HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros player development department has named OF Kyle Tucker the Astros April Minor League Player of the Month and RHP Franklin Perez the Astros April Minor League Pitcher of the Month.
Both players were recognized for their tremendous performances which have helped push the Class A Advanced Buies Creek Astros to the best record in the Carolina League at 19-10 (.655).
In 23 games in April, Tucker batted .301 (25x83) with seven doubles, three triples, three homers, 23 RBI, six stolen bases and a .939 OPS (.372 OBP/.566 SLG). The 20-year-old led the Carolina League in RBI and finished tied for first in extra-base hits (13) during the month despite being one of the four youngest position players in the league. The fifth overall selection in the 2015 draft, Tucker currently ranks among the top 10 Carolina League players in RBI (2nd), stolen bases (T-3rd), total bases (5th), triples (T-5th), doubles (T-6th), homers (T-6th), slugging percentage (7th), and OPS (9th).
Perez, 19, tossed 14.1 scoreless innings across three April appearances (two starts), striking out 14 batters and allowing just three hits and three walks. Among his outings was a 4.0-inning save on April 14 at Wisconsin in which he did not allow a single baserunner. Perez allowed just one hit over 5.1 scoreless innings in his first start of the season on April 9 vs. Wisconsin, and struck out seven with two hits and no walks allowed over 5.0 scoreless innings in a start on April 20 at Carolina.
Perez currently leads all Carolina League pitchers in opponent batting average (.065, 3x46, min. 10IP). At 19 years old, he is the second-youngest pitcher in the entire Carolina League.
-ASTROS-
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