The Houston Astros scheduled four prospects — Ronel Blanco, Devin Conn, Joe Record and Jayden Murray — to pitch Saturday, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. The Astros will face the New York Mets in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Grapefruit League season opener.
Blanco is the lone prospect with Major League experience scheduled to appear Saturday. The righty totaled 6.1 innings for the Astros last season, striking out seven batters to his four walks. Blanco entered spring training, after an outstanding Dominican Winter League performance of 20.2-scoreless innings.
Conn climbed to Triple-A last season, making 11 appearances for the Space Cowboys in response to injuries and promotions. The righty posted a 3.12 ERA over 66.1 innings combined between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land.
A former Rule 5 Draft selection, Record will enter his third season in Houston’s system this spring. Following 16 outings in Corpus Christi, the right-handed reliever received a promotion to Sugar Land, where he finished out the year with 38 strikeouts in 38 innings.
The Astros received Murray in the three-team trade that brought Trey Mancini to Houston. Coming over from the Tampa Bay Rays system, Murray made six appearances with the Hooks, pitching to the tune of a 4.28 ERA in 27.1 innings. The righty will likely start the year in Sugar Land.
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