The Astros optioned right-hander AJ Blubaugh to Triple-A prior to today’s game against the Orioles, and called up left-hander John Rooney to provide the bullpen with a fresh arm. Rooney was already on Houston’s 40-man roster, so the Blubaugh demotion was the only corresponding move necessary.
Rooney is on the mound at the time of this post, and thus the 28-year-old is now officially a Major League player. A third-round pick for the Dodgers back in the 2018 draft, Rooney spent his whole pro career in the Los Angeles farm system until 2025, when he joined the Marlins as a minor league free agent.
Miami then dealt Rooney to Houston earlier this month, and he has a 2.56 ERA and a 34.2% strikeout rate over 38 2/3 combined innings with the Marlins’ and Astros’ Triple-A affiliates. Those impressive numbers came with the downside of a 14.9% walk rate. Rooney has been prone to issuing free passes for most of his career, and a move to full-time bullpen work in 2023 only briefly solved his control issues.
It remains to be seen if Rooney will get anything more than a cup of coffee in the Show, as the Astros have Steven Okert and Bryan King as the primary left-handers in their bullpen. However, the relief corps lost a pair of very prominent southpaws (Josh Hader and Bennett Sousa) to the injured list, and starter Colton Gordon is the only other Triple-A lefty on the 40-man roster. This could open the door for Rooney to get more of an extended look on the active roster if he can produce against MLB hitters.
1980s/1990s MLB player-tier name
I had his ‘87 Topps error card with the reversed photo.
He is out on a single minded quest to stop Walker Buehler
Underrated comment. Rooney eats it.
ya better watch ya p’s & q’s there buster…
Buehler missed a start *nine times.*
Had an excuse. Had to Danke Schoen all the frauleins in Chicago
Walker’s older sister baby got put in a corner until Point Break rescued her. Now she’s having the Time of Her Life
The voice of the Cardinals.
Rooney did okay today
Related to BOB Rooney, residing behind the walls in the Bundy house??