HOUSTON -- So much for soft landings.
The Astros recalled their No. 9 prospect, outfielder Zach Cole, from the Minor Leagues prior to Monday’s series opener against the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers at Daikin Park. He batted eighth in the lineup and played left field against right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and presumably will be in the lineup Tuesday against Shohei Ohtani.
“If he’s here, he’s going to play, right?” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “Just provide some energy to our lineup -- the power, the speed, the elements of having an impact on the game on both sides of the ball, like Brice [Matthews] has been doing, Cam [Smith] has been doing. We need some of that in the bottom of our order and try to get some people on base for the top of our order.”
Cole provided a major jolt to the lineup last season in his Major League debut on Sept. 12 in Atlanta, when he became the fifth player in club history to homer in his first Major League plate appearance. He slashed .255/.327/.553 with four homers in 15 games for Houston, but struck out 20 times in 52 plate appearances.
Despite the eye-opening debut, Cole didn’t make the club out of camp this year and was sent to Triple-A Sugar Land to work on making more contact. He was 8-for-40 in Grapefruit League play with two home runs and 20 strikeouts. Cole was struck by a pitch in the third game of the season for the Space Cowboys and broke his pinkie toe, sidelining him for about a month.
“Frustrating, of course,” he said. “Obviously, I needed to get some ABs, but it’s still early for me. I only had [29] at-bats total on the season. … So I’m still just continuing to work on some of the feels I want to get for the season, but it’s time to strap it on and go win a game tonight.”
Cole spent about 3 1/2 weeks in Florida rehabbing the injury and moved his rehab to Single-A Fayetteville once he could run full speed. He was 5-for-20 with a homer, five walks and six strikeouts in six games for the Woodpeckers before getting the call back to Houston. He said not making the team out of camp was a “blow,” but he’s happy to be back now.
“I'm just blessed to be wearing any uniform, whether that's Triple-A or Low-A, or in the big leagues,” he said. “It's a blessing to be able to play the game, so I use it as motivation to continue to get better and just continue to work. They told me to continue to work on the approach, making more consistent contact, which I feel like in my last couple games, in my rehab start, I did a great job of. And now we’re here.”
Cole said he’s been working on swing mechanics in an effort to cut down on swings and misses. That starts with his hands, which had been a little late while his feet started on time. He’s moved his hands back to help with that.
“Just getting the swing on time,” he said. “When the swing's on time, the swing decisions have always been pretty good for me so far. So, just making sure that when I do want to pull the trigger and swing at my pitch, that I hit it more often.”
As far as having to face Yamamoto and Ohtani, if Cole is in the lineup Tuesday, Cole said it’s a privilege to face two terrific pitchers and that he’s looking forward to the challenge.
“That's how you have to look at it because, I mean, they're just players,” he said. “I'm just a player, we're on the same field and it's an opportunity for me to see where I'm at, showcase my abilities, and try to help this team win games, because that's what it's all about, you know?
“If I have to be the guy that goes 0-for-4, but we win the game, that's what it's about. If I'm the guy that gets the big hit, then that's awesome. We have so many guys in this clubhouse that can help with that stuff experience-wise, so it's not really like a deer-in-headlights feeling for me. … It’s a challenge to do your best and that’s all I can do.”