Astros announce September call-ups

HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros have added six players to the active Major League roster today. The club has recalled outfielder L.J. Hoes, catcher Max Stassi and infielder Jonathan Villar. Additionally, right-handed pitchers Jorge De Leon and Nick Tropeano have been selected to the Major League roster, while left-handed pitcher Darin Downs has been activated from the 15-day Disabled List. To make room for DeLeon and Tropeano on the 40-man roster, the club has designated right-handed pitchers Paul Clemens and David Martinez for assignment. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow.
 
All six players will be in uniform and active for tonight's game. Also, right-handed pitcher Samuel Deduno, who was acquired off waivers on Saturday, will be in uniform and active tonight.
 
Tonight will also mark the first game for Astros interim manager Tom Lawless and new bench coach Adam Everett. Both Lawless and Everett will be made available to the media today at 3 p.m. in the press conference room across from the Astros clubhouse. The Astros clubhouse will open to the media at 3:15 p.m.
 
Hoes, 24, who was the Astros Opening Day right fielder, has played in 52 Major League games across two stints with Houston this season. In 35 games with Triple A Oklahoma City, Hoes hit .297 (38x128) with six doubles, two home runs, 15 RBI, 16 walks and a .381 on-base percentage.
 
Stassi, 23, will be making his first appearance on the Major League roster this season. He played in three games for the Astros last season, going 2x7 with an RBI. In 101 games for Triple A OKC in 2014, Stassi hit .247 (97x392) with 20 doubles, nine home runs and 45 RBI. He was a 2014 Pacific Coast League All-Star and currently ranks as the Astros top catching prospect and Astros No. 19 overall prospect as named by MLB.com.
 
Villar, 23, played in 71 games with Houston after beginning the year as the club's everyday shortstop. He was optioned to Triple A OKC on June 30, and since then posted a .258 (49x190) average with 24 steals and 27 RBI in 51 games for the RedHawks. He walked 31 times for a .363 on-base percentage.
 
De Leon, 27, posted a 4-5 record with five saves and a 3.01 ERA (23ER/68.2IP) in 46 games with Triple A OKC (31g) and Double A Corpus Christi (15g) this season. In his 31 games with OKC, De Leon went 3-3 with 3 saves and a 2.63 ERA (14ER/48IP). De Leon spent 54 days with the Astros last season, appearing in 11 games.
 
Tropeano, 24, is making his debut on a Major League roster after going 9-5 with a 3.03 ERA (42ER/124.2IP) in 23 games (20 starts) with Triple A OKC this season. A 2014 PCL All-Star, Tropeano posted 120 strikeouts in his 124.2 innings pitched, while allowing a .202 opponent's batting average at the Triple A level. Tropeano was originally a fifth-round pick in the June 2011 draft.
 
Downs, 29, returns to the club after making two rehab appearances with Corpus Christi (1.2IP). He's been out since Aug. 15 with a right oblique strain. Downs has made 40 appearances with the Astros this season, posting a 4.31 ERA (15ER/31.1IP). He's held lefties to a .210 (13x62) batting average.
 
Clemens, 26, made 13 Major League appearances across five stints for the Astros this season. He spent the majority of his 2014 season at Triple A OKC, making 19 appearances (five starts).
 
Martinez, 27, made three appearances for the Astros this season, which all came during a week-long Major League stint in July. He pitched 22 games with the RedHawks in 2014, including 13 starts.
 
With the addition of De Leon and Tropeano, and the removals of Clemens and Martinez, the Astros 40-man roster remains full. Houston now has 32 players on their active roster.