One man's trash is another man's Wesley Wright?
One source the Astros have been relying on to rebuild their farm system is other teams' farm systems. Numerous players cut or left unprotected by other teams have been snatched up and plugged into the Houston organization. Here are five players who have taken a shine to being in a Houston-affiliated uniform:
Wesley Wright, LHP(Houston), 24. Wright was picked up in the 2007 Rule 5 draft from the Dodgers for $50,000. Although, he has struggled in 2009 after a steady rookie year, for a left-handed arm, he is a bargain.
More after the jump
Yordany Ramirez, OF(Round Rock), 24. Ramirez was signed after the 2007 season. He fills highlight reels with his defense. He is batting .339 with five doubles for the Express, so maybe his bat is coming around.
Drew Locke, OF(Corpus Christi), 26. Thank the Dodgers again for leaving Locke unprotected in the 2008 Rule 5 draft(minor league phase). He cost the Astros $12,000. He is batting over .400 with 23 RBI and four RBI. He may be a bit old to be a prospect, but for $12,000 he is a good addition in the rebuilding process.
Chirs Minaker, IF(Lancaster), 25. Minaker was released late in Spring Training 2009 and picked up by the Astros. He is hitting .387 with nine RBI for the JetHawks.
Jack Tilghman, RHP(Lexington), 21. Tilghman was drafted and released by the Phillies before the Astros found him pitching for Texarkana in 2008. So far this season, he has a 2.89 ERA with six Ks in 9 1/3 innings.
Ed Wade brought together
a superior scouting system. I that’s his only legacy, he will have been a positive force in Astros history.
Joe in Birmingham - April 30, 2009
Is Lou Palmisano still somewhere in Astros world?
ol Pete - April 30, 2009
I believe he’s on the disabled list in Corpus Christi with an injured shoulder.
AstroAndy - April 30, 2009
He is...
however, a few weeks ago he got sent to Florida to rehab in Spring Training. I don’t know if that means he is getting close to healthy or not.
farm_stros - April 30, 2009
When I was looking at the Hooks' boxscore last night...
I saw Locke’s name followed by hits and RBIs, and I asked myself, “who is that guy?”
Now you answered my question.
Unrelated to the original article, but I I also noticed that Jimmy Von Ostrand hit two home runs in that same Hooks’ ballgame, which was started by Moehler. I wonder if there is any chance Von Ostrand can make it to the big leagues at some point? I have always followed him a bit after he hit the HR off Kershaw in the Futures Game a couple of years ago.
clack - April 30, 2009
Terry Puhl
was one of my family’s favorite players growing up, so it would be awesome if another Canadian was roaming the Astros outfield.
farm_stros - April 30, 2009
Tu es canadienne?
Stephen Higdon - April 30, 2009
I am not Canadian...
Born and raised in Houston, but I did go to school in Milwaukee, eh? We saw Puhl play his first major league game at the Astrodome, so we had an emotional attachment to him after that. He was a solid lead-off hitter and a reliable fielder. I think my parents went to see him manage the UH-Victoria baseball team last season.
farm_stros - April 30, 2009
My Canadian roommate will be disappointed
My dad had that same attachment to Caminetti for the same reason.
Stephen Higdon - May 1, 2009
An update on the Candian, Von Ostrand...
The next day after the 2 homer game mentioned above, he has another 2 HR game. In the first two games of the Hooks’ series in Midland, he has 10 RBIs and raises his batting average from .378 to .418. In the Midland series, Von Ostrand has scored seven runs and posted 6 extra base hits. In the second game, both Von Ostrand homers were solo shots, because the first one followed a HR by Locke and the second one was when he led off an inning.
clack - May 1, 2009
Chirs Minaker and Marcos Cabral
both hit very well in JetHawks.
However, Minaker was 2A in 2007 and Cabral was 3A in 2008, and they are relative old in A+.
They should tear up A+ with Lancaster ballpark advantage.
If they hit in TX League, I might have some hope to them but not in California League.
HubertL - May 1, 2009
Minaker and Cabral are old
for High A indeed. Actually, the likelihood is that Drew Locke is too old too. However, it is encouraging to see fresh players coming in just to fill spots in the lower levels and doing well. Hopefully if the Astros brass can pick out good players that aren’t “prospects”, there is a better chance they will be selecting good “prospects” when it comes draft time, etc.
farm_stros - May 1, 2009
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