Heitor Tokar went 4.1 IP with 1 H 0 R 4Ks. In 8.1 IP this year he's now allowed 1H 1 BB with 5Ks. None of the top 17 year old pitchers the Astros signed who have played (Tokar, Lopez, and Cobos) have given up an earned run this year.
It's a shame he doesn't throw harder. The FB movement, location and deception is there, the slider is there, his change is his new weapon this year, but the guy is a righty who really doesn't break 90.
J.J. Matijevic is currently 2-3 with a two-run homer (5, 8 season) for Buies Creek. Hector Perez: 6.2 IP, 2 H (solo HR allowed), 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 12 K
So far Whitley has gone four scoreless, striking out 5, allowing 1 hit, walking none. I watched him pitch the 4th...he relied almost entirely on his fastball, didn't seem to trust his curve or change - threw one of each out of the zone. Fastball is totally dominant though. Struck out the side.
Josh Rojas hit a two-run homer (4, 5 season) and Alex De Goti hit two homers (5; solo and three-run) in Corpus Christi's 11-1 thrashing of Frisco. Rojas finished 3-5 on the night while the two homers represented both of De Goti's hits. Randy César singled in his final at-bat to extend his hitting streak to 30 games.
Did they ever really say what was wrong with him, other than "bad hand/elbow/arm thing"? I looked but never found much.
I’m trying to temper my expectations on Whitley, but if he keeps utterly dominating the competition every time he goes out there, it’s hard not to get very excited about what he can bring to the Astros in a postseason run this year and, of course, beyond. His success comes at the perfect time too because it gives us all the leverage with Keuchel this offseason.
His performance is encouraging, as he represents a new core piece and will certainly be a part of the rotation next season. I have no problem at all counting on replacing Keuchel with Whitley next season. I just wish Martes or another high ceiling pitcher in the upper minors would make a claim to Morton’s spot (although I don’t see any reason why Morton couldn’t be resigned).
Jairo Lopez allowed a hit and struck out five over three scoreless innings in the Dominican. It was already stated earlier, but he was one of seven kids who got $300,000 in the previous IFA signing period. This is what Ben Badler of Baseball America wrote about Lopez in the Astros' international review:
Oh hell no on a minor league guy replacing Charlie next year. He is a part of the core and needs to be signed again. I hope some of the other prospect arms get rolling and become contributors. Let’s pump the brakes on letting Charlie go though
Jake Adams has two two-run homers for Buies Creek tonight, his first two in the Carolina League. Adams now has 10 home runs between both A clubs this season.
Any ideas on when Myles Straw may get promoted to AAA? He could be useful as a 4th OF/pinch runner later in the season/postseason.
White, Reed, Davis, and Fisher are all killing it in AAA. If I were a team in need of a long term bat I’d definitely be checking the price on them. It makes sense for Houston to keep 1 or 2 of those guys for another season or 2 but if they got offered a huge ceiling complex league guy for one of those 4 they should take it.
Until something happens with Tucker, Ferguson, or Fisher, I doubt Straw will be promoted. They’re not going to move him up unless he will be able to play everyday without lessening another important prospects time. Could happen at the deadline, but for now my prediction is that he will be in AA for the rest of this season.
Really hope Reed gets another shot. Sick of Jake getting ABs at this point. Would like to see White up as well, but prefer Reed comes up first.
