Grossman recalled for left field; Hoes optioned

SEATTLE -- Robbie Grossman, who began the year as the Astros' starting left fielder before being sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City two weeks into the season, will rejoin the team Monday in Kansas City after he was recalled Sunday afternoon.

The Astros are bringing back Grossman to start in left field and are optioning struggling outfielder L.J. Hoes to Oklahoma City. Hoes is batting .209 with two homers and six RBIs in 28 games this year and had been starting in left field against left-handed pitchers.

"It gives L.J. an opportunity to get to Oklahoma City and play every day," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "He's been in a platoon pretty much the entire season here, and if you get to this stage and you talk about evaluating your players, if they're not getting consistent at-bats you have to rethink the construction of the roster.

"Robbie went down to Triple-A and he's hitting right at .300, and we feel like him being a switch-hitter and Opening Day starting left fielder, he's got his confidence back, and we're going to give him an opportunity to help our ballclub."

Grossman hit .125 off the bat for the Astros, but was batting .299 with three homers, 10 RBIs and a .373 on-base percentage in 34 games for the RedHawks. Last year, Grossman came up early in the season and struggled (.198 average) as well, before returning to hit .322 with a .816 OPS in the final three months.

"You're eager to get off to a good start and things start to domino a little bit and, defensively, there were a few plays that wore on him as far as plays he didn't make he felt like he should have made," Porter said. "When your confidence starts to go a little bit, we felt at the time it was the best thing to get him down to Oklahoma City and let him get his confidence back. We believe Robbie Grossman is an everyday outfielder. Getting him back is going to be a boost to our ballclub."