Hooks Send Seven to Texas League All-Star Game
FORT WORTH - A contingent of seven players will represent the Corpus Christi Hooks at the 82nd Texas League All-Star Game, set for June 26 at Midland's Security Bank Ballpark. First pitch 7:15. The list includes first baseman Taylor Jones, third baseman Randy César, outfielders Myles Straw and Josh Rojas,
FORT WORTH - A contingent of seven players will represent the Corpus Christi Hooks at the 82nd Texas League All-Star Game, set for June 26 at Midland's Security Bank Ballpark. First pitch 7:15.
The list includes first baseman
Jones, Cesar, and Straw were voted in as starters by league field staffs, broadcasters, and beat writers.
Selected by the Astros in the 19th round out of Gonzaga University, Jones enters play tonight with a 1.038 OPS, which ranks seventh in Minor League Baseball. The 6-foot-7 first baseman is batting .340 with 17 doubles, 11 home runs, and 49 RBIs in 58 games. Jones paces the Texas League with a .449 on-base percentage, and ranks among the league leaders average (2nd), RBIs (2nd), slugging (.589, 2nd), total bases (123, 4th), and extra-base hits (29, 4th). He was tabbed Astros Minor League Player of the Month for April.
Cesar is currently riding a 34-game hitting streak, which stands as the club record, and the longest in the minors this season. The Texas League mark for longest hitting streak is 37 games, achieved by El Paso's Bobby Trevino in 1969. Cesar leads the circuit with a .349 batting average, and ranks 2nd in the loop with 80 hits. Tabbed by Houston as its Minor League Player of the Month for May, the 23-year-old out of Santo Domingo, DR has recorded at least one knock in 44 of his last 46 games.
Straw leads MiLB in stolen bases this season, swiping 35 bags in 41 attempts. Picked up in the 12th round of the 2015 draft out of St. Johns River State College in Florida, the 23-year-old speedster ranks third in the Texas League with a .332 batting average. Straw also ranks third in the circuit in both hits (79) and on-base average (.421). His 46 runs scored slot 3rd.
Rojas, a 26th-round pick last year out of the University of Hawaii, is batting .286 with nine doubles, three triples, four home runs, and 21 RBIs in 37 games for the Hooks. Combining his time between Corpus Christi and High-A Buies Creek, the 23-year-old Arizona native owns 21 stolen bases, which is tied for 10th in Minor League Baseball.
Perez, listed by MLB.com as the No. 3 Astros pitching prospect, is 5-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 12 games (9 GS) for Corpus Christi. The Cuban lefty has struck out 63 against 20 walks and 40 hits (2 HR) in 50.1 innings. Perez is tied for second in the Texas League in wins, and ranks fifth in the loop in strikeouts. He has been honored as TL Pitcher of the Week twice this season.
Hartman, also with five victories on the year, slots fourth in the circuit with a 3.63 ERA. The 24-year-old lefty from Anaheim, CA is currently averaging 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings pitched and 6.1 Ks per walk. Hartman held the opposition to one earned run or none in six of his first eight outings.
Martin was Houston's second round selection in the 2017 draft. The Texas A&M product boasts a 3-1 record and 2.97 ERA in eight appearances (6 GS) for the Hooks. Martin, rated by MLB.com as the No. 6 Astros pitching prospect, has held the league to a .215 batting average and one home run. The Houston area native is 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 12 games (9 GS) between Corpus Christi and the Carolina League.
The North Division and South Division squads were revealed this afternoon by Texas League President Tim Purpura.
SOUTH DIVISION
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
NORTH DIVISION
Pitchers
Justin DeFratus, Tulsa Drillers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders