Astros minor league thread

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Post anything regarding the Astros MiLB players or Astros' MiLB affiliations here.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

The Lancaster JetHawks have extended its player development contract agreement with the Houston Astros and will be the major league club's high-A affiliate for the next two years. The Astros affiliation began in 2009 when the two organizations signed a four-year agreement to place Houston's high-A affiliate in the California League for the first time in over 40 years.

In the four years that the JetHawks and Houston have been partners, several players have gone on to play at the Major League level, including Jose Altuve and Jason Castro, two young phenoms for the Astros major league club.

The Houston organization's other Minor League affiliates are located in Oklahoma City, OK (AAA), Corpus Christi, TX (AA), Lexington, KY (low A), Tri-Cities, NY (short season A) and Greenville, TN (Rookie).

The JetHawks have had three other Major League partners in the franchise's 17-year history. Prior to Houston's arrival in 2009, the JetHawks had a two-year partnership with the Boston Red Sox, which followed a six-year affiliation with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2001 - 2006 and five-year partnership with the Seattle Mariners from 1996 - 2000.

Over 100 former JetHawks have moved on to the Major League level during Lancaster's existence, including notables Brandon Webb, Justin Masterson, Mark Reynolds, Dan Uggla, Carlos Gonzalez and Carlos Quentin, and has reached the California League playoffs in nine of the club's 17 years.

[astrosfanatic]

George Springer is hitting .264 with 3 HR and 11 RBI in Fall League play. He hasn't looked all that good but had a big 2 HR game last night

[catman]

Astros' Organizational All Stars: http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp...vkey=news_milb

[astrosfanatic]

Thanks for posting this catman!!

I am excited about some of these prospects progress. It's been a while since Astros fans have seen this much success at MULTIPLE levels in the minors. It really gives us hope for a stronger farm system that will replenish the team with talent when others leave.

Folty has to have had the most impressive year last year of all the pitchers. Not only did he put up the great stats, but he put up the good stats in a heavy hitter's league. It's a good sign. He will like pitching in Corpus a lot more.

RHP CJ Lo will be a guy to keep an eye on. The hard throwing South Korean has returned from Tommy John and is back to his hard throwing ways. He was the one big signing for the Astros a couple years back when they "boosted" their Pacific Rim scouting (which has subsequently fizzled). I am hoping that he can be an in-house option to close games here soon.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Jim Crane says the Houston Astros could be part of a move to place a Triple-A Pacific Coast League team in The Woodlands, an affluent Houston suburb, reversing the decision made by Drayton McLane, Jr. to oppose any such moves.

“Something closer (to Houston) could certainly enhance the brand,” Crane told the Houston Chronicle. Right now the Astros' top farm team is the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League).

Officials from both Sugar Land and The Woodlands, along with existing Minor League Baseball owners, had approached former Astros owner McLane about placing a Triple-A team in the Houston suburbs, only to be rebuffed. In Sugar Land's case, city officials worked out a deal with Peter Kirk and Opening Day Partners to place a team at a city-financed ballpark; Constellation Field was a tremendous success, with the Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League). In addition, Montgomery County -- which includes The Woodlands -- had an agreement with Ventura Sports to finance a new independent American Association ballpark; that effort fell through, but there were further talks with the Atlantic League about a new ballpark.

And we're guessing Crane saw that success (which included a comeback from Roger Clemens) and decided the Astros could benefit as well.

It's way too early to discuss potential relocation candidates, but there is at least one PCL team on that market that could conceivably be moved to The Woodlands. (No, we're not going to identify the team.)

For Crane, a dive into MiLB ownership is a way to extend the Astros brand. “We don’t own [our farm teams], so we’d have to step up and buy them and move them around and we’re looking at all those options,” Crane told the Chronicle. “Because we feel if we control those options, it’s better for our partners and better for our fans."

[wcs71401]

I live 10 minutes away from the Astros Single-A affiliate (Tri-City ValleyCats). I covered them for three seasons. Hunter Pence was there in 2004. I wasn't covering games then but I was there as a fan. I started in 2006 (Bud Norris, Chris Johnson, Jordan Parraz, Brian Bogusevic, Jason Castro, etc...) it is crazy to see so many people that have come through my backyard essentially in the bigs now for the Astros and for other teams.

[astrosfanatic]

Why build a new stadiun when Sugar Land has one and can accomodate a AAA team right now? Curious.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Why build a new stadiun when Sugar Land has one and can accomodate a AAA team right now? Curious.

I wonder if the Skeeters want to move. I wonder what is more expensive; buying out an Indy team or building a new stadium.

[astrosfanatic]

I wonder if the Skeeters want to move. I wonder what is more expensive; buying out an Indy team or building a new stadium.

That is a good question