado Springs: 3.2 IP, 5 H (solo HR allowed), 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K D.J. Fisher extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a 3-run homer, his 7th blast of the season.
They are constantly working on Martes' mechanics the last year. He is lights out when he is completing his delivery properly but this is getting old... it shouldn't be an issue as often as it is.
It is not how Martes starts the year in AAA; it is how he finishes it. Martes like almost all top prospects has to make adjustments in AAA. He is young and has plenty of time to figure this out. There is no rush and no need to be concerned.
Fisher's OPS is around .950 now, which is around 10th in the PCL... amazingly his .325 BA is 19th in the league,
I'd consider McCullers, VV, Feliz, Paulino, and Musgrove the last 5 top pitching prospects for the Astros. Three of those guys bypassed AAA and the other two combined for 13 starts. AAA is usually a place top pitching prospects don't stay long as they are usually just waiting for a MLB move/injury for a call up.
Martes' upside is up there with VV and LMJ. It's just consistency and floor that are holding him back. That makes him a slightly lesser prospect but for our intents and purposes its not a big deal. He's just 21.
