HOUSTON -- The excitement of fulfilling a dream by signing with the Astros last week came with another benefit for a handful of international players -- hearing words of encouragement from Major League players Yainer Diaz and Cristian Javier and manager Joe Espada. Espada made the trip to the Dominican Republic to attend Thursday’s signing ceremony at the Astros’ academy. He asked Diaz and Javier, who live in the Dominican, to join him and meet the eight international free agents who agreed to contracts. Seven of the eight players are 17 years old, and one is 16 years old. It will be a long road before any of them reaches the Major Leagues, if they even do, but Espada wanted to offer advice and remind them that the next step in the dream isn’t as far as it may seem. Espada met the players and their parents and welcomed them to the organization. “I had a few words and told them the work begins now,” Espada said. "I talked about the challenges they’ll confront moving forward, but also the people that they have to support them and that they have to help them reach their goals and their dreams. I had some time to spend with faculty and I think that’s also very important.” |
The Astros signed four players from the Dominican Republic, two from Venezuela and one player each from Cuba and Mexico. Despite receiving just $5,440,000 in pool money (tied for the smallest allotment in the Majors), Houston was able to land a pair of impact signees. Albert Fermín (No. 19 overall) will command a $2.1 million signing bonus and Randy Arias (No. 37) around $1.4 million. The signed players will live and train at the Astros’ academy and play in the Dominican Summer League later this year. Diaz played in the DSL as an 18-year-old with Cleveland in 2017 (he was traded to Houston in 2021), and Javier was signed by the Astros a week before his 18th birthday in 2015 for $10,000 and played his first year in the DSL. “I wanted the [young] players to hear from the players who have actually stepped foot in the academy and what they went through to get to the big leagues,” Espada said. “It’s not impossible if you work hard and have discipline, and Yainer and Javy touched on those things. I told them it happens quick. They are here one day and three or four years from now they’re knocking on the doors to be at the Major League level.” |
Espada watched video of all the players the Astros signed prior to his trip so he could become familiar with them. He won’t stop there. He says he plans to follow their progress throughout the season via the reports the Astros’ staff in the Dominican will be sending to him. “I want them to know, as the Major League manager, I’m always reading the report,” Espada said. “I want to know who’s the next player who’s going to help us at the Major League level that’s going to come out of our [Dominican] complex. It means a lot for them to hear from me, but also some of our players.” One of the most difficult parts of the journey for young players signed out of Latin America is making the transition to the United States in the future. The Astros will give them tools to succeed, including English classes, but at some point they will make the move to the team’s facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. Espada hopes a familiar face will make it a bit easier. “They’re not seeing a stranger,” Espada said. “They know me and we have talked and that helps them with overcoming some of the anxiety that happens when you get to the States. I always wanted to do that and I’m glad I got the chance.” |
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FANFEST, CARAVAN SCHEDULES |
The Astros’ annual winter caravan runs today through Friday with stops throughout Texas and the Houston area. Espada and several players will be in various locations over the next few days to meet fans and sign autographs. The full schedule can be found at astros.com/caravan. The team’s annual FanFest will take place from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. CT Saturday at Daikin Park. Current and former players will join members of the coaching staff and broadcasters for autograph sessions, photo opportunities and more. For more information on FanFest and to purchase the required entry voucher, visit astros.com/fanfest. |
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• Ryan Pressly, a two-time All-Star who saved 111 games for the Astros in his career, including Game 6 of the 2022 World Series, announced his retirement. • Last week, the Astros released their preliminary Spring Training roster, which included four of their top five-ranked prospects by MLB Pipeline: infielder Brice Matthews (No. 1), catcher Walker Janek (No. 3), right-hander Miguel Ullola (No. 4) and outfielder Joseph Sullivan (No. 5). Here’s a closer look at the non-roster invitees coming to camp. |
Carlos Beltrán, whose arrival in Houston following a June 24, 2004, trade from the Royals helped spark the Astros to the postseason, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He was elected along with Andruw Jones, the dynamic center fielder of the Braves dynasty of the 1990s and early 2000s. Beltrán played 90 games with the Astros in 2004, batting .258 with 23 home runs, 53 RBIs and 28 stolen bases while representing them in the All-Star Game. Beltrán tied Barry Bonds’ single-postseason record by hitting eight home runs, including a record five consecutive games. He played that season alongside Jeff Kent, who was voted in by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee in December. Beltrán finished his career with the Astros in 2017 and hit 14 homers in 129 games en route to receiving his only World Series ring. |
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