Astros add five to 40- man roster
Published on November 21, 2005 under Appalachian League (ApL)
Greeneville Astros News Release
HOUSTON - The Houston Astros announced today that they have purchased the contracts of right-handed pitchers Matt Albers, Jimmy Barthmaier, Jason Hirsh, and Felipe Paulino; and outfielder Josh Anderson, adding the players to the club's 40-man roster. The announcement was made by General Manager Tim Purpura.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the club has released outfielder Charles Gipson and outrighted right-handed pitcher Jared Gothreaux to Triple A Round Rock. Additionally, right-handed pitcher Mike Burns was claimed by the Cincinnati Reds on outright waivers on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
Albers, 22, was 8-12 with a 4.66 ERA (77ER/148.2IP) in 28 games (27 starts) for Class A Salem of the Carolina League in 2005. He was originally selected with the club's 23rd-round selection in the June 2001 draft. Albers is a Sugar Land native who attended San Jacinto Junior College.
Barthmaier, 21, was 11-6 with a league-leading 2.27 ERA (34ER/134.2IP) in 25 starts for Class A Lexington of the South Atlantic League this season. He struck out 142 hitters and walked 55. In one start for Class A Salem, Barthmaier was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (1ER/6IP). A native of Roswell, Ga., Barthmaier was selected with the club's 13th-round choice in the June 2003 draft.
Named Texas League Pitcher of the Year in 2005, the 23-year-old Hirsh was 13-8 with a 2.87 ERA (55ER/172.1IP) in 29 starts for Double A Corpus Christi in 2005. He led the TL with 165 strikeouts while his 2.87 ERA ranked second in the circuit. Originally selected by the Astros in the second round of the June 2003 draft from Cal Lutheran University, Hirsh threw one complete-game shutout in 2005 and is 27-16 in three minor league seasons.
Paulino, 22, was a combined 3-3 with a 2.95 ERA (18ER/55IP) in 20 appearances (seven starts) between Class A Short-Season Tri-City of the New York-Penn League and Class A Lexington. Paulino struck out 64 hitters in those 55 innings in 2005 while walking only 17 and allowing only 42 hits. He was signed by the club as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2001 from Los Teques, Miranda, Venezuela.
Anderson, 23, led the Texas League with 50 stolen bases for Double A Corpus Christi in 2005. He led the Hooks with 148 hits and hit .282 (148x524) with one home run and 26 RBI in 127 games. Anderson was originally selected in the fourth round of the June 2003 draft out of Eastern Kentucky University.
The 33-year-old Gipson hit .182 (2x11) with one RBI in 19 games for the Astros in 2005. He also hit .303 (119x393) with two home runs, 25 RBI, and 19 stolen bases in 110 games for Triple A Round Rock this season. In 373 career Major League games, Gipson has hit .237 (76x321) with 30 RBI and 16 stolen bases.
The 25-year-old Gothreaux was 3-8 with a 4.29 ERA (41ER/86IP) in 15 starts for Triple A Round Rock in 2005.
Appalachian League Stories from November 21, 2005
- Astros add five to 40- man roster - Greeneville Astros
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