Altuve relishes WBC experience
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Upon his return to Astros camp Monday, Jose Altuve raved about his experience in the World Baseball Classic.
Altuve and Team Venezuela were eliminated from the WBC on Saturday. The star second baseman returned to West Palm Beach from San Diego on Sunday and was back in the Astros’ Grapefruit League lineup for Monday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“It was great. If I have the chance to do it again, I definitely will do it because of the guys that I played with,” Altuve said. “I lived one of my coolest experiences playing with those guys — with Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Gonzalez, Martin Prado, Felix Hernandez, Ender Inciarte. I mean, all those guys who are like really good. We didn’t win the tournament, (and) that was the goal, but I think we were really happy with the time we spent with each other.”
Altuve batted .259 (7for-27) with no extra-base hits in his first WBC. The four-time All Star was benched by Venezuela manager Omar Vizquel in favor of Rougned Odor for the March 13 elimination game against Italy and moved to third base while Odor played second base in two of the team’s three second-round games.
“I did what I did for my teammates,” Altuve said. “If I sat on the bench or if I played third or whatever, it was because of my teammates. They were playing really hard, they were playing 100 percent, and because of the great group of guys that we had, they deserved (me doing that for the team).”
Altuve said he wants to play as much as possible over the Astros’ final nine Grapefruit League games as he readies for the regular season. The reigning AL batting champ was only 1-for-12 at the plate before he left Florida a couple weeks ago to join Team Venezuela. On Monday night, he was 0-for-4 and grounded into a pair of double plays.
“This is the time of year where you’re still trying to figure it out,” he said. “Even last year, I started the season, and my swing was still a little bit in front, sometimes late. But it’s a long season. … You have time to adjust.”
It’s bullpen again for Devenski
They say actions speak louder than words, and though Astros manager A.J. Hinch hasn’t definitely declared it, it’s quite clear Chris Devenski will begin the regular season back in the bullpen.
Stretched out as a starter early in the Grapefruit League schedule, Devenski has been limited to two innings in each of his last two spring outings. The Astros are still keeping the righthander’s pitch count up in the 40s as an insurance policy, but their rotation is for the most part healthy with less than two weeks until opening day.
“I feel good about it,” Devenski said of the relief role, in which he had a 1.61 ERA in 832⁄3 innings last season. “I know that starting (possibility) is still open, (in a) spot start or whatever’s best for the team. But I’ve been doing my thing out of the bullpen, and it feels good.”
Devenski reiterated on Monday he will pitch in “whatever situation that I’m called upon.” Although he’s targeted for the opening-day bullpen, he could be needed as a starter during the season in the event of injuries. He made five starts for the Astros last year, including one during a doubleheader.
After allowing a combined seven runs over 41⁄3 innings in his two Grapefruit League starts, Devenski has logged seven scoreless innings over three consecutive relief appearances. He is next scheduled to pitch Friday.
Odds and ends
Joe Musgrove needed only 59 pitches to complete five innings Monday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, his only blemish a two-run homer he allowed to Jose Martinez. The 24-year-old righthander has a 2.65 ERA through 17 Grapefruit League innings. …
The Astros gave up 12 unanswered runs in their 12-6 loss to the Cardinals. Framber Valdez and Tyson Perez gave up four runs apiece. …
Summoned from minor league camp Monday for a second time, outfield prospect Kyle Tucker struck out on 97 mph heat from St. Louis’ Trevor Rosenthal in his only plate appearance in the game. …
Preston Tucker played Monday in his first game since he underwent shoulder surgery in September. Tucker had three plate appearances in one of the Astros’ minor league games. He flew out to right field, flew out to center field and drew a four-pitch walk. The team still hopes he can work his way into Grapefruit League action before camp breaks March 29. …
Relief pitchers Will Harris and Tony Sipp will make their next appearances in minor league games. Available innings are becoming fewer, and according to manager A.J. Hinch, the team wants to use the major league games to see players competing for bullpen jobs (like James Hoyt and Jandel Gustave) or those who figure to serve as Class AAA depth.