WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Right-hander Rogelio Armenteros will start the Astros' Grapefruit League opener on Friday against the Nationals at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday morning.
Armenteros, 23, had arguably the best Minor League season among all Astros pitching prospects in 2017, posting a 10-4 record and a 2.04 ERA in 24 games (20 starts) between Triple-A Fresno and Double-A Corpus Christi, where he had a 1.93 ERA and was a Midseason All-Star in the Texas League. He struck out 146 over 123 2/3 innings across the two levels and finished 2017 as Houston's No. 19 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
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"I wanted to reward him for a great season," Hinch said. "I think he led our Minor Leagues in strikeouts. He's one of the more unheralded prospects that we have and we want to get a first look at him and reward him with a start."
The first few days of games will be dominated by Houston's younger pitchers, as the veteran starters will be brought along more slowly.