The Houston Astros cut their Major League spring training roster to 57 players Saturday, optioning Joe Perez and reassigning Will Wagner and Scott Schreiber to minor league camp.
Perez pinch ran for José Abreu in the bottom of the sixth inning Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals, taking over at first base. The righty is 0-for-14 with six strikeouts in eight Grapefruit League games. After being optioned last year in spring training, the corner infielder/outfielder began a second of three option years Saturday. He will start the 2023 season with Triple-A Sugar Land.
Wagner turned heads at the plate and in the field in five games. The lefty went 4-for-10 with two runs, two doubles, three RBI and two strikeouts, while primarily playing third base. On Saturday, Wagner took live batting practice against 40-man roster pitcher J.P. France. The 24-year-old infielder slapped an opposite field hit to the left field fencing.
Schreiber returned to Major League camp as a non-roster invitee for a consecutive year. Missing most of 2022 recovering from back surgery, the 27 year old flashed his coveted power in the Arizona Fall League. The righty is 1-for-8 with one run and five strikeouts in five games this spring. Making the transition from outfield to first base, Schreiber made two appearances at first base and one in left field in that sample.
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