Astros prospect Moran fractures jaw

HOUSTON -- Even with a walk-off win at the big league level, the Astros organization got some dour news Thursday night when touted third baseman Colin Moran suffered a non-displaced fracture in his jaw at Double-A Corpus Christi.

Moran, the Astros' No. 6 prospect and a cornerstone of Houston's future infield plans, was sliding back into second base during the top of the first and an errant throw struck him in the neck area. He was immediately removed from the game.

Details are scant regarding how long he will be out, but the injury came just as he was heating up. He recorded a .406 average in his last seven contests and belted nine doubles while driving in 17 runs through 20 games. Still, with Luis Valbuena shoring up the third-base spot in April and a seasoned Matt Dominguez at Triple-A Fresno, Moran was already an unlikely candidate to reach the Major Leagues this season.

The former first-round Draft pick out of North Carolina has already been placed on the disabled list. Infielder Chan Moon moved up from Class A Advanced Lancaster to take his roster spot in Corpus Christi.

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