Forrest Whitley Makes Space Cowboys Debut Monday Night

(SUGAR LAND, Texas) – Right-hander Forrest Whitley appeared in a Triple A game for the first time since May 2019 on Monday night as the Sugar Land Space Cowboys opened a six-game series against the El Paso Chihuahuas.

Whitley tossed 67 pitches and struck out four batters through 2 2/3 innings his return to the Pacific Coast League.

The Space Cowboys, who drew a Triple A record 7.581 in fans in attendance, went on to drop the series opener 11-7 to El Paso at Constellation Field.

Whitley, who is rated as the Houston Astros. No. 4 prospect, per MLB.com, made his fifth professional appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2021.

El Paso scored six runs through the first two innings of the night, including a grand slam from Brent Rooker.

Jose Siri got the Space Cowboys on the board with a two-run triple in the third. Siri has hit .323 (10x31) with 10 RBI through his first six games with the Space Cowboys. Taylor Jones drove in Siri with an RBI single.

The Space Cowboys tacked on three more runs in the sixth on the back of a two-run single from David Hensley, who has driven in 14 runs over his last 12 games.

CJ Hinojosa hit El Paso’s second grand slam of the night in the fourth, giving him five homers on the season. Luis Liberato added a solo shot in the seventh.

The Space Cowboys scored their final run of the night in the eighth on an RBI single from Franklin Barreto.

Lewis Brinson returned to the Space Cowboys lineup and went 3-for-5 with a double and run scored.

Following a Tuesday off-day, the Space Cowboys and Chihuahuas will meet for game two of the series at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday at Constellation Field.