Jankowski, Ballew to Visit Portland Whataburger

CORPUS CHRISTI - Hooks pitchers Jordan Jankowski and Travis Ballew will sign autographs and visit with fans between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday at the Portland Whataburger location, 1010 Wildcat Drive.

KFTX-FM has scheduled a live remote broadcast.

A portion of Friday's lunch proceeds benefits Goodwill Industries of South Texas. Bring your gently-used clothing items, place in the large fry box and pick up a voucher for a new 2014 Hooks/Goodwill t-shirt and a special offer coupon from Whataburger.

Jankowski is a 25-year-old right-hander from McMurray, Pa. He stands 1-2 with a 3.80 earned run average over 15 games (5 starts). The Astros' 2012 34th-round draft pick from Catawba (N.C.) College has 50 strikeouts and 14 walks in 47 1/3 innings. Jankowski has pitched at Rookie League Greeneville, Tenn., of the Appalachian League and Astros Class A affiliates Quad Cities (Midwest) and Lancaster (California).

Ballew, 23, hails from Rockwall and played collegiately at Texas State, where he was 2012 Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year. Taken in the 23rd round two years ago, the right-hander owns a 13-7 pro record with stops at Class A Tri-City (New York-Penn), Lancaster (California) and Corpus Christi. Used exclusively in relief this season, Ballew is 4-1 with a 4.08 ERA and three saves in 20 appearances (28 2/3 innings). He paced Houston farmhands with 21 saves last season.