Bregman starts in left, knocks three hits

Alex Bregman can hit. He can play shortstop. He can play third base. On Wednesday night, he added another line to his defensive resume and kept swinging the same bat that has Houston abuzz.

With rumors flying about an imminent promotion to the Major Leagues, the Astros' top prospect made his first professional start in left field -- where he contributed two putouts -- and went 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored as Triple-A Fresno topped Round Rock, 8-5.

Since Bregman's offense looks big league-ready, the Astros need to find a place for him in the field. Reigning American League Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa has a firm grip on the shortstop role, Bregman's natural spot. To that end, Bregman has seen action at third base with Double-A Corpus Christi and Fresno this season, and he added a new dimension in the outfield Wednesday.

Last season's second overall pick nabbed a fly ball by Joey Gallo in the first inning and snared a ball off the bat of Brett Nicholas in the third.

In the process, Bregman kept on hitting. The Albuquerque native singled to left in the fifth, and after shifting back to shortstop in the sixth, he sparked a six-run seventh with his one-out single to left. The LSU product finished the night with a single to left to lead off the eighth.

A day before starting in the outfield, Bregman alluded to the Astros' plans for him in the immediate future. In a Tuesday interview with Houston's SportsRadio 610, MLB.com's No. 18 overall prospect was asked who he envisions his first Major League at-bat against and responded, "I don't know. I think he's wearing red and gray. I don't know."

The red-and-gray clad Angels take on the Astros for a three-game set beginning Friday in Houston.

If the club's plan is to summon Bregman in the next day or two, Houston manager A.J. Hinch didn't let on.

"Because there's been no discussion, no target date or no idea, We're trying to win tonight's game," Hinch said Wednesday, according to the Houston Chronicle. "He's going to help us eventually, but I'm not sure what that's all about."

Wherever he is, Bregman will be swinging a hot stick. His latest showing marked his eighth multi-hit performance in 15 Triple-A contests.

Fresno's Preston Tucker matched Bregman's three-hit night. Houston's No. 8 prospect Colin Moran and No. 19 Jon Kemmer had a game-high three RBIs apiece. Kemmer's came on a homer to left in the seventh.