Astros prospect Brito returns to form in Fall League debut

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Anderson Brito can stake a claim to being the Astros' best pitching prospect. It's a lot easier to make that case now that he's back on the mound.

The Venezuelan right-hander hadn't pitched since June 21 after coming down with a stress reaction in his right shoulder, but he returned to the mound Friday afternoon in the Arizona Fall League. The Astros' No. 7 prospect went 2 2/3 innings for the Scottsdale Scorpions in a 10-2 trouncing of the Mesa Solar Sox, giving up two runs on two hits and three walks but also striking out five, including the last three batters he faced.

"I'm happy with the outcome," Brito said via an interpreter, Scorpions manager Rene Rivera, the former big league catcher who skippered Single-A Lakeland this season. "There are always some adjustments you have to make but I feel good about what I did today. It had been almost three months since I pitched, so I'm excited to get out there again."

Houston made eight straight playoff appearances from 2017-24, winning seven American League West titles, four pennants and two World Series championships. One of the keys to its success was its ability to find bargain pitchers on the international market, including Bryan Abreu ($40,000), Ronel Blanco ($5,000), Luis Garcia ($20,000), Cristian Javier ($10,000), and Framber Valdez ($10,000).

Brito could be the next in that line. Signed in November 2023 for $10,000 at age 19 -- old by international standards -- he has posted a 2.36 ERA, a .177 opponent average and 147 strikeouts in 103 innings during his two pro seasons. He struck out 31 percent of the hitters he faced in High-A this year before getting shut down.

Against the Solar Sox, Brito showed that his velocity was back by ranging from 96-100 mph with four-seam fastballs and 93-95 mph with occasional two-seamers. His command of both versions of his heater was inconsistent -- both singles he allowed came off 99-mph four-seamers -- but his secondary pitches were sharp.

After barely throwing his 85-88 mph splitter during the regular season, Brito threw six of eight for strikes versus Mesa and notched three of his strikeouts with it. He also grabbed strikes with eight of his 11 sweepers, working at 87-89 mph.

"I felt good with the fastball but it was a little bit off," Brito said. "I felt good with my secondary pitches, especially my splitter, so I used it a little bit more. While I was on my rehab assignment, I worked on my secondary pitches a lot. I know what I can do with my fastball, so in my first start I was working on using my secondary pitches."