Where Are They Now: Jonny Ash

TROY, N.Y. - Jonny Ash, a native of Oakland, California, spent the 2004 season with the Tri-City ValleyCats. A five-year minor league veteran, Ash is on the verge of taking the next step and reaching the major leagues.

Drafted in the 11th round of the 2004 June Draft by the Houston Astros out of Stanford, Ash began his professional baseball career with the ValleyCats that June. Ash displayed an excellent eye and patience at the plate, drawing 25 walks while striking out just 16 times. In 61 games for the 'Cats, Ash had a batting average of .297 and an on-base-percentage of .388.

Ash played at two levels in 2005, Single A Lexington and A-Advanced Salem. In 67 games for Lexington, Ash hit a career-high eight home runs had a batting average of .320. The 5'9 second baseman hit well with runners on base, hitting .385 with runners in scoring position. With the Avalanche, Ash participated in 59 games and hit .320 with 19 doubles.

The Astros designated Ash to Double-A Corpus Christi in both 2006 and 2007. In 2006, Ash played in 112 games and hit .314 with a .370 on-base-percentage. The next season, Ash hit .300 yet again and struck out just 17 times in 280 at-bats.

Ash was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock in 2008 where he stayed until late July. With the Express, Ash hit .229, but drew 22 walks to just 17 strike outs. Ash played the remainder of the season with Corpus Christi.