Houston Astros to promote Sugar Land slugger to big league roster
NEW BLOOD
06 August 2024
Zach Dezenzo has reportedly been called up. Composite Getty Image.
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
Wyatt Langford homered with a career-high tying four hits and Adolis García added a solo shot to lead the Texas Rangers to a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night.
The Rangers jumped on Lance McCullers Jr. (2-4) early. There were two outs with the bases loaded in the first when Evan Carter’s single to right field knocked in a pair to put the Rangers up 2-0.
The AL West-leading Astros cut the deficit to 2-1 when Cam Smith scored on a groundout in the bottom of the inning.
García homered for a second straight game with one out in the third that made it 3-1. Carter walked with two outs before a single from Jake Burger. Jonah Heim’s double to right field scored them both to extend the lead to 5-1.
McCullers allowed six hits and five runs in three innings as Houston’s losing streak reached a season-high four games.
Langford’s blast came with two outs in the seventh to push the lead to 7-3.
Jack Leiter (5-6) yielded five hits and three runs while striking out six in 5 1/3 innings.
Christian Walker singled to open Houston’s fourth before Victor Caratini’s home run to right field got the Astros within 5-3.Burger was replaced in the middle of the sixth inning with discomfort in his left quad.
Houston’s top prospect, second baseman Brice Matthews, went 0 for 4 with with three strikeouts in his major league debut.
Key moment
Heim’s two RBI double in the third that pushed the lead to four.
Key stat
The Rangers forced McCullers to throw 36 pitches in the first inning.
Up next
Houston LHP Framber Valdez (10-4, 2.90 ERA) opposes RHP Jacob deGrom (9-2, 2.29) when the series continues Saturday.
