HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros player development department has named IF AJ Reed the Astros Minor League Player of the Month for August, and RHP Cristian Javier the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August.
Reed, 24, had a scorching August, as he hit .290 (27x93) with four doubles, 11 home runs, 22 RBI and a 1.073 OPS (.385 OBP/.688 SLG) in 25 games for the Triple A Fresno Grizzlies. The first baseman led all Pacific Coast League hitters in home runs during the month, while ranking fifth in OPS. On the season, Reed led the minor leagues with 34 home runs. This marks the second time in his career that he has led the minor leagues in home runs, as he also hit 34 homers in 2015 with Double A Corpus Christi and Class A Advanced Lancaster. His 34 home runs this season marked a new Fresno franchise record, while his 104 RBI rank tied for fifth in Fresno franchise history.
Javier, 20, went 2-0 with one save, a 1.75 ERA (5ER/25.2IP), 33 strikeouts and a .138 opponent batting average in five outings in August for the Class A Quad Cities River Bandits. The right-handed pitcher was scoreless in each of his final three starts during the month, including a 5.0-inning, one-hit, 10-strikeout performance on Aug. 26 vs. Cedar Rapids. Javier advanced through three levels of the Astros system this year, combining to post a 3-0 record with a 2.25 ERA (15ER/60IP), 80 strikeouts and a .179 opponent batting average in 14 games (9 starts) with Class A Advanced Buies Creek (2g), Class A Quad Cities (8g) and Class A Short Season Tri-City (4g).
ASTROS MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
April OF Kyle Tucker
May OF Derek Fisher
June IF Tyler White
July IF Abraham Toro-Hernandez
August IF AJ Reed
ASTROS MINOR LEAGUE PITCHERS OF THE MONTH
April RHP Franklin Perez
May RHP Hector Perez
June RHP Forrest Whitley
July RHP Rogelio Armenteros
August RHP Cristian Javier
-ASTROS-