Signed by the Astros as an 18-year-old non-drafted free agent out of La Victoria, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on March 18, 2015...was signed by Astros scouts Oz Ocampo, Roman Ocumarez and Leocadio Guevara...Transitioned to pitching from the outfield as a 16-year-old...Received the nickname “El Reptil” (the reptile) during his time in the Astros minor league system, due to his poise and calm demeanor when facing tough situations while on the mound...Was selected to the Astros 40-man roster on Nov. 20, 2019...is signed to a one-year contract through the 2021 season.
2020
23-year old made his Major League debut, making 10 starts and two relief appearances while finishing third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting...Posted the highest finish by an Astros pitcher in the Rookie of the Year voting since Roy Oswalt finished in second in the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year voting...Went 5-2 with a 3.68 ERA (21ER/51.1IP), 18 walks, 48 strikeouts and a .188 opponent batting average (34x181) across his 10 starts...Allowed just 36 hits in his 54.1 innings pitched, good for a .188 opponent batting average (36x192)...led all AL rookies and ranked fourth among AL pitchers in opponent batting average (min. 150 batters faced), behind only Shane Bieber (.167), Kenta Maeda (.168) and Lucas Giolito (.184)...Recorded the third-best WHIP by a rookie pitcher in club history (0.99), behind only Chris Devenski’s (0.91 in 2016) and Bill Dawley (0.92 in 1983)...Posted the third-best opponent batting average by a rookie in franchise history (min. 200 batters faced)...only Billy Wagner (.165 in 1996) and Bill Dawley (.185 in 1983) posted better marks as rookies...Had the seventh-lowest hard-hit ball rate in MLB (29.3%, min. 100 batted balls)...Among AL pitchers with at least 150 batters faced, ranked seventh in WHIP (0.99)...Led all AL rookies in ERA (min. 150 batters faced), and opponent average, and ranked tied for fourth in wins, tied for second starts, fourth in innings pitched and third in strikeouts (54)...Gave up three runs or less in nine of his 10 starts...OPENING DAY: Made his first career Opening Day roster...Made his MLB debut on July 25 vs. SEA, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning of relief...Made his first career Major League start on July 29 vs. LAD (1ER/5.2IP)...struck out Max Muncy, Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger to open up the game...per Elias, became the second pitcher in Astros history to strike out the first three batters he faced in his first Major League start, joining Frank DiPino (Sept. 7, 1982 vs. SD)...Became the first Astros pitcher to allow two hits or fewer in at least 5.0 innings in his first Major League start since Jarred Cosart on July 12, 2013 vs TB...Was also the first Astros pitcher to allow one run or fewer in at least 5.0 innings in his first Major League start since Vince Velasquez on June 10, 2015...Gave up just 10 hits over his first four Major League starts for a .147 opponent batting average (10x68)... marked the fifth-best opponent batting average over a pitcher’s first four MLB starts in franchise history, behind Taylor Buchholz (.134), Darryl Kile (.138), Tom Griffin (.143) and Mike Madden (.146)...Struck out five Dodgers hitters over 2.0 scoreless innings of relief on Sept. 13 at LAD...became the third rookie reliever to strike out five-plus Dodgers hitters in an Interleague game, joining Baltimore’s Dylan Bundy (7 K’s on July 6, 2016) and Boston’s Casey Fossum (5 K’s on June 23, 2002)...POSTSEASON: Made five relief appearances in the postseason across all three rounds, going 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA (3ER/9.1IP), five walks and 13 strikeouts...The Astros went 5-0 in his appearances...Both of his wins came in series-clinching games (ALDS Game 4 vs. OAK, Wild Card Series Game 2 at MIN), making him the second pitcher in club history to record two wins in series-clinching games in a single postseason, joining Charlie Morton (2017)...Became the sixth pitcher in MLB history to earn the win without allowing a run in multiple series-clinching games in a single postseason, joining Mike Stanton (2000), Derek Lowe (2004), Jeremy Affeldt (2014), David Robertson (2017) and Ryan Madson (2018)...Began his postseason career with 6.1 scoreless innings, spanning three outings...WILD CARD SERIES AT MIN: Threw 3.0 scoreless frames in the series-clinching Game 2 to bridge the gap to Ryan Pressly for the save...earned the win, striking out two with two walks...ALDS VS. OAK: Pitched in Games 1 and 4, earning holds in both Astros wins...threw 1.0 scoreless frame in Game 1, and 2.1 scoreless in Game 4.
2019
Appeared in 26 games, including 18 starts, across three Minor League levels: Class A Advanced Fayetteville (7g) Double A Corpus Christi (17g) and Triple A Round Rock (2g)...recorded a 1.74 ERA (22ER/113.2IP) with 170 strikeouts and a 0.97 WHIP...among all minor league pitchers with at least 100.0 inning pitched, ranked first in opponent batting average (.130), second in ERA, third in strikeout rate (37.7%), sixth in strikeouts and eigth in WHIP...2018: Spent the season between Quad Cities (11g) and Buies Creek (14g) where he posted a 2.70 ERRA (33ER/110.0IP) with 146 strikeouts...was named the Midwest League Player of the Week for the week of May 27, after tossing 10.0 innings of four-hit ball with 18 strikeouts in two appeareances...2017: Played in just 14 games, including seven starts, between Buies Creek (2g), Tri-City (4g) and Quad Cities ( 8g)...posted a 2.25 ERA (15ER/60.0IP) with 80 strikeouts...allowed just three homers and recorded a save in his only opportunity... 2016: In just his second professional season, appeared in 13 games with six starts, recording a 2.29 ERA (13ER/51.0IP) with 66 strikeouts and a 1.02 WHIP....was named Appalachian League Pitcher of the Week for the week of Aug. 14, after tossing 9.0 innings of three-hit ball with 11 strikeouts…2015: Appeared in 14 games with the DSL Astros in his first professional season...recorded a 2.13 ERA (10ER/42.1IP) with 50 strikeouts, nine walks and a 0.92 WHIP.
