Astros call up red-hot Hoes, option Wojciechowski

SAN DIEGO -- The Astros want to get rookie right-hander Asher Wojciechowski back on track and felt they needed an extra position player for their series against the Padres in a National League park, which led them to call up outfielder L.J. Hoes on Monday and option Wojciechowski to Triple-A Fresno.

Hoes was off a great start at Fresno, hitting .418 with a .458 on-base percentage and 12 RBIs in 15 games, including a five-hit game last week. He'll be used primarily off the bench as an extra outfielder.

"It's exciting," Hoes said. "I'm happy to be here and contribute any way I can."

Hoes said the reason for his hot start was two-fold: he credited a Fresno lineup that includes Preston Tucker, Domingo Santana, Jon Singleton and Matt Duffy, as well as an adjustment he made.

"I went to winter ball this year and tried to get back to the approach I had in 2013 when I got traded here," he said. "Last year, I tried to pull the ball more and do things that are not my game. This year, I wanted to focus on using the whole field."

Wojciechowski began the year in the rotation and has gone 0-1 with a 7.31 ERA in four games (three starts). Astros manager A.J. Hinch said long reliever Sam Deduno could start Friday, as well as Triple-A arms Jake Buchanan or Dan Straily.

"We need to get Wojo back on track," he said. "His stuff wasn't as crisp as he was in Spring Training. He hasn't gone deep into any games. ... [The roster move] was a combination of wanting to get Wojo back to what made him successful in the spring, why he made our team to begin with, and L.J. was the hottest guy down there to come up and play off the bench for us."

As for left-hander Brett Oberholtzer, who's rehabbing from a blister in Kissimmee, Fla., Hinch said he would need to be built up to 90 pitches before being called up. He threw about 35 pitches in three innings recently and could be sent out to continue his rehab at a Minor League affiliate soon.