Alonzo Tredwell and Joan Ogando combined on a two-hitter in Fayetteville's 5-1 win over Carolina. Tredwell: 5 IP, H, 3 BB, 6 K Ogando: 4 IP, H, ER, 5 BB, 7 K Drew Brutcher went 3-4 with two doubles and an RBI single.
With Cam Smith and Zach Dezenzo, mlb.com added Nunez to the Astros Top 30 prospects list with this blurb: “One of six Cubans the Astros signed in their 2022 international class, Nunez turned pro for $32,500. He has outplayed his bonus, reaching High-A as a teenager last August and getting off to a strong start in his return to Asheville in 2025. Nunez stands out most with his feel for the barrel, which is more apparent this year after he improved the load with his left-handed swing. He also has cut down his tendency to chase pitches out of the zone, though he still could be more selective. He uses the entire field well but doesn't have a particularly quick bat or launch many balls in the air, so he's more of a contact-oriented hitter with 10-15 homer power. Nunez has average speed but is an aggressive and instinctive baserunner. With similar range and arm strength, he's best suited to play second base. He also has seen action at the other three infield and all three outfield positions, portending a possible future as a utilityman.”
Sugar Land topped Reno 9-3 as Kenedy Corona hit his 4th home run of the season and A.J. Blubaugh met the minimum criteria for a quality start (6 IP, 3 ER), as he allowed six hits, walked two, and struck out three. Asheville split a doubleheader in Bowling Green. They lost the first game 13-0 but bounced back to win 4-1 in the second game. Cristian Gonzalez played both games and had two hits in both of them. Kenni Gomez went 2-3 with a two-run single in game 2, and Drew Vogel homered in game 2, his 2nd homer this season. Brett Gillis allowed a hit, walked one, and struck out five over three scoreless innings to earn the save in game 2. Fayetteville's bats went on a heater as they smashed Carolina 18-6. Jancel Villarroel hit a grand slam, his 2nd home run of the year. Cesar Yankyel Hernandez went 3-5 with two home runs (5); he had a three-run blast in the 4th and a solo shot in the 6th. Waner Luciano also hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot in the 8th that finished off the scoring. Luis Rives hit his first home run of the season down in the FCL. Rives is a Cuban outfielder who signed for $800,000 in the 2024 IFA signing period. Luis Aguilar allowed two runs on two hits, one of which was a solo homer, and struck out seven in 5.1 innings to get the win as the FCL squad beat the Mets 6-3.
Some hype for Caden Powell: https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/ast...mpressing-at-single-a?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage
Joseph Sullivan is the second player in the system to 10 home runs as he's sent two out today for Asheville.
Juan Bello in relief @ Bowling Green: 4 IP, BB, 4 K The walk was the only baserunner he allowed; he faced the minimum because he induced a double play.
Tyler Ivey vs. Reno: 6 IP, 2 H, BB, 8 K Collin Price hit his 7th home run for Sugar Land as they lead 3-0 in the 8th.
It was a pretty good week for the position players on the farm. Hitters in full season ball with >.800 ops in May: Jesus Bastidas Luis Castro Shay Whitcomb Jacob Melton Bryan Lavastida Austin Deming Colin Barber Zach Cole Cristian Gonzalez Alejandro Nunez Joseph Sullivan Carlos Cauro Jason Schiavone Caden Powell Drew Brutcher Oliver Carrillo Cesar Hernandez The top line numbers don't back it up, but I am getting kind of optimistic about Kenedy Corona. He has gotten his k rate down to 22% and is posting a healthy 10% bb rate. He has a 112 EV this season so the power is in there. With his defense and speed, the bar for his bat is pretty low. I think partially his numbers are depressed by bad luck and that should turn around, but really he may just need a small adjustment to make better contact quality and get to more power.
Ethan Pecko will begin his rehab stint in the FCL today. He's been on the Corpus IL all season. Pecko allowed a run on two hits and struck out two in two innings.
Germán Ramirez and Yosweld Vasquez both homered in the FCL Astros' 11-6 win over the Nationals. The home runs were the 2nd of the season for both players. Vasquez finished 3-5 on the day, while Juan Sierra and Hector Salas had two hits apiece.
The Astros made a couple more minor league free agent signings today. Both players were assigned to Corpus. IF Edwin Diaz is getting a second stint in the Astros system; he split time between Corpus and Sugar Land in 2022. In 74 games between AA and AAA that year, Diaz slashed .193/.264/.375 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI. He had been playing in Mexico this season, where he put up a .333/.426/.573 line with 5 homers and 28 RBI for Jalisco. 3B Bryce Willits was drafted by the White Sox in the 18th round of the 2022 draft out of UC Santa Barbara. He spent last season with Winston-Salem in the South Atlantic League, where he hit .248/.328/.336 with 3 homers and 35 RBI in 94 games.
