ValleyCats' Wrenn off to scintillating start

Stephen Wrenn liked his first impression of the Minor Leagues so much, he decided to do it again.

The Astros prospect reached base five times and scored four runs for the second time in as many games as a pro, but Class A Short Season Tri-City fell to visiting Connecticut, 9-5, on Saturday.

Wrenn rapped out three hits and drew a pair of walks. The 21-year-old outfielder opened the game with his first double of the season, going the other way to right field. Wrenn also stole his first two bases since the Astros selected him in the sixth round of last week's Draft.

"I was nice and relaxed," he said. "The coaches do a phenomenal job of making a great environment for us to play in. I feel like I'm seeing the ball well and taking good swings at it."

Wrenn opened his professional career by going 2-for-4 with two more walks and four runs scored and an RBI on Friday. That makes the University of Georgia product 5-for-7 with a New York-Penn League-leading eight runs scored, but he said he knows there'll also be tough times ahead.

"It's definitely important to me," Wrenn said. "This is one of those times where I'm seeing the ball well. Baseball can be funny. There are times where you see it well and there are times when you don't. Right now, in the box, I feel very controlled. I feel like my load is good and slow and I have a lot of time to make a decision.

"We're gonna play more games than I've ever played before in a season. The adjustment is going to be coming out every day and putting good at-bats together and putting good swings on the ball and not give at-bats away. It's great to have two good games, but I'm looking for a good season. I know there are days where I don't get a hit and it's going to be important for me to learn to bounce back the next day and put together a good game."

A Georgia native, Wrenn said he's enjoyed his brief experience with the ValleyCats in upstate New York.

"It's been a lot of fun," he said. "I really enjoy the guys, really enjoy the clubhouse, the coaches, everything about it has been great."

Daz Cameron, the Astros' fifth-ranked prospect, was doubled, singled, drove in two runs and stole a base for Tri-City.

Joey Havrilak slugged a three-run homer and Tanner Donnels, son of former Major League infielder Chris Donnels, contributed a pair of RBIs for the Tigers.