GCL Astros 2014

[Duman]

Talk about them here.

[Nate Colbert]

Roster has shown up here.

[Nate Colbert]

Where do the 2014 GCL Astros (non injury-rehabbers) come from?

RHP Harold Arauz (DSL Astro in 2013)
RHP Juan Delis (DSL Astro in 2013)
RHP Justin Ferrell (36th-rounder, 2014)
LHP Junior Garcia (DSL Astro in 2013)
LHP Kyle Gehrs (NDFA, 2014)
RHP Elieser Hernandez (DSL Astro in 2013)
LHP Christian Perdomo (originally a NDFA signing in 2013 by the Red Sox, presumably released and then picked up by the Astros)
LHP Ben Smith (17th-rounder, 2014 who won't pitch this season due to TJS)
LHP Alejandro Solarte (came from the Blue Jays in the Adron Chambers trade)
RHP Aaron Vaughn (NDFA, 2014)

C Marlon Avea (DSL Astro in 2013)
C Jake Bowey (International signee, Australia)
C Ruben Castro (19th-rounder, 2014)
C Pedro Coa (GCL Astro in 2013)
C Richard Gonzalez (29th-rounder, 2014)
C Brian Pena (DSL Astro in 2013)

3B Randy Cesar (DSL Astro in 2013)
2B Will Dupont (the other piece in the Adron Chambers trade)
2B Jean Estrella (GCL Astro in 2013)
1B Dex McCall (31st-rounder, 2014)
3B Arturo Michelena (DSL Astro in 2013)
SS Kristian Trompiz (DSL Astro in 2013)

OF Edwin Medina (33rd-rounder, 2014)
OF Brauly Mejia (DSL Astro in 2013)
OF Alexander Melendez (DSL Astro in 2013)
OF Luis Payano (DSL Astro in 2013)
OF Hector Roa (GCL Astro in 2013)

[chuck]

If they'd just sign another catcher or two I think they'd be all set.

[Nate Colbert]

If they'd just sign another catcher or two I think they'd be all set.

They're trying to give every pitcher their own personal catcher (just haven't quite made it there yet).

[VirtualBob]

Where do the 2014 GCL Astros (non injury-rehabbers) come from?

Thanks for posting!!

[Nate Colbert]

17 year old Aussie Jake Bowey made his professional debut today and went 2-4 with a double and an RBI. Signed for a modest $40K signing bonus last year, he's listed as a catcher but played 1B today.

Elieser Hernandez, a 19 year old Venezuelan who had a .99 WHIP and 1.26 ERA in the DSL last season, was the starting pitcher in his US debut and threw four scoreless innings.

Box

[Nate Colbert]

Two pitchers assigned to the club today for rehab work: Colton Cain and Kyle Weiland. When the latter pitches, it'll be his first activity in an actual game (spring training aside) since April 21, 2012.

A refresher on Weiland.

[juliogotay]

Two pitchers assigned to the club today for rehab work: Colton Cain and Kyle Weiland. When the latter pitches, it'll be his first activity in an actual game (spring training aside) since April 21, 2012.

A refresher on Weiland.

Thanks for posting that. It was an interesting read. I found it interesting that Luhnow expects him to be on the Astros sometime in 2014.

[Reuben]

Thanks for posting that. It was an interesting read. I found it interesting that Luhnow expects him to be on the Astros sometime in 2014.

If he and White and Crain all wind up on the Astros active roster at the same time, the universe's head might explode.

[astrosfan76]

Vince Velasquez made his third rehab start yesterday and should be about ready to go back to Cali.  He allowed 1 hit and 1 walk (0 runs) in 4 innings, striking out 10. 

[Ebby Calvin]

Vince Velasquez made his third rehab start yesterday and should be about ready to go back to Cali.  He allowed 1 hit and 1 walk (0 runs) in 4 innings, striking out 10. 

I'll call it: he's ready.

[VirtualBob]

Just noticed that two infielders, Osvaldo Duarte & Will Dupont have both been moved to the 60-day DL.  Anyone know the stories?  They do not appear related.  Duarte was replaced mid-game on July 19 and Dupont last played on July 8. 

[Nate Colbert]

17 year-old SS Joan Mauricio promoted in his first professional season from the DSL. Debuted today for the GCL stros and went 0-2 with a walk.

[moriartp]

17 year-old SS Joan Mauricio promoted in his first professional season from the DSL. Debuted today for the GCL stros and went 0-2 with a walk.

Ooh, neat. He was in the "helium watch" section of BA's weekly shot sheet a while back.

[VirtualBob]

GCL Astros end the season with a hitless walk off win in the 12th:

Joan Mauricio walks.
With Luis Payano batting, Joan Mauricio steals (4) 2nd base.
Luis Payano out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Graham Ramos to first baseman R. J. Johnson. Joan Mauricio to 3rd.
Jorge Martinez out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Kevin Alexander. Joan Mauricio scores.

They finished at 28-32, last place in the GCL Northeast, 7 games behind the Yankees 2nd squad.  (The Yankees 1st squad won the Northwest, so there does not seem to be too much talent dilution for them at this level.)

The Astros promoted a bunch of guys during the season and also hosted an unusually large number of rehab pitchers.  Add to that the "stats don't matter at this level" mantra, and I am not really worried about the future ... at least not on account of the last place finish here.

[Reuben]

Plus, 28-32 is not a typical "last place" type record. A 2-game swing from being .500.

[Nate Colbert]

Francis Martes comes in at #19 on BA's Gulf Coast League Top 20 Prospects List.

From the chat transcript:

Dustin (Houston): How close was Harold Arauz of the GCL Astros to making this list? I felt that outside of a couple of poor outings, he had a very impressive US debut.

Ben Badler: He’s an interesting sleeper, but not a real candidate for this list. He’s a strike-thrower who throws a ton of cutters that get up to the low-90s that he uses to get weak contact. The guy from the Astros that jumped out was Osvaldo Duarte, who the Astros signed last year out of the Dominican Republic after he wasn’t registered with MLB the year before. He’s an athletic guy who played center field and shortstop for them with speed, a strong arm and good bat-to-ball skills with a line-drive stroke, although the size and power potential are limited. But he’s definitely one to watch.