Graduated from Westminster Academy in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., in 2006, where he earned Louisville Slugger All-American status (2005) as he went 8-2 with an 0.89 ERA...named Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American as a senior, but was limited due to an injury...selected by Detroit in the 42nd round in 2006, but did not sign...Attended the University of Florida from 2007-2010...went 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA and 11 saves in 2010, helping the SEC-champion Gators reach the College World Series... named first-team All-SEC and third-team All-American (NCBWA)...Selected in the fourth round of the June 2010 draft by Kansas City...signed by Royals scout Colin Gonzales...Is cousins with Marlins OF Matt den Dekker, who was also his youth, high school and college teammate at the University of Florida...faced each other in a Major League game for the first time in their careers on Sept. 26, 2014, at NYM (walk)...Was on the roster for Team Canada in the 2017 World Baseball Classic...Added to the Astros 40-man roster on Aug. 9, 2013...is currently signed to a one-year contract that runs through the 2017 season.
2016
Southpaw made nine appearances across two stints with Houston...saw time in the Majors for the fourth consecutive season...was recalled from Triple A on Aug. 11, to serve as Houston's 26th man in their doubleheader against the Twins...was optioned to Fresno following the doubleheader on Aug. 11...recalled back to Houston on Sept. 5, and remained with the club through the end of the regular season...struck out two over a hitless 3.0 innings of relief on Sept. 8 at CLE...tied a career high for innings in a game (also May 5, 2015 vs. TEX)...became the first Astros lefty to throw 3.0 hitless innings in a game since LHP C.J. Nitkowski on April 9, 1998 at SF...made 51 appearances at Triple A Fresno, striking out 76 batters and walking 27 in 61.0 innings...posted a 4.87 ERA (33ER/61IP)...held left-handed hitters to a .212 (21x99) batting average...posted a 1.78 ERA (5ER/25.1IP) with 32 strikeouts following the Triple A All-Star Break...put up a 7.07 ERA (28ER/35.2IP) prior to the Break.
2015
Spent the majority of his 2015 season at Triple A Fresno but did spend a 12-day stint with the Major League club in May...was with the Astros from May 1-12 and made three appearances, allowing two runs in 5.1 innings for a 3.38 ERA...posted Major League career highs in innings pitched (3 IP) and strikeouts (4) on May 5 vs. TEX...was one of three lefty relievers in Major League camp and was one of the final cuts,being optioned to Triple A on April 1...made nine appearances for the Astros in Spring Training, posting a 3.00 ERA (3ER/9IP)...made 49 total appearances for Fresno, going 3-2 with eight saves and a 4.75 ERA (28ER/53IP)...struck out 61 hitters in his 53.0 innings pitched...limited lefties to a .212 (14x66) opponen tbatting average and did not allow a home run to a lefty in 2015...made five scoreless relief appearances (5IP) and picked up a save in the postseason as Fresno won the Triple A Championship...including the postseason, concluded his season making 13 consecutive scoreless appearances (13.2IP).
2014
Made his first Opening Day roster and pitched in 21 games across three stints with Houston...increased his innings, win and strikeout totals from 2013, while lowering his walk rate (11.3% from 14.9%) and boosting his strikeout rate (19.6% from 17.2%) and groundball rate (49.2% from 37.0%)...stranded 14-of-16 inherited runners, good for the lowest inherited runners scored percentage on the club (12.5%, min. 15 apps.)...made the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career but was optioned to Triple-A on April 16...recalled to Houston on July 1 for a one-game stint as he was optioned to Triple-A following the club's game vs. SEA...recalled back to Houston for a final time on Aug. 15...was scoreless in 12 of his last 13 outings of the season (0.68 ERA, 1ER/13.1 IP), including his final nine outings...struck out 10 while allowing just 11 baserunners (10 hits, 1 walk) in those last 13 games...had a streak of 11 games without a walk (Aug. 20-Sept. 22)...was one of the top relievers in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, posting a 2-1 record in 43 appearances with a 1.23 ERA (6 ER/44 IP) and nine saves in nine opportunities...struck out 64 batters in his 44.0 innings...ranked second in the league among relievers in ERA and strikeouts per 9.0 innings (13.09, min. 40IP)...named the July Pitcher of the Month at Triple-A after going 1-0 with six saves, 20 strikeouts, four walks and a 2.53 ERA (3ER/10.2IP) in 12 outings...had a 20-game streak where he did not allow an earned run at Triple A (May 3-June 19)...struck out 23 with two runs allowed in 19.2 innings.
2013
Rookie reliever impressed after being selected from Triple A OKC on Aug. 9...set a franchise record by not allowing an earned run in his first 13 Major League appearances to begin his career (9.2IP) from Aug. 9-Sept. 2...LHP Tom Martin, who used to own the record, made 12 straight scoreless appearances to start his career from April 2-May 5, 1997...was one of two MLB pitchers this season to begin their career with 13+ appearances without allowing an earned run (also, RHP Caleb Thielbar with MIN, 17g)...did not allow a run in his final seven outings (6IP) of the season...did not allow a run in 12 road apps. (9.1 IP) ... allowed just six hits to LHH's in his brief MLB career (6x36, .167) ... against all opponents, ranked ninth in the AL with a .183 (13x71) opponent's batting average (min. 70 ABs) after his recall...stranded 16 of 19 inherited runners this season...after Aug. 9, ranked sixth among AL lefties with 19 total inherited runners...began the year as a NRI at Astros Spring Training and made six apps. (8ER/7IP) before being assigned to Triple A OKC...officially selected from OKC on Aug. 9...spent the remainder of the season in the Astros bullpen...after his selection, was a workhorse in the Astros bullpen ...on four occasions he pitched on back to back days...additionally, he pitched on three consecutive days on three seperate occasions ... made his MLB debut on Aug. 9 vs. TEX, striking out the only hitter he faced (Pierzynski) with two runners on base ... earned his first MLB win on Sept. 9 at SEA (0ER/1IP) and recorded his first MLB save on Aug. 18 at LAA by inducing a double play grounder to end the Astros 7-5 win...went 1-2 with two saves, 61 strikeouts and a 3.20 ERA (18ER/50.2IP) and led the RedHawks with 45 appearances...held Triple A left-handed hitters to a .193 (16x83) average with just one extra-base hit (HR) and held all hitters to a .223 (42x188) mark.
2012
Posted a 6-3 record and a 2.64 ERA (17ER/58IP) in 49 games for Double A Corpus Christi...acquired
from Kansas City along with a PTBNL (OF D'Andre Toney) in exchange for C Humberto Quintero and OF
Jason Bourgeois on Mar. 20, 2012...tallied 59 strikeouts against in 58.0 innings...was undefeated at home,
going 5-0 with a 1.53 ERA (5ER/29.1IP), and in his last 10 games with the Hooks gave up only two walks as
opposed to 10 strikeouts...led all Texas League pitchers who did not make a start with six wins...had the
fourth-lowest opponents on-base average among TL relievers...ranked 11th in the league in ERA among
relievers (min. 40 innings pitched)...proven under pressure, allowed only 10 hits in 57 at-bats with runners
in scoring position...named Corpus Christi's Pitcher of the Month for April and was a 2012 Texas League
Midseason All-Star...tabbed by Baseball America as the No. 30 prospect in the Astros system following the
season.
2011
Posted a combined 1-4 record with a 4.94 ERA (34ER/62IP) in 40 games between Double A
Northwest Arkansas (25g) and Class A Advanced Wilmington (15g)...recorded a total of 10 saves and tallied
90 strikeouts...ranked by Baseball America as the No. 18 prospect with the 'Best Slider' in the Kansas City
system following the season...was tied for 10th in the Carolina League in saves.
2010
Went 1-1 with a 5.50
ERA (11ER/18IP) in 14 games, posting one save and 20 strikeouts with Class A Advanced Wilmington in what
was his first professional season.
