Enoli Paredes #52

Full name is pronounced: eh-NOH-lee puh-RAY-diss...Signed by the Astros as a 20-year-old non-drafted free agent on Oct. 15, 2015...signed by Astros scouts Oz Ocampo and Roman Ocumarez...Nicknamed “Little Pedro” after Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez...the two share similar statures, upper 90’s fastballs and a Dominican descent...while compared to Martinez by others, Paredes idolized another Dominican righty with his stature, former Royals hurler Yordano Ventura, who passed in 2017...Paredes and Ventura are both from the same Dominican province of Samaná...Has also earned the nickname “Cannoli” after participating in a minor league promotion while at Class A Fayetteville in 2019...the company behind the promotion, Sweet Martha’s, runs a concession stand at Fayetteville’s Segra Stadium...in honor of Italian Night, the team asked Enoli to pose with a tray of Sweet Martha’s cannolis, creating Enoli’s Cannolis...prior to the shoot, Enoli had never heard of a cannoli...while the promotion has stuck with Enoli, he did not stick around for it himself, as he was promoted to Corpus Christi prior to the Woodpeckers game that night...A native of the Dominican, Paredes grew up a Spanish speaker and did not begin learning English until signing with the Astros...he looks for opportunities to practice his English and does all his interviews in English...Added to the Astros 40-man roster on Nov. 20, 2019... spent the entire 60-game 2020 season in the Majors, accumulating 1.000 full year of service time...used his second of his three option years in 2022.

2022

Had a strong season at Triple A Sugar Land, where he went 5-4 with 12 saves and a 2.63 ERA (16ER/54.2IP)...struck out 81 in 54.2 innings, while allowing a .176 opponent average...named Sugar Land’s Reliever of the Year...Had a week-long stint in the Majors from June 28- July 4...made three apps. for the Astros, in which he closed out three blowout victories...allowed one run in his 3.0 MLB innings for a 3.00 ERA.

2021

Split his season between the Majors (12g) and Triple-A (26g), while also making a four-game rehab stint at Double-A Corpus Christi..Made the Astros OPENING DAY roster, his second consecutive...pitched on Opening Day, April 1 at OAK, tossing 1.0 inning, allowing an unearned run... was the first reliever used by the Astros in 2021. ..Made three appearances for the Astros in April before being sidelined with right side soreness on April 9...rehabbed with the Hooks and was activated on May 16...made another nine appearances before hitting the IL on June 11 with a right shoulder strain...rehabbed at Sugar Land before being activated and optioned to Triple-A on July 3...would make the rest of his appearances on the season at Triple-A...returned for a three-day stint in the Majors from Sept. 1-3, but did not pitch...Struggled with his command at the Major League level, walking 17 in his 8.2 innings pitched...also struck out 15 Major League hitters...allowed just seven hits for a .212 opponent batting average...Had huge strikeout numbers at Triple-A, fanning 38 in 27.1 innings with the Skeeters...issued 20 walks... posted a 4.28 ERA (13ER/27.1IP) in Triple-A action...Following the season, pitched for Escogido in the Dominican Winter League, making four appearances and posting a 1-0 record and a 4.15 ERA (2ER/4.1IP)...struck out three and walked four.

2020

Made his Major League debut with the Astros, showcasing his electric stuff in 22 appearances out of the bullpen...struck out 20 batters in 20.2 innings...was scoreless in 16 of his 21 games...Held left-handed hitters to a .143 (6x42) opponent batting average with just one extra-base hit (triple) and a .408 OPS (.217 OBP/.190 SLG)...Posted a 2.08 ERA (3ER/13IP) in 13 one-run games...Made his Major League debut on July 24 vs. SEA, tossing a scoreless 9th inning while working around a leadoff single...became the third Dominican-born pitcher in team history to make his Major League debut on Opening Day, joining Julio Solano (1983) and Joaquin Andujar (1976)...Was scoreless in five of his seven POSTSEASON appearances, posting a 5.14 ERA (4ER/7IP)...gave up just three hits for a .136 opponent batting average (3x22)...threw scoreless outings in all three of Houston’s wins in the ALDS against the A’s, capturing holds in Games 1 and 2...pitched in four games during the ALCS (4ER/3.1IP).

2019

Appeared in 22 games between Class A Advanced Fayetteville (10g) and Double A Corpus Christi (12g) including 12 starts...recorded a 2.78 ERA (29ER/94.0IP) with a career-high 128 strikeouts and a 0.98 WHIP...was named to the Carolina League Mid- Season All-Star team after posting a 1.64 ERA with Fayetteville.

2018

Pitched in 24 games between Quad Cities (16g) and Buies Creek (8g)...posted a career-low 1.43 ERA (11ER/69.0IP) with 90 strikeouts and just 29 walks...also recorded pristine 0.91 WHIP and allowed just one homer.

2017

Spent the entire season with Quad Cities where he posted a 2.11 ERA (38.1IP/9ER) with a 0.89 WHIP...was also named to the Midwest League Midseason All-Star Team.

2016

Pitched his first professional season with the GCL Astros...appeared in 12 games, posting a 3.74 ERA (14ER/33.2IP) with 46 strikeouts and no home runs allowed...was named the GCL Astros Player of the Month for August after posting a 1.38 ERA (2ER/13.0IP) with 21 strikeouts.