Houston Astros to promote Sugar Land slugger to big league roster
NEW BLOOD
06 August 2024
NEW BLOOD
After an ugly loss to the Rangers on Monday night, Astros manager Joe Espada made his weekly appearance on the club's flagship station and addressed the team's issues on offense.
Astros GM Dana Brown said over the weekend that he may look to the farm system to give the offense a spark.
When asked about the possibility of promoting Zach Dezenzo and/or Shay Whitcomb, Espada said on Tuesday that the organization is “strongly considering bringing those guys up.”
Just an hour or so later, we began seeing reports that the Astros are indeed promoting Dezenzo.
The Astros are calling up Zach Dezenzo, sources tell @TheAthletic. He's played just 11 games above Double-A, but slashed .391/.472/.739 with eight extra-base hits in his brief stint at Triple-A Sugar Land. Now, he'll try to give the major-league team a spark.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 6, 2024
We've also seen reports indicating Dezenzo is already with the team in Arlington.
I am hearing the that Astros #4 prospect, 1B/3B Zach Dezenzo, is in Arlington with the team, per sources.
No word on what the corresponding move will be.
— Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) August 6, 2024
Dezenzo has only played 11 games for Sugar Land since being promoted from Double A. He's hitting .391, slugging .739, with a 1.211 OPS. He already has four home runs since being promoted to the Space Cowboys.
Hopefully he can give the team a boost they desperately need on offense.
It's official.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES:
The Astros selected IF Zach Dezenzo (#9) to the Major League roster. To make room for Dezenzo on the active roster, the Astros optioned OF Trey Cabbage to Triple A Sugar Land. To make room for Dezenzo on the 40-man roster, the Astros designated RHP Dylan…
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 6, 2024
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.