The Astros agreed to contracts with a pair of international free agents out of Mexico, 18-year-old right-hander Jose Luis Bravo and 17-year-old left-hander Juan Pablo Lopez, the team announced Wednesday.
The 6-foot-2 and 185-pound Bravo had been pitching in the system of Los Diablos Rojos del Mexico, a Mexican League team based in Mexico City.
In a team release, Astros director of international Oz Ocampo said Bravo's "mound presence is impressive for his age and he isn't afraid to go right at hitters. He has a sharp curveball and a deceptive changeup, and throws his fastball up to 91 miles per hour."
The 6-foot-4 and 180-pound Lopez had also been signed by Los Diablos, and this season was pitching at the Mexican League Academy in Monterrey. Lopez started the Academy's All-Star Game after striking out 71 batters in 53 2/3 innings.
"He uses his 89-91 mph fastball to attack righties inside, and he goes after lefties with his biting slider that has a tight spin," Ocampo said of Lopez. "He also has an effective changeup that he commands well, giving him several weapons to change speed and plane."