I could even see him in Quad Cities by the end of the year, if not sooner, if he shows he can handle rookie bill. Seems like his polish should help him move up much quicker than most HS pitchers.
I assume they will put him on a similar path to what they have done with Correa. Both were 17. Unfortunately he doesn't have McCullers & Ruiz to share the journey with.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Astros&src=hash">#Astros</a> prospect LHP Josh Hader: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. If only he didn't have to pitch in the "hitter-friendly California League".</p>— Ron (@Rontrarian) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rontrarian/statuses/476136427420274688">June 9, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
When would it be fair to expect to see Correa in Corpus? I'd really love to make a trip there this summer, preferably with him playing!
Brett Phillips just hit his 9th triple of the year already. I like how his development is going, methodical but progress is definitely being made.
Oh and Matt Duffy is getting back to doing what he does. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>BREAKING: Matt Duffy just hit his third home run of the game, becoming 6th player in RedHawks to accomplish the feat.</p>— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/azfreedman/statuses/476188262093320193">June 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Why is Correa still in Lancaster? His last 10 games are ridiculous, albeit no homers. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=621043
The next few weeks will be interesting to see what the Astros do in the minors for their SS/2B. Fontana has been splitting time at SS and 2B (a little more 2B than SS, though). I think the Astros see him as the backup middle infielder of the future. As such, the Astros most likely want him getting playing time at both positions. When Correa goes to CC, he goes to OKC because there is no way he gets the innings at SS I think he needs with Correa there. Torreyes is the 2B in AAA. He's one of the youngest players in the PCL and he walks more than he strikes out. I don't know if Astros will want to play Torreyes much at SS. However, Torreyes and Fontana taking turns at 2B/SS makes more sense to me than a Correa at SS, Fontana at 2B infield. Kemp would likely go to CC with Correa. Sucks to be organizational guys in AA/AAA trying to establish themselves as prospects. Hernandez has done a good job as a utility IF at AA/AAA this season. The Mier project looks to be nearing its end.
Correa's development is the priority... everybody else should fall in line. They're not going to spend much time scratching their heads in regards to possible future backup prospects or utility players at the expense of what Correa does. That being said, Fontana has a ridiculous OBP... and its continuing to go up the higher he goes. Would be interesting to see if they end up packaging him in a deal along with one of their excess of young pitchers, as I'm sure he will be valued by somebody out there (and at 23, is likely ready to make the jump soon).
Definitely Correa's the priority if I didn't make that clear. I think what they do around him is the interesting part. I think trading a pitcher with one of the 2B prospects (Fontana, Torreyes, Kemp) is a real possibility as there are not enough innings at 2B in AA/AAA.
We've seen a wave of promotions shortly after the minor league all-star games under the Luhnow regime. A+ is June 17th, CC is June 24th, & OKC is July 14-16. Fontana is the new Bill Spiers.
