Welcome to Appy Astros, a blog dedicated to following current & former Greeneville Astros, the Appalachian League affiliate of the Houston Astros. Here you will find reports on current G-Stros, updates on the development of former G-Stros and occasionally an update on what has happened to the guys who have hung up their spikes.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

What To Watch For In 2012 - Former G-Stros Shortstops

Working around the horn, we land at shortstop. The only former G-Stro shorstop on the 40 man roster is Jorge DeLeon who is now been converted to a relief pitcher. Here is my look at what I will be watching while waiting for the short season to begin.

Shortstop

Jio Mier - (2009- 21 - Hi A) -  He evenly divided the 2011 season between Lexington & Lancaster (57 games each).  Will the new approach he talked about in a recent interview show improvement in 2012?

Towards the last two months of the season I kind of switched things up and decided to take the approach of getting comfortable and letting my athleticism take over and it helped me out a lot. I wasn't being so mechanical and thinking at all at the plate and was concentrating more on getting ready every pitch and reacting to the pitches.  [Over the off-season] I have been [doing] the same and am very excited to continue this process. This is basically the way I was in high school (which I got away from the last two seasons).

Jonathan Merritt - (2010 - 24 - Injured) He missed all of 2011 with a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.  Will his career end in 2012 or will he be on a roster out of spring training?

Chan Moon - (2011 - 20 - Rookie) - The Korean short stop improved his defense from 2010 to 2011.  His bat also showed a bit more pop.  Will he continue to show improvement in 2012, especially at the plate?  Will he be in Tri Cities or in Lexington?

Wlad Sutil - (2004 - 27- AAA) - After being the mayor of Corpus Christi, he signed a free agent deal with the Diamondbacks this off season.  Will he be in AA or AAA?  Will this be the year he gets a cup of coffee?

Alex Todd - (2011 - 22 - Hi A) - In a Jeckle and Hyde season for Todd, he struggled at SS and at the plate (.159 average) in Greeneville.  He was promoted to Lancaster which treated him much nicer.  In 16 games in California, he hit .298 and only made two errors in 15 games at 2B.  Where will he being the 2012 season? Lex or Lan?  Which batting average reflects the real Alex Todd?

Projected placement of those still in the Astros system

Oklahoma (AAA)
Corpus Christi (AA)

Lancaster (Hi A)
Mier

Lexington (Lo A)Todd
Moon 

Extended Spring Training
Merritt

Next we will move to the hot corner.

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