PCL1 Round Rock Express

Round Rock Express RHP Jose Urquidy Promoted to Houston Astros

Published on July 2, 2019 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK, Texas - Go get 'em, Jose! The Houston Astros announced on Tuesday afternoon that the club has purchased the contract of Round Rock Express RHP Jose Urquidy. The righty is expected to make his major league debut tonight in a start for Houston in the team's series opener against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Urquidy has been stellar since his May 15 promotion to Round Rock from the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks, pitching to a 3-1 record with a 2.89 ERA (14 ER/43.2 IP) in eight appearances, including seven starts. He has been a strikeout machine for the Express this season, tallying 64 punchouts in just 43.2 innings pitched while walking just 10. The righty trails only LHP Ryan Hartman's 67 for most strikeouts on the team.

In just his second career Triple-A start, Urquidy matched the all-time Round Rock Express franchise record for strikeouts in a game with 12. He earned the win in the contest by holding the rival San Antonio Missions to a run on three hits and a walk in 6.0 innings back on May 21.

Including his time in Corpus Christi to open the year, Urquidy is 5-3 with a 3.40 ERA (29 ER/76.2 IP), 104 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 15 games, including 13 starts, this season. The 24-year-old is limiting opposing hitters to a miniscule .209 batting average with a 0.98 WHIP between the two levels.

After missing all of the 2017 campaign with an elbow injury, Urquidy rebounded a year ago, going 2-2 with a 2.35 ERA (15 ER/57.1 IP), 48 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 13 games, including 11 starts, between Short Season Tri-City and Class A-Advanced Buies Creek.

Urquidy was originally signed by Houston as a non-drafted free agent out of his hometown of Mazatlan, Mexico on March 2, 2015. He becomes the first Mexican-born player developed by the Astros to reach the major league club in Houston's franchise history. In his four years within the Astros organization, Urquidy is 15-11 with a 3.00 ERA (99 ER/297.0 IP), 321 strikeouts and 58 walks.

In a corresponding 40-man roster move, Express 1B AJ Reed was designated for assignment. LHP Reymin Guduan was optioned back to Round Rock from Houston in the corresponding 25-man roster move.

The Express continue their five-game series against the Omaha Storm Chasers with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday night at Dell Diamond. For more information on the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and join the conversation during our historic 20th season using #20STROng.

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 2, 2019


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.

OurSports Central