Stassi targets first big league action behind plate

HOUSTON -- Rookie catcher Max Stassi, who hasn't played since he suffered a concussion in his second Major League game on Aug. 21, is aiming to get behind the plate at some point this season. Stassi has been catching in the bullpen and took batting practice on the field Saturday, so he's close.

"Everything has gone well," said Stassi before catching Brad Peacock's Sunday bullpen session. "I haven't talked that over with [head athletic trainer] Nate [Lucero] or [manager] Bo [Porter] or have a timeframe. [The media's] guess is as good as mine right now."

Stassi, called up from Double-A Corpus Christi when Carlos Corporan suffered a concussion on Aug. 19, started the next two games at designated hitter, so the Astros haven't even been able to see him catch in a game situation yet.

"Hopefully we can get him clearance to at least get him in a few games before the end of the season," Porter said. "That's part of the reason we called him up when we called him up. This is valuable time. Especially if he gets some playing time and gets to catch some of [the young pitchers], it would help him going into the offseason and into next year."

Stassi has caught Erik Bedard, Jordan Lyles and Peacock in the bullpen so far.

"It was exciting to get out there and learn their stuff a little bit, even though it's only bullpens," Stassi said. "It's always the toughest thing, just not knowing the movement of their pitches. I'm enjoying it."