I have been tracking the Astros minor league system since their rookie affiliate move to Greeneville in 2004. This year, 4 players from that team were promoted to Houston. That sounded impressive to me but I had no frame of reference so I went back and checked the promotion rates of the rookie league teams in the Astros system back to 1991.
I found that this is the first time 4 players have been promoted to Houston from the same team in their careers much less in the same year. There have been teams that have put 7 players in the majors (95, 96 & 97). The only team to put 3 players in Houston unis prior to the 2004 Greeneville team is the 1996 GCL Astros, who placed Wade Miller (99), Tony McKnight (00), & Jerome Robinson (02). That is 3 players in 3 different years.
Since I spent the time digging up the info, I thought I would share it with you
Here are the totals of players who played on the rookie level team together who have made it to the Majors. Also included on the more recent list are players who are still active in the org but haven’t made it to the bigs. Some of those guys have shots and some don’t. I am not a good judge of that. I had marked Ryan Reed to be released last spring training and wrote off Beau Torbert after his year in Greeneville. Therefore, I listed all who played on the team that are still active in Minor League Baseball.
GCL Astros
1991 (5)
Edgar Ramos (Phillies 97)
Bobby Abreu (Astros 96-97, Phillies 98-06, Yankees 06-07)
Chuck Smith (Florida 00-01)
Danny Young (Cubs 00)
Alvin Morman (Astros 96,Cleveland 97-98, Indians 98, KC 99)
1992 (5)
Sean Runyan (Tigers 98-00)
Hector Mercado (Cincy 00-01, Phillies 02-03)
Mike Grzanich (Astros 98)
Melvin Mora (Mets 99-00, Baltimore 00-07)
Richard Hidalgo (Astros 99-04, Mets 04, Texas 05)
1993 (3)
Chris Truby (Astros 00-01, Expos 02, Detroit 02, Tampa 03)
Sean Runyan (Tigers 98-00)
Hector Mercado (Cincy 00-01, Phillies 02-03)
1994 (6)
Carlos Hernandez (Astros 99, Seattle 00)
Oscar Robles (Dodgers 05-06, San Diego 07)
Ramon Castro (Marlins 99-04, Mets 05-07)
Alejandro Freire (Baltimore 05)
Tony Mounce (Texas 03)
Scott Elarton (Astros 98-01, Rockies 01-04, Cleveland 04-05, KC 06-07)
1995 (7)
Aaron Miles (White Sox 03, Rockies 04-05, Cards 06-07)
Tony McKnight (Houston 00,01; Pittsburgh 01)
Freddy Garcia (Seattle 99-04, White Sox 05-06, Phillies 07)
Edgar Ramos (Phillies 97)
Carlos Gullen (Seattle 98 – 03, Tigers 04-07)
Mike Rose (A’s 04, Dodgers 05, St. Louis 06)
Barry Wesson (Houston 02, Angels 03)
1996 (7)
Aaron Miles (White Sox 03, Rockies 04-05, Cards 06-07)
Wade Miller (Houston 99 –04, Boston 05, Cubs 06-07)
Pedro Santana (Tigers 01)
Jerome Robinson (Astros 02-03, Indians 04)
Felix Escalona (D-Rays 02-03, Yankees 04-05)
Tim Hamulack (Mets 05, Dodgers 06)
Tony McKnight (Houston 00,01; Pittsburgh 01)
1997 (7)
Felix Escalona (D-Rays 02-03, Yankees 04-05)
Donaldo Mendez (San Diego 01, 03)
Jason Alfaro (Houston 04 for 7 games)
Wilfredo Rodriguez (Houston 01)
Roy Oswalt (Houston 01 to present)
Tim Hamulack (Mets 05, Dodgers 06)
Johan Santana (Twins 00 to present)
1998 (4)
Jason Alfaro (Houston 04 for 7 games)
Roy Oswalt (Houston 01 to present)
John Buck (KC 04 to present)
Rodrigo Rosario (2 games for the Astros in 03)
Martinsville
1999 (3)
Carlos Hernandez (Houston 01,02, & 04)
Rodrigo Rosario (2 games for Astros in 03)
Santiago Ramirez (4 games for Washington 06)
2000 (2)
Eric Bruntlett (Houston 03-07)
Mike Burns (Houston 05, Cincy & Boston 06)
2001 (3)
D. J. Houlton (Dodgers 05, 07)
Wandy Rodriguez (Astros 05-07)
Fernando Nieve (Astros 06)
2002 (3)
Nieve
Matt Albers (Astros 07)
Mark McCLemore ( Astros 07)
Still active in org:
Chance Douglass (07 – CC, RR)
Paul Estrada (07- RR)
Rodrigo Escobar (07 – Salem)
Osvaldo Fernando (07- Salem, CC, RR)
2003 (2)
Felipe Paulino (Astros 07)
Juan Gutierrez (Astros 07)
Still in org:
Marc Saccamanno (07 –RR)
Ronnie Martinez (07 – CC)
Chance Douglass
Raymar Diaz (07 – Salem)
Paul Estrada
Douglas Arguello (07- Lex)
Ryan McKeller (07- Salem, CC)
Jimmy Barthmaier (07 – CC)
Active but in different org:
Mitch Talbot (AAA D-Rays)
Greeneville
2004 (4)
Felipe Pauline
Juan Gutierrez
Troy Patton (Astros 07)
J. R. Towles (Astros 07)
Still in org:
Ole Sheldon (07 Salem)
Neil Sellers (07 CC)
Wlad Sutil (07 Salem)
Mitch Einertson (07 Salem)
Jordan Parraz (07 Lexington)
Ryan Reed (07 Salem)
Beau Torbert (07 CC, RR)
Brad James (07 Salem, CC)
Enyelbert Soto (07 Salem, CC)
Ryan Thompson (07 CC)