Rookie sensation Yordan Alvarez garnered some first base experience during his time in the minors, but the Astros have no intention of trying him there in the majors this year, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. The team wasn’t “comfortable” with Alvarez’s performance at first in the minors, according to manager A.J. Hinch. Thanks in part to that, the Astros will stick with the hot-hitting Yuli Gurriel as their starter, with Rome noting Aledmys Diaz will serve as the backup when he comes off the injured list. Alvarez will continue as a designated hitter/left fielder, a role which has suited him well during what has been a brilliant introduction to the majors. Through his first 69 plate appearances, the 22-year-old has slashed .317/.406/.733 (196 wRC+) with seven home runs.
More from the majors’ West divisions…
- The Angels received an encouraging second opinion this week on infielder Zack Cozart‘s problematic left shoulder, manager Brad Ausmus revealed (via Dave Sessions of MLB.com). The doctors “seem to be narrowing it down to a couple things it could be, and I guess the MRI is to further narrow that down,” Ausmus said. Cozart has been down since May 28 with inflammation in his shoulder, a joint that also cost him a significant chunk of 2018. He underwent season-ending surgery on a torn labrum last season, ending his first year with the Angels after just 58 games. Cozart will visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed his surgery a year ago, for more imaging tests Friday, Sessions relays.
- The Rangers were within a week of summoning reliever Matt Bush back to the majors before he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Bush had been rehabbing a prior UCL injury all season, but this week’s news means he’ll wind up missing the entire campaign and surely a large portion of 2020. The Rangers plan on sticking with in-house relievers to help fill Bush’s void in the immediate term, according to Wilson, though he suggests the injury will place a greater urgency on the club to acquire outside help before the July 31 trade deadline.
- Padres left-handed reliever Jose Castillo – out all season because of a flexor strain – could be one bullpen session away from restarting a rehab assignment, manager Andy Green said Thursday (via AJ Cassavell of MLB.com). The 23-year-old was pitching in what was supposed to be his final rehab appearance June 10 when he suffered a setback. Castillo was a quietly outstanding piece of the Padres’ bullpen as a rookie in 2018, when he pitched to a 3.29 ERA/2.64 FIP with 12.21 K/9 and 2.82 BB/9.
Yordan is scary. That guy has 500HR written all over him
I hope that to be true. He looks polished for his age and his swing is definitely one with staying power. Most impressive to me though is his advanced eye in the box.
Look just a month ago you could say the same about Austin Riley he had an incredible start. But baseball is a game of adjustments and you can never tell just how the pitchers will adjust to him. And I don’t think it’s fair to put that kind of pressure on him to expect 500 HRs.
Just enjoy the kid and root for him along the way and he will have struggles but he will get even better with some experience too.
Cozart needs to placed on the 60 day IL and left there until the end of his contract.
Hey man, I had the name first. It’s ok though, we can become best friends and build bunk beds!
Lol hetero lifemates
Jay and Silent Bob … nice
Rollin’ fatties, smokin’ blu nts, who smokes the blu nts? we smoke the blu nts!
Just make sure it doesn’t collapse on impact
More room for activities
Cozart needs to be designated for assignment I’d get rid of them give these young rookie infielders a chance to play next year
I can’t think of one good free agent Billy eppler signed maybe Lucroy. Cody Allen Matt Harvey Cahill disaster
Tommy LaStella, and it’s sad that he broke his leg right before his first all star appearance
LaStella was not a free agent, he was acquired via trade.
November 29, 2018: Traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Los Angeles Angels for a player to be named later. The Los Angeles Angels sent Conor Lillis-White (minors) (December 13, 2018) to the Chicago Cubs to complete the trade.
baseball-reference.com/players/l/lasteto01.shtml
Mike Trout? Never mind he was drafted by the previous guy before Dipoto lol
The angels have been rebuilding slowly over the last few seasons and it’s been clearly obvious by those signings which were all low risk high reward one year deals while prospects continue to develop this team will pop next year and can easily get the wildcard with the ohtani back in the rotation
I’ll give Billy eppler credit for rebuilding the farm system he gets graded A but in free agency he flunks I was hoping Moreno would have rebuilt three years ago instead of patching the team with free agents
I think you’ve forgotten the team he took over in Oct 2015 had to pay Hamilton for 2 more years at ~$26M/yr, and 1 season of CJ Wilson. All FA moves were intentionally low-key and budget-minded until the pain from those deals wore off.
The team was widely reported to be very active in pursuing Corbin and Eovaldi, but still respecting budget limits and common sense. The loss of Skaggs will most likely make the team even more aggressive in signing Cole.
@Geno55—can’t think of one good free agent signed by Eppler?
Can I tell you about a guy named Shohei Ohtani?
that’s not very encouraging for the angels.
Yordan Andujar
The Astros have themselves a nice logjam in the outfield. Springer, Brantley, Reddick, Yordan, Marisnick, and Straw. Plus they have Tucker at AAA and Fisher as a last resort replacement player.
It would be nice if one of them developed into a capable backup first basemen.
I’ll be curious to see if Luhnow trades from this depth.
Fisher is most likely to go. Brantley is a FA at seasons end and Tucker will have his shot next year.
Brantley signed a two year deal with the Astros, he’s not a free agent after this season.
Move Reddick to 1st let Diaz return to the utility role. Bring up Tucker.
Bring Castillo fast…get maton out of here.
Unless Cozart is going to start pitching for them….so what
This guy is yet another bum that the Angels have signed in the last few years. Cut this guy now!!