Brian McTaggart just released the Astros roster for the fall instructional league. This year, 16 former G-Stros will be spending a few extra weeks in Kissimmee honing their skills. Here are the former G-Stros based on when they played here:
2008
Zach Grimmett - appeared in 23 games for Lancaster. Ten of them as a starter and 13 as a reliever. Finished the year with an 8.21 ERA.
2009
Jonathon Meyer - Hit .272 in his second year in Lancaster.
2010
Telvin Nash - Hit .224 with 29 HR and 198 strikeouts in 106 games in Lancaster.
Delino DeShields - Had a break out year. Started in Lexington and finished the year in Lancaster. Stole a combined 101 bases on the season. He raised his slash line from .220/.305/.322 to .287/.389/.428. Just turned 20 in August.
Roberto Pena - He also started the year in Lexington but moved up to Lancaster to finish the season. Pena caught 33% of the base stealers (26 out of 78) in Lexington. His bat showed some improvement but his glove and arm are what have earned him the invite to instructionals.
2012
Three of the players on this list also played in Greeneville in 2011 but we will group them with their most recent cohort.
Ariel Ovando - He showed significant improvement between 2011 (.235/.283/.365) and 2012 (.287/.350/.444). All the physical tools are present but he is still learning how to get them to do what they need to do. He turns 19 later this week so we need to have some patience.
Chris Lee - He started the season in the Appy but was sent down to the GCL where he didn't pitch. So the instructs will give him a chance to get some work in he missed during the season. He was also on the team in 2011.
Frances Ramirez - He is the other player who was also on the 2011 roster. He made four starts in '11 verses the 13 he made in 2012. You can find more of my thoughts on him at my post Season Recap - Starting Pitcher. You can also use that link to get my thoughts on two other 2012 pitchers invited, Michael Feliz & Lance McCullers Jr.
Kevin Comer and Joe Musgrove were acquired during the year and didn't get many chances to pitch which is why they are heading to Florida for the fall.
The other four players are position players who were drafted this year: Carlos Correa, Rio Ruiz, Terrell Joyce, and Angel Ibanez. Of those four, Ibanez is a bit of a surprise due to his low draft slot but he showed a solid bat during the season and 3rd base is a shallow spot in the Astros organization.
Overall, former Greeneville players made up almost half (16 out of 33) of the players invited.
Showing posts with label Feliz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Feliz. Show all posts
Monday, September 10, 2012
Friday, January 7, 2011
Former Greeneville Astros Released
Baseball America released their Minor League Transactions from the last part of 2010 a few days ago. Four former G-Stros were included in the list of players released by the Astros. Those players were:
Leandro Cespedes (2007)- I will never forget the night he struck out 11 Elizabethton Twins in a 7 inning stint in 2007. The strike outs continued to come pretty well as he moved up but when opponents hit the ball, it tended to leave the park too often. Highest level was AAA.
Angel Gonzalez (2009 - 2010) - I went to Kingsport last year and watched him throw an erratic 6 innings of no hit ball. His success didn't continue as he ended up finishing the year with 46 hits in 41 innings and was even sent down to the GCL for part of the season.
Carlos Mojica (2008-2010) - Carlos is a good kid. He spent some time with my family and has all the makings of a great baseball coach. He spent some time in Lancaster but never played.
Pedro Feliz (2010) - Pedro appeared in 28 games this year for Greeneville. He only hit .190 in his second season in the US.
Best of luck to all of these players as they move on to the next stages of their lives.
Leandro Cespedes (2007)- I will never forget the night he struck out 11 Elizabethton Twins in a 7 inning stint in 2007. The strike outs continued to come pretty well as he moved up but when opponents hit the ball, it tended to leave the park too often. Highest level was AAA.
Angel Gonzalez (2009 - 2010) - I went to Kingsport last year and watched him throw an erratic 6 innings of no hit ball. His success didn't continue as he ended up finishing the year with 46 hits in 41 innings and was even sent down to the GCL for part of the season.
Carlos Mojica (2008-2010) - Carlos is a good kid. He spent some time with my family and has all the makings of a great baseball coach. He spent some time in Lancaster but never played.
Pedro Feliz (2010) - Pedro appeared in 28 games this year for Greeneville. He only hit .190 in his second season in the US.
Best of luck to all of these players as they move on to the next stages of their lives.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Season Recap: Middle Infielders
Continuing with our review of the players who played for the Greeneville Astros this year, we move to the middle infielders.
Jonathan Merritt - (56 games at SS)- Merritt was signed as a free agent out of The University of Alabama - Birmingham. He was the starting shortstop in 56 of the Astros 66 games. Merritt, 22, committed 21 errors in 279 chances. He made a few spectacular plays and most of the routine ones. He did everything you would want from a short stop.
At the plate, he spent the majority of his time batting 1st (112 AB) or 2nd (77 AB) in the line up. He hit much better in the second slot (.299/.413/.519 rather than lead off (.223/.350/.366). He stole 12 bases in 17 attempts. He also showed decent pop with 20 extra base hits (9 doubles, 6 triples and 4 home runs).
Merritt did what you expect a NDFA to do. He played his position well, was a good teammate and provided some organizational depth.
Expectations for next year: Depending on organizational needs I could see him backing up Ben Orloff in Lexington or playing in Tri Cities.
Ricardo Garcia - (Games played by position: 2B - 41, DH - 4, 3B - 3, LF - 1, 1B - 1) The slight (5' 9" 142lbs) second baseman took on the utility role for the Astros this season when he wasn't playing second. He missed most of the 2009 season in the GCL and played only 8 games, all at 3B.
In the field, he didn't have the flare the G-Stros fans had become accustomed to from Jose Altuve, but he was solid. He made 10 errors in 213 chances. Some of the errors I saw were coming in on slowly hit balls.
At the plate, he didn't show that much that stood out. A sub .250 average and a OPS of .625 from a 21 year old in the Appy league isn't impressive.
Expectations for next year - He has one more year until he is a Minor League Free Agent. I expect if he makes it out of extended spring without being released, he will be assigned to Tri Cities.
Pedro Feliz - (Games played by position: 2B - 27) No not the guy we traded to the Cards but the 19 year old fellow. He split his games in 09 in the GCL between 2nd & 3rd. In 2010, he only played at 2nd but he played in less than half of the games.
In the field, he improved his numbers from 2009 at 2nd, making six errors in 125 chances. However, he still only showed a fielding percentage of .952.
At the plate, he showed very little. He hit .200 with striking out one out of every three at bats. The only promising number was he hit .100 higher on the road (.250) verses at home (.149).
Expectations for next year - He might get one more year in Greeneville due to him being just 20 when next year begins.
Summary: I saw nothing in this bunch that screamed prospect. However, one of the great things about Rookie ball is sometimes you can miss kids entirely. Albert Cartwright butchered the 2nd base position in 2007 as a 19 year old. He came back as a 20 year old and was better, especially at the plate. He finished 2010 in Corpus Christi. I would have never believed that in 2010.
The middle infield in the Astros organization is one of the deepest areas. With players like Sutil, Cartwright, Altuve, Mier, Villar, Paredes, & Hernandez already ahead of them. Plus adding Delino DeSheilds Jr. to the mix and having I don't see much hope for these guys getting much of a chance to make a big splash next year.
Jonathan Merritt - (56 games at SS)- Merritt was signed as a free agent out of The University of Alabama - Birmingham. He was the starting shortstop in 56 of the Astros 66 games. Merritt, 22, committed 21 errors in 279 chances. He made a few spectacular plays and most of the routine ones. He did everything you would want from a short stop.
At the plate, he spent the majority of his time batting 1st (112 AB) or 2nd (77 AB) in the line up. He hit much better in the second slot (.299/.413/.519 rather than lead off (.223/.350/.366). He stole 12 bases in 17 attempts. He also showed decent pop with 20 extra base hits (9 doubles, 6 triples and 4 home runs).
Merritt did what you expect a NDFA to do. He played his position well, was a good teammate and provided some organizational depth.
Expectations for next year: Depending on organizational needs I could see him backing up Ben Orloff in Lexington or playing in Tri Cities.
Ricardo Garcia - (Games played by position: 2B - 41, DH - 4, 3B - 3, LF - 1, 1B - 1) The slight (5' 9" 142lbs) second baseman took on the utility role for the Astros this season when he wasn't playing second. He missed most of the 2009 season in the GCL and played only 8 games, all at 3B.
In the field, he didn't have the flare the G-Stros fans had become accustomed to from Jose Altuve, but he was solid. He made 10 errors in 213 chances. Some of the errors I saw were coming in on slowly hit balls.
At the plate, he didn't show that much that stood out. A sub .250 average and a OPS of .625 from a 21 year old in the Appy league isn't impressive.
Expectations for next year - He has one more year until he is a Minor League Free Agent. I expect if he makes it out of extended spring without being released, he will be assigned to Tri Cities.
Pedro Feliz - (Games played by position: 2B - 27) No not the guy we traded to the Cards but the 19 year old fellow. He split his games in 09 in the GCL between 2nd & 3rd. In 2010, he only played at 2nd but he played in less than half of the games.
In the field, he improved his numbers from 2009 at 2nd, making six errors in 125 chances. However, he still only showed a fielding percentage of .952.
At the plate, he showed very little. He hit .200 with striking out one out of every three at bats. The only promising number was he hit .100 higher on the road (.250) verses at home (.149).
Expectations for next year - He might get one more year in Greeneville due to him being just 20 when next year begins.
Summary: I saw nothing in this bunch that screamed prospect. However, one of the great things about Rookie ball is sometimes you can miss kids entirely. Albert Cartwright butchered the 2nd base position in 2007 as a 19 year old. He came back as a 20 year old and was better, especially at the plate. He finished 2010 in Corpus Christi. I would have never believed that in 2010.
The middle infield in the Astros organization is one of the deepest areas. With players like Sutil, Cartwright, Altuve, Mier, Villar, Paredes, & Hernandez already ahead of them. Plus adding Delino DeSheilds Jr. to the mix and having I don't see much hope for these guys getting much of a chance to make a big splash next year.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Looking to Next Year: DSL Wrap Up
The Dominican Summer League is wrapping up this Saturday. Here are a few players that I expect to make their state side debut next year. Most, if not all, will head to the Gulf Coast League, but some may jump to the G-Stros and I feel it is always good to know some names to be watching.
3 Position Players
Luis De La Rosa - OF - Will turn 19 in January. His average has climbed to .280 for the season but has hit .312 for July & August. He doesn't show much power but has moved to the outfield after being signed as a SS in 2008.
Yonathon Mejia - 2B - Will turn 18 in September. He was signed last year to a signing bonus of 370K. He started hot in May & June but has hit under .200 in July & August. He was a 2010 Mid Season All Star in the DSL.
Fredwin Campusuno - 3b - Has not played but one game since the All Star Break. So I am assuming, there is an injury here. Before he was hurt, he put up a .330 batting average. Way up from his .222 last year.
3 Pitchers
Francisco Baso - RHP - Has improved every year of pro ball. He will be 20 when the season starts next year. He has dominated the league this year. He has been a DSL Mid Season All Star the last two years. He has never started a game but has pitched as much as 5 innings in some outings. In his last 10 outings, he has only given up a run 1 time.
Jose Montero - RHP - The 17 year old started his pro career this season after signing for a bonus of 350K. He has started 12 games and has an ERA of 2.15. He has fanned 46 batters in 54 1/3 IP. Expect for him to be in the GCL next year but he is a name to watch for the future.
Michael Feliz - RHP - Feliz was originally signed by the A's but tested positive for a banned substance. They voided their 800K contract with him. The Astros took a 1/2 price offer on him and he had to sit out the first 50 games. Since he has come off suspension, he has pitched in 3 games. His ERA in those three games is 4.26 but really he only had one bad inning. He has K'd 13 in 12 2/3, while walking only 3. Seeing as how he is only 16, it might be a stretch to see him stateside but I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the GCL when the season begins.
3 Position Players
Luis De La Rosa - OF - Will turn 19 in January. His average has climbed to .280 for the season but has hit .312 for July & August. He doesn't show much power but has moved to the outfield after being signed as a SS in 2008.
Yonathon Mejia - 2B - Will turn 18 in September. He was signed last year to a signing bonus of 370K. He started hot in May & June but has hit under .200 in July & August. He was a 2010 Mid Season All Star in the DSL.
Fredwin Campusuno - 3b - Has not played but one game since the All Star Break. So I am assuming, there is an injury here. Before he was hurt, he put up a .330 batting average. Way up from his .222 last year.
3 Pitchers
Francisco Baso - RHP - Has improved every year of pro ball. He will be 20 when the season starts next year. He has dominated the league this year. He has been a DSL Mid Season All Star the last two years. He has never started a game but has pitched as much as 5 innings in some outings. In his last 10 outings, he has only given up a run 1 time.
Jose Montero - RHP - The 17 year old started his pro career this season after signing for a bonus of 350K. He has started 12 games and has an ERA of 2.15. He has fanned 46 batters in 54 1/3 IP. Expect for him to be in the GCL next year but he is a name to watch for the future.
Michael Feliz - RHP - Feliz was originally signed by the A's but tested positive for a banned substance. They voided their 800K contract with him. The Astros took a 1/2 price offer on him and he had to sit out the first 50 games. Since he has come off suspension, he has pitched in 3 games. His ERA in those three games is 4.26 but really he only had one bad inning. He has K'd 13 in 12 2/3, while walking only 3. Seeing as how he is only 16, it might be a stretch to see him stateside but I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the GCL when the season begins.
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