Astros Top Prospect Castro Headlines Talented 2009 JetHawks Squad
Published on April 4, 2009 under California League (CalL1)
Lancaster JetHawks News Release
(LANCASTER, CA) - The Houston Astros have dedicated themselves to rebuilding their organization through the draft. The first testing grounds for that concept will come in Lancaster. The Lancaster JetHawks, in its first year as a Class A Affiliate of the Astros, will feature nine players selected as part of Houston's highly-touted 2008 draft class, including five of their first nine picks. The Astros and JetHawks released a tentative Opening Day roster Saturday in preparation for the start of the season Thursday at High Desert.
Highlighting the roster is the prize of the Astros' 2008 Draft, catcher Jason Castro. The tenth overall selection in last summer's first-round, the California native out of Stanford will make his full-season debut in Lancaster. A solid backstop with a smooth batting stroke, Castro hit .275 in his brief professional debut last year in the short-season New York-Penn League. This off-season, Baseball America rated Castro as the top prospect in the Astros organization and as one of the top 100 prospects in all of Minor League Baseball. Castro is one of ten JetHawks players who will be advancing to a full-season squad for the first time.
Sharing time with Castro behind the plate will be 2008 Carolina League All-Star Koby Clemens. A converted third-baseman, he is the son of Major League pitching legend Roger Clemens.
The two catchers will be breaking in a talented, though inexperienced, pitching staff. Three of the starters will be in their first full-season after being selected in the 2008 draft. Six-foot-nine left-hander and fifth-round draft pick David Duncan leads the way. He'll be joined in the rotation by fellow draftees Christopher Hicks, a 14th round choice, and 26th round selection Shane Wolf. Rounding out the starting five will be Saugus native Jeff Icenogle and Jose Duran, who both reached Class A Lexington a season ago. The bullpen will be led by closer J.J. Pacella, who saved 12 games for the Lexington Legends before a promotion to Advanced-A Salem last season, and left-hander Fernando Abad, who struck out 94 batters in just 76 innings for the Legends in 2008.
The JetHawks will infield will feature a mix of rookies, experienced Astros farmhands, and newcomers to the Houston organization. There will be plenty of speed with Craig Corrado and Eric Taylor. Corrado, who split his time between second and third base in Lexington last season, stole 43 bases for the Legends. Taylor, a Laguna Beach native who played for UCLA, swiped 27 bags while belting nine home runs as the Lexington first baseman. Third baseman David Flores is also from California. Originally from the Bay Area, Flores impressed in his professional debut by hitting eleven home runs in just 56 games last season for Tri-City. Like Flores, Christopher Jackson was drafted in 2008, playing for both Tri-City and Lexington at third base, although he is expected to play shortstop for the JetHawks. Marcos Cabral joins Houston after playing at three different levels of the Toronto Blue Jays farm system as a utility infielder in 2008. The only 2009 JetHawk with California League experience will be utility infielder Chris Minaker. The former Seattle Mariners farmhand spent all of 2008 with the High Desert Mavericks, for whom he hit .285 while serving as a key bat in the middle of the order.
Continuing the theme of youth, three JetHawks outfielders will be in their first full-season as professionals. T.J. Steele was Houston's fourth round draft choice last year, then made the New York-Penn League All-Star team after hitting .283. His Tri-City teammate, Jack Shuck, also made the NYPL All-Star squad by hitting .300. Shuck was the Astros' sixth-round pick. The seventh rounder, Jonathan Gaston, will also come to Lancaster after playing with Steele both before the draft at the University of Arizona and after the draft at Tri City. Powerful slugger Brian Pelligrini comes to Lancaster after blasting 21 home runs a season ago in Lexington. Nicholas Moresi split the 2008 campaign between Lexington and the Astros former Advanced A affiliate in Salem, Virginia.
The first opportunity to see the newest JetHawks will be Tuesday evening when the JetHawks play an exhibition game against Antelope Valley College. The seven-inning contest will begin at 5 PM. Following the game, all JetHawks season ticket holders are invited to a special meet-and-greet barbeque where they will be introduced to the 2009 JetHawks squad.
The JetHawks open the 2009 season, its first as an affiliate of the Houston Astros, on April 9 at High Desert before returning for the home opener on April 13. A special ticket package for the opening night extravaganza that includes an All-You-Can-Eat dinner is available for just $10. Great ticket packages for the season are on sale now and may be ordered by calling (661) 726-5400. For more information, please visit the JetHawks official website www.JetHawks.com.
California League Stories from April 4, 2009
- Astros Top Prospect Castro Headlines Talented 2009 JetHawks Squad - Lancaster JetHawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
