Member Center

Sports - Hooks

Hooks Altuve Promoted to the Astros

Posted: Jul 19, 2011 6:39 PM

Bookmark and Share
Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros announced today that the club has traded infielder Jeff Keppinger to San Francisco in exchange for right-handed pitchers Henry Sosa and Jason Stoffel. Sosa and Stoffel were both pitching at Double A Richmond in the Giants organization. To take Keppinger's spot on the active roster, the Astros purchased the contract of infielder Jose Altuve from Double A Corpus Christi. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Ed Wade.

Altuve, 21, leads all of minor league baseball this season with a combined .389 (139x357) batting average at Corpus Christi (.361 in 35g) and Class A Lancaster (.408 in 52g). He's also combined to hit 22 doubles, 10 triples and 10 home runs, while posting 59 RBI and 24 stolen bases at the two stops in 2011. Altuve was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by Houston out of Venezuela in September of 2006.

Altuve will be making his Major League debut and will wear No. 27 for the Astros. He will join Houston tonight after getting word of his call-up during Corpus Christi's pregame batting practice earlier today.

"We were in the middle of BP and (Manager) Tom (Lawless) called me," said Altuve. "He was really serious. I thought it was about something serious. I didn't think it was a big league call. He gave me the phone, and Ed Wade was on. He told me I was going to the big leagues. I'm going to the big leagues, and I'm really happy about it.


"I've had to be focused (at Double A) and play hard every day. I have to do the same thing in Houston."

Sosa, 25, was 5-2 with a 2.68 ERA (12ER/40.1IP) in eight games, six starts, at Richmond. He's split this season between Richmond and Triple A Fresno, combining to post an 8-3 record and a 5.51 ERA (39ER/63.2IP). A starter throughout the majority of his minor league career, Sosa began the season in the bullpen at Fresno before rejoining Richmond's rotation in June. As a starter this season, Sosa is 4-2 with a 3.12 ERA (12ER/34.2IP). Signed by the Giants as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2004, Sosa has pitched the last eight years (2004-11) in San Francisco's organization.

Stoffel, 22, was 1-2 with 13 saves and a 3.98 ERA (14ER/31.2IP) in 32 games at Richmond this year. The 2011 season is his third as a professional, after being drafted by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State. He owns a career 4-6 record with 42 saves and a 3.77 ERA (43ER/102.1IP) in 101 minor league appearances, all in relief.

Keppinger, 30, was hitting .307 (50x163) with four homers and 20 RBI in 43 games for the Astros this season. He was originally acquired by Houston in March of 2009 from Cincinnati in exchange for a player to be named later (infielder Drew Sutton).

Comments

Video On Demand

Woman Stabbed In The Back Near Zavala Elementary-KZTV

Submit Breaking News

Do you have a tip or information about a breaking news story? Contact the KZTV 10 News Desk at 361-883-7070 x151 or send us an email.

KZTV10.COM is Social!


Click the icons above to receive News, Weather, and Sports alerts from KZTV10.COM!

Inside KZTV10.COM

Photo Central
Look at photos and videos and share them!
KZTV10.COM Mobile Website
Get KZTV10.com on your mobile or PDA!
KZTV10.COM Mobile Apps
Get our mobile apps on your mobile or PDA!
Texas Lottery
See the latest winning numbers!
10 News Team
Read about your favorite KZTV personalities!