Well, that's what I thought too, would have sworn he was an NRI in spring training. I checked astros.com and they have Tucker on the active roster and Lowrie on the 15-day.
If you count them up, there are 41 players showing on the 40 man roster. I think they have just failed to update Lowrie's status, because it was announced.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HOME RUN! Carlos Correa with a two-out, solo shot to put the Hooks up 1-0. Correa's 7th ties him for the Texas League lead</p>— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) <a href="https://twitter.com/cchooks/status/596471017989541889">May 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Soo how does the SS situation look like in Fresno? Is Fontana the main guy? He can slide over to 2B, right?
McCullers has some great stuff. Unfortunately I think his control issues will be the end of him as a starter once he gets to the bigs but he has the chance to be a dynamite closer.
I doubt Fontana makes the active roster til he's 40 man eligible. Particularly when Correa is nearly certain to make the active roster this season (and conversely the 40-man). They couldn't potentially have Lowrie, Correa, MarGo, Fontana and Villar all on the 40-man roster.
Been a ton of guys who have had as bad or worse control issues at his age that figured it out. If he ends up back of pen that's not all bad but I still think he has a shot to be a dominating starter
At this point I'm ready to go ahead and remove Villar from the 40 man. People said the same thing about Tucker, there's always a fairly easy cut to make.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I pick players apart, but there are just so few holes in Carlos Correa's game. Another home run tonight. He's going bananas.</p>— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler/status/596483485927350272">May 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
So far after 4IP he has 8Ks and allowed 2H and 3BB. Yeah the walks have been concerning, but so far it hasn't led to any runs. Hopefully he can learn to limit the walks a bit more
Correa just ripped a 2-run double. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mr. Correa is locked in. The <a href="https://twitter.com/cchooks">@cchooks</a> SS is hitting .550 (11-for-20) with 3 doubles, 2 homers and 9 RBIs in the last 5 games</p>— Michael Coffin (@CoffinMJC) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoffinMJC/status/596492528938975232">May 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-helium-watch-hot/ Helium Watch Jacob Nottingham, c/1b, Astros The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Nottingham is built like a linebacker, probably because he played the position at Redlands (Calif.) High before the Astros made him a sixth-round pick in 2013. He signed for $300,000. Scouts are divided about the 20-year-old Nottingham’s ability as a receiver, but his righthanded bat is a consensus carrying tool. He didn’t hit much in Rookie ball in 2013 or 2014, but he opened eyes this spring by swinging a lively stick, and he has carried that over in his first shot at full-season ball at low Class A Quad Cities. He ranks third in the Midwest League with four home runs and has hit .246/.333/.464 through 20 games, with seven extra-base hits among 17 hits. A big, physical catcher with plus raw power and a good feel for the strike zone, Nottingham has improved his athleticism behind the plate and his throwing accuracy. He has gunned down five of nine (56 percent) basestealers to test him this year, improving his career rate to 37 percent. Nottingham has played seven games at first base this season because of a catching surplus at Quad Cities that includes 2008 international signee Alfredo Gonzalez—whom the organization is excited about defensively—as well 2014 13th-round pick Jamie Ritchie from Belmont. Not So Hot Teoscar Hernandez, cf, Astros The 22-year-old Hernandez has faced a difficult transition to Double-A competition this season at Corpus Christi, one season after he stood out as a power/speed prospect on the rise. His Texas League batting line dipped to .118/.176/.188 through 23 games this season after a 2-for-25 (.080) week that featured a double but also zero walks and nine strikeouts.
After a 4-1 win yesterday, Quad Cities has won 9 in a row. They've gotten outstanding pitching during the streak, allowing a grand total of 9 runs over the 9 games.
Quad Cities has some really interesting guys that we haven't heard much about previously. Kristian Trompiz, Alfredo Gonzalez (now promoted to Lancaster, but still), Jamie Ritchie, Derrick Velasquez... Seems like some international signings and 2014 draftees that weren't on any prospect lists but are showing well so far.
Derick Velazquez had Tommy John surgery in the offseason. Dan Mengden is definitely a guy who's seen his stock go up.
