Feliz extends scoreless streak for Hooks

Many times a player who gets a taste of the big leagues will return to the Minors with a sense of entitlement or bitterness from the demotion. Not Michael Feliz.

Houston's No. 7 prospect pitched a scoreless inning with the Astros on May 31 before returning to Double-A Corpus Christi. Since then, he's showed no signs of what Hooks pitching coach Doug Brocail calls "big league-itis."

"Michael hasn't changed one bit," Brocail said. "He came back and worked just as hard. The day he got back, he threw a bullpen and a few days later he started."

The 22-year-old native of Dominican Republic allowed just three singles and two walks while striking out eight over six scoreless innings en route to Corpus Christi's 2-1 win over Northwest Arkansas at Arvest Ballpark. In the process, he extend his shutout streak to 26 1/3 frames and improved to 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA.

Feliz's demeanor might best be noted after the last hit he gave up, on a bunt by top Royals prospect Raul Mondesi. After walking Ramon Torres, the right-hander threw away the ball on the bunt, allowing the shortstop to move to third and Mondesi stole second. Feliz was unfazed.

"Michael is very well composed," Brocail said. "You'd think he'd been pitching in the Majors for 10 years. Nothing bothers him. There's no panic. He doesn't speed up his delivery or start yanking pitches."

Feliz struck out Jorge Bonifacio and had a plan to get the next batter, Alex Liddi. Knowing that the third baseman would be extra aggressive in the RBI spot after getting a hit in his previous at bat, Feliz threw him a first-pitch slider low and away and Liddi whiffed. Two pitches later, he recorded another strikeout, and he induced a ground ball from Bubba Starling to end the threat.

"He's easy to talk to on the mound," the pitching coach said. "He verbalizes very well. He understands exactly what he wants to do and executes. He's becoming more of a pure pitcher vs. just a thrower."

Feliz's fastball reached 97 mph Sunday. Brocail noted his good downward movement and ability to throw his changeup and slider to both lefties and righties.

"When you have to protect against three pitches and one is 97, it could be rough night for you as a hitter," he said.

Two things: 14 hour bus trips are awesome and Michael Feliz is really good at baseball. That's is all.

- Aaron West (@Snacks_31) August 17, 2015

Feliz, who made his pro debut in 2010 the Dominican Summer League, has "come a long way in a hurry," according to his coach. He added that the hurler no longer relies solely on his heat and will occasionally throw his changeup first pitch or to put away the batter. Brocail said he got out of a couple three-ball counts Sunday by throwing off-speed pitches.

The last time Feliz gave up a run was in the second inning of his July 24 start at Frisco. Over his last 10 appearances, he's 6-1 with a 1.15 ERA.

"This kid's just been rolling," Brocail said. "He's one of my aces."

"Sometimes in a panic situation, you'll see heavy breathing," Brocail said of traditional mound visits. "The pitcher's face says, 'Oh my god, I'm in trouble.' They're talking fast. You ask Michael how he's doing and he'll say, 'I'm good,' and proceeds to give you a recipe for how he'll handle the situation. Then he follows it to a 'T.'"