Delayed a week by weather, rookie set to debut tonight
The retractable roof at Minute Maid Park should offer one assurance for Ezequiel Astacio: His second recall to the Astros will last longer than his first.
Astacio, 25, who stated his case to make the club in spring training before being sent to Class AAA Round Rock, was ready for his major-league debut last week Pittsburgh before rain intervened.
Astacio was en route to PNC Park when the Astros decided Andy Pettitte, scheduled to start against the Pirates last Tuesday, would pitch Wednesday after Tuesday's game was postponed.
Astacio wasn't in the Steel City long enough to enjoy one of its famous high-carb, high-calorie Primanti's sandwiches.
"I didn't even get a chance to see the guy in Pittsburgh," pitching coach Jim Hickey said. "He came in one day and they sent him back out the next day. I'm glad he was able to be recalled again quickly, because you're so close and you have the uniform almost on your back and then, boom, you get a phone call and you're gone."
Rain or shine, Astacio will make his first start with the Astros tonight against the Pirates. Rookie outfielder Luke Scott was optioned to Round Rock after Monday's game to open a roster spot.
Acquired from Philadelphia along with Brandon Duckworth and Taylor Buchholz for Billy Wagner on Nov. 3, 2003, Astacio was 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA, striking out 13 and walking three in 13 1/3 innings this spring.
Duckworth got the fifth starter's nod, but in three April appearances, including two starts, he went 0-1 with a 12.60 ERA.
Now that his time has come, Astacio must avoid the temptation of trying to prove he belonged on the opening day roster all along.
"I hope he doesn't come in and try to do too much too soon, because he is a real competitor," general manager Tim Purpura said. "The thing that I will expect him to do is compete really well. He's confident; he's got a lot of poise for a young pitcher.
"I'm really excited about him coming up. He really works hard, he's taken instruction very well, and it's nice to see a young guy like him get a chance to excel in this environment."
Astacio's performance this spring on the heels of last season and a strong offseason sealed the deal for Purpura, who spent the previous seven seasons overseeing player development for the Astros.
In his first season with the organization, Astacio was 13-10 with a 3.89 ERA at then-Class AA Round Rock in 2004. He was named a Texas League postseason all-star after setting an Express record with 185 strikeouts and leading the league with 176 innings.
In the Dominican Winter League, Astacio went 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA.
"He had a great Double-A season, a great Dominican Winter League (and) pitched well against major-league hitters in spring training," Purpura said. "The more data you get, the more it leads you to believe you may have a major-league pitcher on your hands."
Hickey was convinced on March 10 after watching Astacio work three perfect innings in Florida against the same St. Louis Cardinals lineup that bashed its way to the 2004 NL pennant.
"I absolutely think that he has the mental toughness and the intestinal fortitude to be a successful major-league pitcher, without a doubt," Hickey said. "Just watching him in spring training, especially against the Cardinals, he went right through the heart of that lineup very aggressively. He didn't pick; he threw strikes and went right after them."
Having displayed talent at every level, Astacio ? who features a low- to mid-90s fastball, a plus split-finger pitch and a developing slider ? will finally get his chance.
"If he can get through five or six innings, keep the runs down and be effective, I'll be happy with that," Purpura said. "And if we can continue to groom him and get him better, he can have that fifth spot all year.
"This is not a temporary assignment; I hope it's not. I hope he grabs that fifth spot and stays with it."
The retractable roof at Minute Maid Park should offer one assurance for Ezequiel Astacio: His second recall to the Astros will last longer than his first.
Astacio, 25, who stated his case to make the club in spring training before being sent to Class AAA Round Rock, was ready for his major-league debut last week Pittsburgh before rain intervened.
Astacio was en route to PNC Park when the Astros decided Andy Pettitte, scheduled to start against the Pirates last Tuesday, would pitch Wednesday after Tuesday's game was postponed.
Astacio wasn't in the Steel City long enough to enjoy one of its famous high-carb, high-calorie Primanti's sandwiches.
"I didn't even get a chance to see the guy in Pittsburgh," pitching coach Jim Hickey said. "He came in one day and they sent him back out the next day. I'm glad he was able to be recalled again quickly, because you're so close and you have the uniform almost on your back and then, boom, you get a phone call and you're gone."
Rain or shine, Astacio will make his first start with the Astros tonight against the Pirates. Rookie outfielder Luke Scott was optioned to Round Rock after Monday's game to open a roster spot.
Acquired from Philadelphia along with Brandon Duckworth and Taylor Buchholz for Billy Wagner on Nov. 3, 2003, Astacio was 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA, striking out 13 and walking three in 13 1/3 innings this spring.
Duckworth got the fifth starter's nod, but in three April appearances, including two starts, he went 0-1 with a 12.60 ERA.
Now that his time has come, Astacio must avoid the temptation of trying to prove he belonged on the opening day roster all along.
"I hope he doesn't come in and try to do too much too soon, because he is a real competitor," general manager Tim Purpura said. "The thing that I will expect him to do is compete really well. He's confident; he's got a lot of poise for a young pitcher.
"I'm really excited about him coming up. He really works hard, he's taken instruction very well, and it's nice to see a young guy like him get a chance to excel in this environment."
Astacio's performance this spring on the heels of last season and a strong offseason sealed the deal for Purpura, who spent the previous seven seasons overseeing player development for the Astros.
In his first season with the organization, Astacio was 13-10 with a 3.89 ERA at then-Class AA Round Rock in 2004. He was named a Texas League postseason all-star after setting an Express record with 185 strikeouts and leading the league with 176 innings.
In the Dominican Winter League, Astacio went 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA.
"He had a great Double-A season, a great Dominican Winter League (and) pitched well against major-league hitters in spring training," Purpura said. "The more data you get, the more it leads you to believe you may have a major-league pitcher on your hands."
Hickey was convinced on March 10 after watching Astacio work three perfect innings in Florida against the same St. Louis Cardinals lineup that bashed its way to the 2004 NL pennant.
"I absolutely think that he has the mental toughness and the intestinal fortitude to be a successful major-league pitcher, without a doubt," Hickey said. "Just watching him in spring training, especially against the Cardinals, he went right through the heart of that lineup very aggressively. He didn't pick; he threw strikes and went right after them."
Having displayed talent at every level, Astacio ? who features a low- to mid-90s fastball, a plus split-finger pitch and a developing slider ? will finally get his chance.
"If he can get through five or six innings, keep the runs down and be effective, I'll be happy with that," Purpura said. "And if we can continue to groom him and get him better, he can have that fifth spot all year.
"This is not a temporary assignment; I hope it's not. I hope he grabs that fifth spot and stays with it."
