GCL Astros 2017

[Nate Colbert]

It's still preliminary (particularly short some pitchers), but a GCL roster is starting to shape up. As expected, several players initially on the Greeneville roster (such as Enmanuel Valdez and Juan Pineda) have now been assigned to the GCL. A further look later at notable names on the team.

Season starts tomorrow.

[Nate Colbert]

Some of the more interesting names on the club:

• RHP Chad Donato--last year's 11th round pick out of WVU who has yet to pitch due to recovery from TJS.
• LHP Javier Navas--Venezuelan signed for $175K back in 2014.
• C Ihan Bernal--Astros spent $155K on the Panamanian back in 2014.
• INF Jonathan Matute--signed for $245K out of Venezuela in 2013.
• INF Juan Pineda--Panamanian signed for $100K in 2014.
• INF Enmanuel Valdez--signed for $450K in 2015 out of the DR.
• OF Cesar Cortez--signed for $100K in 2015 out of Panama.
• OF Hector Martinez--Dominican signed for $300K in 2014.
• OF Nestor Muriel--6th rounder of the Astros in 2015 out of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in PR who has had major struggles with the bat in his two previous years in the GCL.
• OF Ronny Rafael--up from the DSL (where he had spent all or part of 3 seasons), he signed for $1.5MM three years ago.

[Nate Colbert]

2017 draftees C Nathan Perry (5th) and RHP Matthew Merrill (37th) along with NDFA Tanner Duncan assigned to the club.

Also being brought up from the DSL club is 21-year old RHP Ronaldo Marrero. He was an infielder in the Phillies organization who was released by them last August. He was signed by the Astros last month and converted to pitcher. In 18 IP in the Dominican, he had a 1.47 ERA and 0.71 WHIP with 13 whiffs vs 3 walks.

Merrill, Duncan and Marrero all saw their first action in today's game. And it was the kid from the club team with the best performance of any Astros' pitcher on the day--retired all 6 batters he faced, 2 by strikeout.

[Nate Colbert]

3rd round pick RHP Tyler Ivey (Grayson CC, Texas A&M prior to that) assigned to the club today. He started this afternoon's game, going 2 scoreless innings with 2 walks and 1 hit allowed to go along with 3 Ks.

[Nate Colbert]

2017 draftees C Nathan Perry (5th) and RHP Matthew Merrill (37th) along with NDFA Tanner Duncan assigned to the club.

Also being brought up from the DSL club is 21-year old RHP Ronaldo Marrero. He was an infielder in the Phillies organization who was released by them last August. He was signed by the Astros last month and converted to pitcher. In 18 IP in the Dominican, he had a 1.47 ERA and 0.71 WHIP with 13 whiffs vs 3 walks.

Merrill, Duncan and Marrero all saw their first action in today's game. And it was the kid from the club team with the best performance of any Astros' pitcher on the day--retired all 6 batters he faced, 2 by strikeout.

Duncan does it again! In his second outing, retires all 9 batters he faced including 4 by whiffs.

[Nate Colbert]

14th round pick OF Carlos Diaz (17-year old out of Puerto Rico) assigned to the club today.

[Nate Colbert]

• RHP Chad Donato--last year's 11th round pick out of WVU who has yet to pitch due to recovery from TJS.

Made his first professional appearance today, tossing 2/3 of an inning while walking one and K'ing one.

[Nate Colbert]

17-year old RHP Jairo Solis, signed out of Veneuzuela for $450K last year, moves stateside. He had 28 Ks vs 8 BBs in 26 IP for the DSL Orange squad this season. He'll be the youngest player on the Astros GCL roster.

Also moving up from the DSL is another Venezuelan righty,  20-year old Nivaldo Rodriguez. He had an 0.35 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 26 innings down there (29 Ks vs 6 BBs).

[Nate Colbert]

Like the stated plan for JB Bukauskas, 2nd rounder Corbin Martin has been assigned here.

[Nate Colbert]

This year's 4th rounder RHP Peter Solomon assigned here today while LHP Kit Scheetz was moved up to the V-Cats.

[Nate Colbert]

• OF Nestor Muriel--6th rounder of the Astros in 2015 out of the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy in PR who has had major struggles with the bat in his two previous years in the GCL.

Muriel, who signed for $250K after being drafted, was released. A collective .137/.254/.185 in his 3 years in the GCL.

[Nate Colbert]

This year's 29th rounder (and overslot signee) OF Andres Santana has been assigned here. He started in CF in today's game and goes 2-4 in pro debut..

[Reuben]

Muriel, who signed for $250K after being drafted, was released. A collective .137/.254/.185 in his 3 years in the GCL.

Muriel since you left town
The clubs closed down
And there's one more burned out lamppost
On Main Street
Down where we used to stroll

And Muriel
I still hit all the same old haunts
And you follow me wherever I go

And Muriel I see you
On a Saturday night
In a penny arcade
With your hair tied back
And the diamond twinkle
Is in your eye
Is the only wedding ring that I'll buy you
 Muriel

And Muriel how many times
I've left this town
To hide from your memory
And it haunts me

But I only get as far
As the next Whiskey bar
I buy another cheap cigar
And I'll see you every night

Hey Muriel  Muriel
Hey buddy
Got a light?

[moriartp]

Muriel, who signed for $250K after being drafted, was released. A collective .137/.254/.185 in his 3 years in the GCL.

One of the youngest players in his draft class, wasn't he? Going for the youngest guys (relative to their competiton) works great in the aggregate—the Astros' cradle robbing under Luhnow has worked out well so far—but you end up with some pretty spectacular busts that way too.

[Nate Colbert]

11th rounder Brandon Bielak assigned here (for now, anyway).

[Nate Colbert]

Like the stated plan for JB Bukauskas, 2nd rounder Corbin Martin has been assigned here.

Martin debuted today, retiring all 6 batters he faced (5 by whiff).

Brandon Bielak also debuted, K'ing 4 while allowing a couple of base hits in 2 scoreless innings.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Muriel since you left town
The clubs closed down
And there's one more burned out lamppost
On Main Street
Down where we used to stroll

And Muriel
I still hit all the same old haunts
And you follow me wherever I go

And Muriel I see you
On a Saturday night
In a penny arcade
With your hair tied back
And the diamond twinkle
Is in your eye
Is the only wedding ring that I'll buy you
 Muriel

And Muriel how many times
I've left this town
To hide from your memory
And it haunts me

But I only get as far
As the next Whiskey bar
I buy another cheap cigar
And I'll see you every night

Hey Muriel  Muriel
Hey buddy
Got a light?

I love Tom Waits.

[Nate Colbert]

22-year old Venezuelan righty Diosward Gonzalez moves up from the DSL. After putting up some mediocre results in his 2 prior years down there, finally put up some decent numbers this season (1.62 ERA and 0.99 ERA in 33 IP with 37 Ks and 9 BBs) to earn a shot stateside.

[Reuben]

I love Tom Waits.

Me too. I managed to see him play in 2006 (?) in Asheville when he was doing this brief tour of mid-size southeastern cities. A great experience.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Me too. I managed to see him play in 2006 (?) in Asheville when he was doing this brief tour of mid-size southeastern cities. A great experience.

I met him on that same tour.  Came into the store where I was working.  Was fascinated with our taxidermy (of course).  My coworker didn't recognize him, and asked Waits what he did for a living. "Wellll, I live in LA, and I have my kids.  And I do my thing."

[Knoxbanedoodle]

Me too. I managed to see him play in 2006 (?) in Asheville when he was doing this brief tour of mid-size southeastern cities. A great experience.

That's awesome that you saw that show! I have several friends who tried but IIRC it sort of set a tone for fastest-to-sell-out events at the time.

[Nate Colbert]

2nd rounder Corbin Martin has been assigned here.

Martin debuted today, retiring all 6 batters he faced (5 by whiff).

No strikeouts today, but Martin threw 3 scoreless/hitless innings.

[Nate Colbert]

Comings and goings today:

• 1st rounder JB Bukauskas officially assigned to the club.
• 10th rounder Kyle Serrano also officially assigned here.
• 2nd rounder Corbin Martin moved up to TRC.
• 11th rounder Brandon Bielak also moved up to the V-Cats.
• RHP Juan Corniel (3.00 ERA, 1.13 WHIP) moved up to Greeneville.
• 1B/OF Angel Tejada (5th in DSL in OPS) moves stateside.
• 1B/OF Jose Benjamin (.377/.416/.696) moved up to Greeneville.

[Nate Colbert]

Bukauskas made his professional debut today in a game suspended after one inning due to rain. Gave up no runs on a hit and a walk while K'ing 2.

[Nate Colbert]

10th rounder Kyle Serrano, who hadn't pitched in 4 months and was bound to be a bit rusty, walked 4 (but also K'd 2) in 2/3 of an inning in his pro debut today.

[Nate Colbert]

Bukauskas made his professional debut today in a game suspended after one inning due to rain. Gave up no runs on a hit and a walk while K'ing 2.

Threw 4 scoreless innings today, giving up 3 hits while K'ing 3 and walking 1.

[Nate Colbert]

OF Cesar Cortez and INF Ozziel Sanchez-galan both suspended.

RHP Matthew Merrill re-assigned from Greeneville.

[Nate Colbert]

Bukauskas made his professional debut today in a game suspended after one inning due to rain. Gave up no runs on a hit and a walk while K'ing 2.

Threw 4 scoreless innings today, giving up 3 hits while K'ing 3 and walking 1.

Just to clarify--that was a continuation of the rain-suspended outing. Threw 3 innings yesterday and the 4 innings represented his cumulative effort both days.

[Nate Colbert]

OF Cesar Cortez and INF Ozziel Sanchez-galan both suspended.

Both activated and played in today's game.

RHP Chad Donato was moved up to Greeneville.

[Nate Colbert]

SSS to be sure but after getting just 2 hits in 27 ABs over his first 9 games, this year's 5th rounder C Nathan Perry over his last 10 games: .320/.367/.600 with a 10% walk rate and 6.7% strikeout rate.

[Jacksonian]

NIck Tanielu is in the GCL at the outset of his rehab.