Mashing Astros prospect Toro called up

Club's No. 6 prospect provides infield depth with Correa, Diaz out

Revue de Web

By Brian McTaggart, le 22 août 2019

HOUSTON -- With shortstop Carlos Correa out with a back ailment that’s likely to sideline him into September, the Astros on Thursday summoned infielder Abraham Toro -- their No. 6-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline -- from Triple-A Round Rock.

Toro, who was hitting .424/.506/.606 in his first 16 games at Triple-A, is a third baseman, but can play first base. With Correa out, the Astros could move Alex Bregman to shortstop and have Toro or Yuli Gurriel play third base. Utility infielder Aledmys Díaz is also on the IL after experiencing light-headedness and dizziness last week.

“With two of our infielders out, it’s hard,” Astros president of baseball operations and general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “I think there’s two reasons [Toro was called up]. He can play third, can play first, and give those guys a day off, and also he’s been one of our best offensive producers at the Minor League level for months now. We’d love to get the offense and get in the bottom four of the order that could potentially score more runs.”

Toro, a fifth-round Draft pick in 2016, spent most of the season at Double-A Corpus Christi and slashed .306/.393/.513 with 16 homers and 70 RBIs. He hit his first Triple-A homer on Wednesday night at Memphis.

Toro's promotion was announced along with a few other moves: Righty reliever Ryan Pressly, who will miss four to six weeks due to arthroscopic right knee surgery, was placed on the 10-day injured list; righty Joe Biagini was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock; and infielder Jack Mayfield was optioned to Round Rock.

Luhnow said Correa, who was placed on the injured list Tuesday with lower back stiffness, is still receiving treatment. Luhnow said he hopes he’s back playing in rehab games in the first week of September and back with the big league team for the last three weeks of the season.

Brian McTaggart has covered the Astros since 2004, and for MLB.com since 2009. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter.

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