The Astros are going to name up infielder Zach Dezenzo, studies Chandler Rome of The Athletic on X. They might want to make corresponding strikes to open house for him on the lively and 40-man rosters.
Dezenzo, 24, will get the key league name for the primary time. A Twelfth-round choose of the Astros in 2022, he has made a fast rise by the farm system. He cut up his time between Excessive-A and Double-A final 12 months, hitting 18 residence runs in 94 video games. His 25.9% strikeout charge was a bit excessive however he additionally drew walks at a stable 10.2% clip. His mixed batting line was .304/.383/.531 for a 141 wRC+, although with an unsustainable .382 batting common on balls in play.
Coming into 2024, Baseball America ranked him #5 within the membership’s system. They famous that his bat-to-ball abilities are low however he makes good selections and crushes the pitches that he does make contact with, resulting in robust exit velocities.
He started this 12 months on the shelf on account of a wrist subject and started a rehab task on the Complicated League in early June. It was round that point that FanGraphs ranked him #6 within the system, suggesting he might wind up like Eugenio Suárez as a man who strikes out so much however places the ball over the fence sufficient to nonetheless be a helpful contributor, although maybe in streaky vogue.
As soon as he overcame his wrist subject, Dezenzo returned to Double-A and hit a tepid .222/.308/.370 in 22 video games there however was nonetheless promoted to Triple-A and debuted at that stage on July 24, lower than two weeks in the past. He has since been on an enormous heater, hitting .391/.472/.739 in his 11 Triple-A video games. He received’t keep a .438 BABIP nevertheless it’s encouraging that he has 4 residence runs and an 11.3% stroll charge in that point.
It’s an aggressive transfer for the Astros to advertise him regardless of his lack of a observe report, nevertheless it displays how a lot they’ve struggled to get manufacturing out of their first base slot. José Abreu had an terrible time this 12 months, struggling a lot that he agreed to be optioned for a time. Round that stint on the farm, he hit .124/.167/.195 within the majors and was launched in the course of June.
Jon Singleton has picked up the majority of enjoying time at first base in Abreu’s absence however has hit .230/.311/.354 this 12 months for a 91 wRC+. That’s not disastrous manufacturing, solely 9% under league common total, however golf equipment usually count on first base to be a place the place they will rely on robust offensive output. He’s additionally been slumping of late, with a line of .167/.196/.315 courting again to July 13.
Dezenzo has been splitting his time between third base and first base this 12 months nevertheless it appears unlikely he’ll see important time on the scorching nook with the presence of Alex Bregman and the struggles on the different finish of the diamond. It’s a daring transfer, with Dezenzo having simply 85 Double-A video games and 11 Triple-A contests on his ledger however the Astros are in a good race and didn’t get any first base assist previous to the deadline.
Houston began out dreadfully this 12 months however managed to climb again into the race. They’re at present 5 video games again of a Wild Card spot however only a sport and a half behind the Mariners within the West division. Maybe Dezenzo may give them a little bit of a lift if he can shortly acclimate to huge league pitching. It’s additionally doable that this can be a little bit of an audition for subsequent 12 months, with Bregman slated totally free company. Prospect studies usually forged some doubt on Dezenzo’s capability to stay at third, which can possible be a long-term query, however the first take a look at might be dealing with himself on the plate.
