Hummell will get work at 1B in Triple-A
ARLINGTON — Cooper Hummel, the utility player claimed off waivers by the Astros on Thursday, will play corner outfield and some first base at Triple-A Sugar Land, Astros manager Joe Espada said.
Houston claimed Hummel from the Giants and added the 29-year-old switch-hitter to its 40-man roster. Hummel has mostly played left field, catcher and first base in the minors. Espada said the Astros do not plan to have Hummel catch. He was in Sugar Land’s lineup at left field Thursday, but Espada said he will also get a look at first base, a position that is worth following at Houston’s upperminor-league level.
Behind José Abreu and Jon Singleton, the Astros have little established first-base depth and appear to be working a few players there at Triple-A. Trey Cabbage and prospect Will Wagner have each started three of Sugar Land’s first eight games at first. Joey Loperfido, a spring training standout, saw his first start there on Saturday. David Hensley has also made one first-base start.
Espada honored at alma mater
On the Astros’ off-day Thursday, Espada returned to his alma mater, the University of Mobile in Alabama, to be inducted into its athletics hall of fame. Espada played three seasons with the baseball team there and holds the program record for career batting average (.442).
Espada, who was drafted out of Mobile in the second round by the Oakland A’s in 1996, nearly did not attend college. He recalled that the Milwaukee Brewers offered to sign him from high school in Puerto Rico, but his parents urged him to consider the college route.
“I thank them until today (for) pushing me in that direction, because it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made to go to college,” Espada said.
Astros trade for infielder Amaya
The Astros acquired minor-league infielder Jacob Amaya from the Miami Marlins in a trade for minor-league pitcher Valente Bellozo and cash Saturday, adding depth to their 40-man roster.
Amaya, a middle infielder, was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land. Houston transferred Bennett Sousa, who is expected to miss the season after thoracic outlet surgery, to the 60-day injured list to create a 40-man roster spot for Amaya.
Injury report
Justin Verlander is tentatively set for 70 to 75 pitches in his rehab start for Sugar Land on Sunday, the right-hander’s first in his return from a shoulder issue.
Houston is hopeful Verlander will need just two rehab starts before rejoining its rotation. Sugar Land will be at Albuquerque on the date Verlander’s second start would likely fall, but he could make that start for Double-A Corpus Christi during a series at Frisco.
José Urquidy, who is recovering from a forearm muscle strain, played catch on Saturday and said he totaled 40 throws from 75 feet. Urquidy said the tightness in his forearm is resolved. But it’s unclear when the righthander could resume throwing from a mound.