The Astros are calling up right-hander Rogelio Armenteros for his big league debut, according to the Pelota Cubana blog (hat tip to Las Mayores’ Francys Romero). Outfielder Derek Fisher is headed back to Triple-A as the corresponding move, as per several outlets. The move will be made official prior to tomorrow’s game.
Signed out of Cuba in 2014, Armenteros has a 3.35 ERA, 3.08 K/BB rate, and a 10.0 K/9 over 475 career innings in Houston’s minor league system (85 of 98 games as a starter). He hasn’t been as sharp at Triple-A this season, with a 5.00 ERA over 45 frames, though it could just be a short-term promotion. GM Jeff Luhnow said (via Mark Berman of FOX 26 News in Houston) that Armenteros is being recalled to give the Astros some extra pitching depth after going to extra innings in three of their last six games, including a 14-inning affair on Wednesday.
MLB.com rates Armenteros as the 22nd-best prospect in the Astros’ farm system, with a “tumbling changeup” that rates as his only plus pitch. Armenteros has hit 95mph on his fastball on occasion, though generally throws in the 88-92mph range, relying more on disguising his four-pitch arsenal. “He has little margin for error and survives by not making many mistakes,” as MLB.com’s scouting report puts it.
Fisher heads back to Triple-A after his latest brief stint in the majors, as he was recalled back on May 25 when George Springer hit the IL. Formerly a top-100 ranked prospect, Fisher has yet to deliver much in parts of three MLB seasons (.201/.282/.367), though with just 312 total plate appearances to his name in the big leagues, he has hardly received much of an extended opportunity to prove himself. It remains to be seen if such a chance, however, will ultimately come given the Astros’ crowded outfield picture when everyone is healthy.
The guy is straight garbage. Just look at his stats from this season
What stat are you looking at to determine he is garbage? Keep in mind he is in the PCL. Please don’t tell me ERA.
one bad season in AAA doesnt mean you are bad. sometimes guys do better in the Majors despite rough AAA numbers.
Probably a Rangers fan wanting Houston to trade Kyle Tucker for Minor.
Why would the Rangers want Tucker? They have a logjam. those boys need pitching not hitters
He might be talking about Fisher. Even then, he’s overreacting.
Will Derek Fisher be the next JD Martinez? Houston gave up on JD at age 25 after 3 short stops in Houston.
Fisher seems like an ideal guy to send to the Giants and some kind of trade for a pitcher. He has great speed and some pop in his bat and a little too much strike out in his game but he deserves a chance to play every day. I don’t know what kind of trade package would make sense to professional general managers but I would think he’d be a part of it.
Can we include White too?
JD had about 900 ABs over a three year period. His last season he had an OPS+ of 79. JD is a late bloomer, an anomaly, go back to Arlington.
Since the Astros AAA team moved away from Fresno, CA (to nearby Round Rock-Austin TX), I think most of their AAA pitchers have taken a step backward. Rogelio Armenteros has the most AAA starts but, I wouldn’t expect much from him. I’m not a scout, however.
The Astros MiLB pitchers to watch are Jose Urquidy and Tyler Ivey. I thought Urquidy would be up late season.