Astros announce Minor League Players of the Month for July
HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Astros Player Development Department has named the following Players of the Month for July: Oklahoma City: RHP Mickey Storey, IF Jimmy Paredes, OF Brandon Barnes; Corpus Christi: RHP Jason Stoffel, IF Jonathan Singleton, OF Drew Locke; Lancaster: RHP David Martinez, OF George Springer; Lexington: RHP Murilo Gouvea, IF Delino DeShields Jr., OF Justin Gominsky; Tri-City: RHP Aaron West, OF Andrew Aplin, IF Jesse Wierzbicki; Greeneville: RHP Francis Ramirez, IF Jean Batista, IF Brian Blasik; Gulf Coast League: RHP Michael Feliz, IF Darwin Rivera, IF Carlos Correa; Dominican Summer League: RHP Johan Arias, OF Jarico Reynoso, OF Mesac Laguna. These awards are chosen every month by the field staff of each team.
Triple A Oklahoma City
RHP Mickey Storey, Pitcher of the Month: 2-2, 1.93 ERA (4ER/18.2IP), 24 SO, 5 BB, .214 (15x70) opp. avg. in 13 app. in July
IF Jimmy Paredes, Offensive Player of the Month: .350 (36x103), 19 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 5 SB, .965 OPS in 25 games in July
OF Brandon Barnes, Defensive Player of the Month: 58 games in the outfield, .983 FP (3E/172TC), 2 assists this season
Notes: Mickey Storey received his second consecutive Pitcher of the Month award...the right-hander allowed just four earned runs in 18.2 innings over 13 appearances in July...did not allow an earned run in his final seven appearances during the month, spanning 10.1 innings (7/17-30)...walked just five batters in July and has issued a mere 14 walks in 65.0 innings this season...has compiled a 7-4 record on the year with a 3.05 ERA (22ER/65.0IP) and 72 strikeouts in 38 appearances (two starts)...currently ranks second on the team in wins...Jimmy Paredes hit .350 in the month of July with a .402 on-base percentage and a .563 slugging percentage...the switch-hitter had 13 multi-hit games during the month and had a 10-game hitting streak from 7/15-24...was named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week on 7/23 after hitting .500 (17x34) with one double, three homers and nine RBI in seven games...was named to the PCL All-Star Team...is hitting .327 (138x422) on the season and currently ranks tied for second in the PCL with 31 stolen bases...Brandon Barnes has posted a .983 fielding percentage with two outfield assists in 58 games in the outfield with Oklahoma City this season...has committed just three errors in 172 total chances.
Double A Corpus Christi
RHP Jason Stoffel, Pitcher of the Month: 1-0-8, 2.45 ERA (3ER/11.0IP), 13 SO, 3 BB, .238 (10x42) opp. avg. in 12 appearances in July
IF Jonathan Singleton, Offensive Player of the Month: .347 (33x95), 21 R, 9 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 1.022 OPS in 28 games in July
OF Drew Locke, Defensive Player of the Month: 51 games in the outfield, 1.000 FP (0E/102TC), 3 assists this season
Notes: Jason Stoffel posted a 2.45 ERA and recorded eight saves in July...currently ranks second in the Texas League with 21 saves in 23 save opportunities...has a 2.53 ERA (13ER/45.1IP) on the season with 44 strikeouts...was named a Texas League All-Star...Jonathan Singleton hit .347 with a .443 on-base percentage and a .579 slugging percentage in July...went 3x4 with one walk, one RBI and two runs scored for the USA Team in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on 7/8...took home his second Texas League Player of the Week award on 7/9 after hitting .412 (7x17) with four doubles, one triple and one homer in five games...was selected to the Texas League All-Star Game...is hitting .281 (103x366) with 14 homers on the season...currently ranks second in the league with 69 walks...Drew Locke has not made an error in 51 games and 102 total chances in the outfield for Corpus Christi this year...has three outfield assists.
Class A Advanced Lancaster
RHP David Martinez, Pitcher of the Month: 2-1, 3.09 ERA (11ER/32.0IP), 24 SO, 5 BB, in 5 appearances (4 starts) in July
OF George Springer, Offensive Player of the Month: .389 (42x108), 27 R, 7 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 9 SB, 1.121 OPS in 27 games in July
OF George Springer, Defensive Player of the Month: 99 games in center field, .992 FP (2E/241TC), 7 assists this season
Notes: David Martinez posted a 3.09 ERA in five appearances (four starts) in July...did not allow a run in 13.0 innings from 7/20-25...dating back to 6/10, has posted a mark of 0.98 walks per 9.0 innings (7BB/64.0IP)...George Springer posted a .389 batting average with a .464 on-base percentage and a .657 slugging percentage during the month of July...had a 16-game hitting streak that stretched from 6/23-7/8 where he hit .455 (30x66) with 10 extra base hits, 11 walks and six steals...was a California League All-Star...is hitting .324 (134x413) with 97 runs, 18 doubles, nine triples, 22 homers, 55 walks and 27 steals on the season...currently ranks tied for second in the California League in home runs...Springer was also named the Defensive Player of the Month for Lancaster...in 99 games in center field, has posted a .992 fielding percentage with seven outfield assists.
Class A Lexington
RHP Murilo Gouvea, Pitcher of the Month: 0-3-3, 4.08 ERA (8ER/17.2IP), 21 SO, 5 BB, .212 (14x66) opp. avg. in 11 app. in July
IF Delino DeShields Jr., Offensive Player of the Month: .380 (41x108), 28 R, 7 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 20 SB, 1.042 OPS in 27 games in July
OF Justin Gominsky, Defensive Player of the Month: 73 games in the outfield, .964 FP (6E/165TC), 12 assists this season
Notes: Murilo Gouvea posted a 4.08 ERA and struck out 21 batters in 17.2 innings over 11 appearances in July...allowed just two runs over his final eight appearances in the month for a 1.20 ERA (2ER/15.0IP)...has four saves on the season with a 3.26 ERA (24ER/66.1IP) and 75 strikeouts in 42 appearances...Delino DeShields Jr. hit at a .380 (30x99) clip and swiped 20 bases in 27 games in July...drew 17 walks and posted a .468 on-base percentage during the month...currently leads the South Atlantic League with 77 steals and 91 runs scored...had a combined .343 (71x207) batting average in June and July after hitting .252 (51x202) during the first two months of the season...set a Lexington record for the most steals in a season with his 49th stolen base on 6/23...was named to the SAL All-Star Team...Justin Gominsky has posted a .964 fielding percentage in 73 games in the outfield for Lexington this year.
Short Season Class A Tri-City
RHP Aaron West, Pitcher of the Month: 4-0, 1.24 ERA (4ER/29.0IP), 27 SO, 3 BB, .190 (20x105) opp. avg. in 5 starts in July
OF Andrew Aplin, Offensive Player of the Month: .343 (35x102), 20 R, 6 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 15 BB, 10 SB, 1.020 OPS in 26 games in July
IF Jesse Wierzbicki, Defensive Player of the Month: 40 games at 1B, 3 games at 3B, .986 FP (5E/370TC), 36 assists this season
Notes: Aaron West posted a 4-0 record and a 1.24 ERA in five starts in July...the 2012 17th round pick is 6-0 with a 1.05 ERA (5ER/43.0IP) and 41 strikeouts on the season...has issued just five walks...currently leads the New York-Penn League in wins and WHIP (0.74)...ranks second in the league in ERA...Andrew Aplin hit .343 (35x102) with 13 extra base hits in July...the 2012 fifth-rounder currently leads the NYPL in batting average (.367), OPS (1.025) and stolen bases (18)...Jesse Wierzbicki has a .986 fielding percentage in 43 total games in the infield at Tri-City...has made just five errors in 370 total chances.
Rookie Level Greeneville
RHP Francis Ramirez, Pitcher of the Month: 3-2, 1.97 ERA (7ER/32.0IP), 39 SO, .219 (25x114) opp. avg. in 6 starts in July
IF Jean Batista, Offensive Player of the Month: .309 (30x97), 14 R, 9 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 5 SB, .515 SLG in 27 games in July
IF Brian Blasik, Defensive Player of the Month: 30 games at 2B, 5 games at 3B, .980 FP (3E/153TC), 15 DP turned this season
Notes: Francis Ramirez went 3-2 with a 1.97 ERA and 39 strikeouts in six starts in July...currently leads the Appalachian League with 47 strikeouts...Jean Batista posted a .309 (30x97) batting average with 13 extra base hits in July...ranks fifth in the Appy League with a .327 (53x162) batting average...leads the league with 14 doubles...Brian Blasik has a .980 fielding percentage in 35 total games in the infield for Greeneville...has turned 15 double plays in 30 games at second base.
Gulf Coast League
RHP Michael Feliz, Pitcher of the Month: 3-0, 1.96 ERA (5ER/23.0IP), 23 SO, 6 BB, .185 (15x81) opp. avg. in 4 starts in July
IF Darwin Rivera, Offensive Player of the Month: .374 (34x91), 15 R, 9 2B, 2 HR, 11 BB, .987 OPS in 26 games in July
IF Carlos Correa, Defensive Player of the Month: 31 games at shortstop, .929 FP (11E/155TC), 21 DP turned this season
Notes: Michael Feliz earned three wins with a 1.96 ERA and 23 strikeouts in four July starts...is 5-0 on the season with a 1.64 ERA (7ER/38.1IP) and 35 strikeouts in seven games (three starts)...leads the Gulf Coast League in ERA and ranks third in innings pitched...was recently promoted to Rookie Level Greeneville...Darwin Rivera hit at a .374 (34x91) clip with nine doubles and two homers in July...currently ranks fourth in the GCL with a .333 (45x135) average...Carlos Correa has turned 21 double plays in 31 games at shortstop this year...the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft has posted a .929 fielding percentage.
Dominican Summer League
RHP Johan Arias, Pitcher of the Month: 0-0, 2.49 ERA (6ER/21.2IP), 18 SO, 5 BB in 5 apps. (2 starts) in July
OF Jarico Reynoso, Offensive Player of the Month: .288 (21x73), 5 R, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 4 BB in 21 games in July
OF Mesac Laguna, Defensive Player of the Month: 37 games at 1B, 25 games in OF, .986 FP (4E/291TC)
Notes: Johan Arias went 0-0 with a 2.49 ERA and 18 strikeouts in the month of July...has put up a 3.83 ERA (17ER/40.0IP) on the season...Jarico Reynoso hit .288 (21x73) with two doubles and five RBI in July...Mesac Laguna has played in 37 games at first base and 25 games in the outfield...made just three errors in 263 total chances for a .989 fielding percentage at first base...in his 25 games in the outfield, has a .964 fielding percentage (1E/28TC) with two assists.