Houston Astros pitcher Rogelio Armenteros had surgery on his right elbow, which will put him on the shelf for eight weeks.
HIALEAH,FL-Houston Astros pitcher Rogelio Armenteros will miss the next eight weeks after having surgery to remove a small calcification that was protruding from his right elbow. The young hurler from Havana was shut down by the team a few weeks ago due to soreness in his arm and elbow.
This all but eliminates the righty from the competition for the fifth starter in the rotation, a competition he was in with Josh James and Austin Pruitt. The crafty Cuban made his debut with the ball club late last season and compiled a record of 1-1 in five games while sporting an ERA of 4.00, he also averaged a strikeout per inning with the big club.
The loss of Armenteros removes a very valuable piece from the Astros staff, the righty is a very versatile pitcher who can spot start or come in as a long reliever. In his five minor league seasons with the Astros’ farm clubs he has been above average compiling a record of 35-20 and an earned run average of 3.45. Although he isn’t an extremely hard thrower topping out at 94 miles an hour, he still averaged 9.9 SO/9 in 514.1 minor league innings. That is mostly due to his deceptive breaking and off speed pitches.
His best season in the minors was 2018 when he posted a record of 8-1 and a 3.74 in 22 starts with the Fresno Grizzlies (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League.
He has also been impressive in the ultra competitive Dominican Winter League with the Cibao Giants. In two seasons with the Caribbean ball club, he has a record of 2-1 and a sparkling 1.71 ERA.
Armenteros started his professional career with Havana’s Industriales Blue Lions at the age of 17. He impressed foreign scouts enough to warrant a defection and eventual signing with the Texas ball club in 2014 as an international free agent.
Will the stoppage of play due to the coronavirus outbreak aid his recovery and give him a fighting chance to make the ball club? I’m very doubtful of that, but only time will tell.