Astros Announce Hooks Roster

CORPUS CHRISTI – A contingent of 14 returners headline the Corpus Christi Hooks initial 28-man roster, as defined by the Houston Astros Player Development Department.

In preparation for Opening Night this Friday, the Hooks welcome Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to Whataburger Field on Wednesday for a 6:35 pm spring training exhibition. Tickets are on sale now for the third matchup between the Hooks and Islanders.

Second-year Corpus Christi skipper Joe Thon will preside over 15 pitchers and 13 position players, including Astros top prospect Jacob Melton. Joining Melton in the outfield are returners Colin Barber, Jordan Brewer, and Kenedy Corona. Last year, Corona was one of three outfielders in the minor leagues to win a Rawlings Gold Glove. The 24-year-old from Maracaibo, Venezuela also became the second player in Hooks history to author a 20-homer, 20-steal season. Logan Cerny, traded by Philadelphia to the Astros for catcher Garrett Stubbs prior to the 2022 campaign, completes the Corpus Christi outfield.

Chad Stevens, who led the Hooks with 122 games played last year, returns to anchor the infield. Stevens will be joined on the diamond by Kobe Kato and Tommy Sacco Jr., drafted by the Astros out of Arizona and TCU, respectively. Cuban utilityman Rolando Espinosa, who played in a handful of games for Corpus Christi each of the last two seasons, will start the year at Double-A. Jeremy Arocho, who spent the last three years in the Angels system, begins his Astros tenure in Corpus Christi.

J.C. Correa, who has reached the 100 games plateau in each of his three pro seasons, is one of three catchers listed on the Hooks roster. Correa hit .325 with a .394 on-base average in his final 22 contests for Corpus Christi last season. Joining Correa behind the plate are Miguel Palma and Ryan Wrobleski. Palma, a non-roster invite to big league camp, was a 2023 Astros Organizational All-Star by MiLB.com, batting .274 with 19 extra-base hits, 38 RBIs, and a .340 OBP in 61 games for Asheville.

The Hooks boast four of the Astros top 10 pitching prospects, according to MLB.com, in right-handers A.J. Blubaugh, Jose Fleury, Michael Knorr, and Miguel Ullola. Double-A veterans Jaime Melendez and Julio Robaina are back in Corpus Christi to start the season. Robaina won the Texas League ERA title last season, with the lefty going 10-6 with a 3.18 ERA in 26 games (16 starts) for the Hooks.

Corpus Christi’s pitching staff features right-handed returners Jacob DeLabio, Aaron Brown, and Cesar Gomez. Tyler Guilfoil, an eighth-round pick from Kentucky in 2022 is set to make his Double-A debut, along with former second-round pick Alex Santos II. Newcomers also include lefties Brayan De Paula and Luis Angel Rodriguez, and righthanders Kasey Ford, Connor Greene, and Carlos Betancourt.

Opening Night 2024 is Friday, April 5, with the Hooks officially kicking off their 19th campaign in a three-game series vs. the Midland RockHounds, Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.

The season begins with Bud Light Friday Fireworks, as well as an Opening Night T-Shirt giveaway, courtesy of Mike Shaw Automotive. Opening Weekend Fireworks and a Jose Altuve Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit Bobblehead from Whataburger are on the docket for Saturday.

Tickets and the full promo slate are available at cchooks.com. Order by phone at 361-561-HOOK (4665).