Author Topic: GCL Astros 2018 (Read 5274 times)

Nate Colbert · « **on:** June 18, 2018, 10:08:32 pm »

Opened up play today with a 6-3 loss.

3B Joe Perez (last year's 2nd-round pick and 53rd overall) went 1-2 with 2 walks in his pro debut. He's coming off TJS. Was hitting in the 3rd spot in today's game.

Other 2017 draft picks on the roster include 5th-rounder C Nathan Perry, 10th-rounder Kyle Serrano (the former Vols' pitcher) and 29th-rounder OF Andres Santana (who signed for $250K, 7th-largest bonus among Astros' picks last year).

5th-overall prospect Freudis Nova ($1.2MM bonus) was at SS and hit leadoff in his stateside debut, going 1-5.

International signees OF Wilyer Abreu ($300K), SS Yorbin Cueta ($1MM), RHP Angel Macuare ($695K), SS Deury Carrasco ($480K), C Nerio Rodriguez ($450K) and INF/C Gerry Castillo ($400K) are also on the roster.

And then there's Cuban RHP Elian Rodriguez, who cost the Astros $3.8MM in bonus + tax last year. He walked 30 in 25 innings in 2017 pitching in the DSL.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2018, 05:07:41 pm »

CF Juan Ramirez saw his first action today with a single and walk in 3 trips. The 19-year old Ramirez came from Detroit in the Verlander trade. Originally signed for $185K, last year for the GCL Tigers he had 20 walks vs 14 strikeouts while batting .301 in 46 games.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2018, 05:56:23 pm »

Why does milk atbst not allow access to GCL? Grrr.

Reuben · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2018, 05:59:35 pm »

Thanks, Nate. I’d forgotten all about Elian Rodriguez. Hope he can find the plate this year. Is that $3.8m official “cost” the most the Astros have ever paid for an international signing, besides Gurriel? I seem to remember Ariel Ovando held that distinction for a while, something like $2.7m.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2018, 06:28:07 pm »

Quote from: Reuben on June 19, 2018, 05:59:35 pm

Thanks, Nate. I’d forgotten all about Elian Rodriguez. Hope he can find the plate this year. Is that $3.8m official “cost” the most the Astros have ever paid for an international signing, besides Gurriel? I seem to remember Ariel Ovando held that distinction for a while, something like $2.7m.

Priciest int'l signees (mostly off the top of my head and does exclude Yuli):

Cionel Perez--$4MM
Yordan Alvarez--$4MM
Elian Rodriguez--$3.8MM
Anibal Sierra--$3MM
Ariel Ovando--$2.6MM
Gilberto Celestino--$2.5MM
Freudis Nova--$2.4MM
Yorbin Cueta--$2MM

All amounts include the tax (if any). And the Dodgers technically paid the tax on Alvarez, flipping him to the Astros 2 months after signing him (and without him having played for them).

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2018, 04:13:33 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on June 18, 2018, 10:08:32 pm

And then there's Cuban RHP Elian Rodriguez, who cost the Astros $3.8MM in bonus + tax last year. He walked 30 in 25 innings in 2017 pitching in the DSL.

He walked 6 in his GCL debut today over 2.2 innings.

chuck · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2018, 04:51:48 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on June 21, 2018, 04:13:33 pm

He walked 6 in his GCL debut today over 2.2 innings.

Apparently you CAN walk your way off the island.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #7 on:** June 27, 2018, 04:16:48 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on June 18, 2018, 10:08:32 pm

5th-overall prospect Freudis Nova ($1.2MM bonus) was at SS and hit leadoff in his stateside debut, going 1-5.

The 18-year old today with his 2nd homer in 8 games (he hit 4 in 47 games last year in the DSL).

Not something you see everyday--just 1 strikeout in 25 ABs thus far. Zero walks.

Fynn · « **Reply #8 on:** June 29, 2018, 09:12:32 pm »

Surprised to see Bukauskas pitched today for 1.2 innings. Gave up 5 hits and 2 ER.
Seems this will be a tedious season.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #9 on:** July 06, 2018, 12:23:41 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on June 18, 2018, 10:08:32 pm

Other 2017 draft picks on the roster include 5th-rounder C Nathan Perry, 10th-rounder Kyle Serrano (the former Vols' pitcher) and 29th-rounder OF Andres Santana (who signed for $250K, 7th-largest bonus among Astros' picks last year).

A Serrano sighting today: just his 2nd pro appearance and 1st in 2018.

Lefty · « **Reply #10 on:** July 14, 2018, 04:06:26 pm »

Nate, have you heard anything about Elian Rodriguez (RHP, 21 YO from DR, 1st season in the States) getting a start at DH yesterday? Possible move to a position?

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #11 on:** July 14, 2018, 07:56:11 pm »

Quote from: Lefty on July 14, 2018, 04:06:26 pm

Nate, have you heard anything about Elian Rodriguez (RHP, 21 YO from DR, 1st season in the States) getting a start at DH yesterday? Possible move to a position?

They screwed up the box score--it was Nerio Rodriguez batting cleanup.

Lefty · « **Reply #12 on:** July 14, 2018, 09:16:08 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on July 14, 2018, 07:56:11 pm

They screwed up the box score--it was Nerio Rodriguez batting cleanup.

That makes a hell of a lot more sense, thanks.

Lefty · « **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2018, 11:48:07 am »

Any word on Joe Perez's absence after he played a handful of games early this month?

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #14 on:** July 26, 2018, 01:26:44 pm »

Tough way to start your pro career--27th rounder C Juan Paulino 0-19 with 9 whiffs.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2018, 01:56:11 pm »

INF Ronaldo Urdaneta (signed for $60K out of Venezuela in 2015) over his last 15 games: .385/.458/.635 with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers and 12-0 in SBs.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #16 on:** August 03, 2018, 06:02:07 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on July 27, 2018, 01:56:11 pm

INF Ronaldo Urdaneta (signed for $60K out of Venezuela in 2015) over his last 15 games: .385/.458/.635 with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers and 12-0 in SBs.

Updated: over last 17 games, .426/.485/.672 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 2 homers and 14-0 in SBs.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #17 on:** August 06, 2018, 01:55:10 pm »

2nd rounder Jayson Schroeder now with 9 straight scoreless innings to start off his career.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #18 on:** August 07, 2018, 01:44:17 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on August 06, 2018, 01:55:10 pm

2nd rounder Jayson Schroeder now with 9 straight scoreless innings to start off his career.

And Ernesto Jaquez with 8 scoreless IP since he's been stateside. Combined GCL/DSL:

44 IP
11 H
1 ER
10 BB
59 K

Astrofan59 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2018, 06:33:29 am »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on August 07, 2018, 01:44:17 pm

And Ernesto Jaquez with 8 scoreless IP since he's been stateside. Combined GCL/DSL:
44 IP
11 H
1 ER
10 BB
59 K

That's impressive

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #20 on:** August 15, 2018, 03:37:52 pm »

17th rounder (2017) and ex-Commodore RHP Matt Ruppenthal was sent to the GCL on rehab assignment. He pitched in the game today, going an inning while surrendering a run on 2 hits and whiffing 2.

This is the first time Ruppenthal has pitched this season. I believe that WTHB had reported earlier he had undergone surgery to transpose the ulnar nerve in his right elbow in early April.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #21 on:** August 24, 2018, 07:38:13 pm »

Last year's 14th rounder OF Carlos Diaz suspended 56 games for PED use. He was batting .202/.278/.221 this year after putting up relatively similar numbers last year.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #22 on:** August 24, 2018, 10:34:39 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on August 24, 2018, 07:38:13 pm

Last year's 14th rounder OF Carlos Diaz suspended 56 games for PED use. He was batting .202/.278/.221 this year after putting up relatively similar numbers last year.

Sounds like a case of “nothing to lose”.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #23 on:** August 25, 2018, 05:14:27 pm »

The club dropped the season finale today to finish one game under .500.

The only player of note offensively was SS Freudis Nova who finished .308/.331/.466. The team OPS ranked next to last in the 18-team league.

Like every other affiliate, the pitching staff were the stars ranking 3rd in the GCL with a 1.30 WHIP. Besides 2nd round pick Jayson Schroeder (who walked 9 in 18 innings), a trio of 17/18 year-old Dominican righties are probably the names to know. Manny Ramirez had a 46/15 K to BB in 34 IP. Previously-noted Ernesto Jaquez finished with 70 Ks vs 14 Ws in 53 combined IP between the GCL/DSL while allowing just 19 hits. And Alfredi Jimenez's numbers in the DSL/GCL weren't too far behind: 55.1 IP / 35 H / 13 BB / 63 K.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #24 on:** August 25, 2018, 11:26:52 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on August 25, 2018, 05:14:27 pm

The club dropped the season finale today to finish one game under .500.

The only player of note offensively was SS Freudis Nova who finished .308/.331/.466. The team OPS ranked next to last in the 18-team league.

Like every other affiliate, the pitching staff were the stars ranking 3rd in the GCL with a 1.30 WHIP. Besides 2nd round pick Jayson Schroeder (who walked 9 in 18 innings), a trio of 17/18 year-old Dominican righties are probably the names to know. Manny Ramirez had a 46/15 K to BB in 34 IP. Previously-noted Ernesto Jaquez finished with 70 Ks vs 14 Ws in 53 combined IP between the GCL/DSL while allowing just 19 hits. And Alfredi Jimenez's numbers in the DSL/GCL weren't too far behind: 55.1 IP / 35 H / 13 BB / 63 K.

And Ramirez promptly up to TC where he pitched well tonight.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #25 on:** August 26, 2018, 05:49:16 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on August 25, 2018, 05:14:27 pm

Previously-noted Ernesto Jaquez finished with 70 Ks vs 14 Ws in 53 combined IP between the GCL/DSL while allowing just 19 hits.

A second promotion this season with the move up to the V-Cats as they fight for a postseason berth.