Non-Roster Invitees

[Nate Colbert]

Per Astros press release:

IF Alex Bregman, RHP Jake Buchanan, IF J.D. Davis, RHP Chris Devenski, OF Derek Fisher, C Tyler Heineman, RHP James Hoyt, RHP Jordan Jankowski, OF Jon Kemmer, IF Tony Kemp, RHP Brendan McCurry, IF Colin Moran, C Roberto Pena, IF A.J. Reed, RHP Brady Rodgers, IF Joe Sclafani and IF Tyler White.

McCurry came in the Jed Lowrie trade with the A's.

Astros also announced a couple of signings that also involve spring training invites: OF Eury Perez and RHP Cesar Valdez.

Perez, 25, has played in the Majors in each of the last four seasons with Atlanta (2015), the Yankees (2014) and Washington (2012-13). Last year with Atlanta, he played in a career-high 47 games, batting .269 (32x119) with a .331 on-base percentage while appearing in 29 games in left field, six in right field and three in center field. He also played 64 games at Triple A Gwinnett where he hit . 297 (70x236) with a .370 on-base percentage.

Valdez, 30, made 23 starts for Tabasco in the Mexican League last season, going 11-6 with a 2.63 ERA (47ER/160.2IP), 161 strikeouts and 28 walks. A veteran of nine professional seasons, Valdez made nine Major League appearances with Arizona in 2010, including two starts.

[Reuben]

Kemmer had a fantastic year at Corpus in '15. Nice to see him get an invite. I wonder if he's on the Astros' radar as a legit prospect, because he doesn't make any prospect lists (or hasn't yet).

[Reuben]

MLBTR has a brief analysis of Eury Perez:

While he’s always been light on power, the center field-capable Perez has shown quite a bit of speed in the minors and owns a .307/.358/.402 batting line in 1,115 Triple-A plate appearances. He was once a fairly highly-regarded prospect with the Nationals and could still have some function in the majors if he can reach base enough.

[JimR]

Valdez, 30, made 23 starts for Tabasco in the Mexican League last season


awesome sauce

[Fredia]

did you know that term was added to the oxford dictionary
maybe we should add it to the funk and wagner

[Nate Colbert]

Chris "The Dragon" Devenski and the Circle of Death

Nope, not an article about a cheesy '90s martial arts flick. It is a nice milb.com article profiling Devenski, though actually not much on the pitch for which he's known. Did have this comment from Rodney Linares:

"He's always had a 'Bugs Bunny changeup' -- that really good changeup, but his command was sporadic. When you're not a guy who's throwing 100 mph, 95-plus, you can get hurt if you start elevating and all that. But I think the biggest change for him has been his fastball command and his willingness to use his breaking ball for strikes and also commanding it."

[Nate Colbert]

INF Danny Worth signed to minors deal with ST invite, says the Chron. Rode the merry-go-round between AAA and the majors (Tigers) in 2010-2014. Spent all of 2015 at AAA Reno in the D-Backs org.

[Nate Colbert]

"...and Cotts is battling with Edwar Cabrera and Kevin Chapman for a possible second lefty spot."

Link

Noted Cabrera's signing as a MLFA last month over here in the Bus Ride but forgot he's also in big league camp as an NRI.

[Nate Colbert]

Hinch liked what he saw from James Hoyt today:

"He's got a really good breaking ball, a really good split. His arm strength is up. He didn't play as much winter ball. He had an exceptional second half at Triple-A. He's very intriguing with how he can impact the hitter."

That back half at Fresno being referred to: 31/4 strikeout to walk in 22.2 IP with just 14 hits allowed.