Even with breakout performances, Houston didn’t have much place for fresh additions to the MLB roster.
While Houston Astros outfield prospect Joey Loperfido impressed during Spring Training, he will not be on the team’s Opening Day roster.
Loperfido was assigned a variety of important tasks toward the end of Spring Training. Fans can still see him play for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Monday and Tuesday during the Astros’ exhibition games at Minute Maid Park.
“I did everything they wanted me to do,” Loperfido told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. “It was a pretty pleasant talk between Joe and me—just that it was not my time right now, but they believe I can help the team this year. I feel like I came in and did exactly what I wanted to do on my end, which was to myself in the clubhouse in my work here and just kind of let my play speak for itself. Just going to go back to business and go work in Triple-A and stay ready.”
Loperfido was part of a variety of minor league assignments that the club’s new development account posted on Sunday. Among the notables was Trey Cabbage, another left-handed batting option the team acquired from the Los Angeles Angels to play in the outfield or at first base. Top pitching prospect Spencer Arrighetti had been sent down to minor league camp earlier this month, and will remain on the Sugar Land Space Cowboys with Loperfido and Cabbage. The remaining familiar names like David Hensley and Jacob Melton also received their assignments, while some, such as outfielder Corey Julks and infielder Grae Kessinger, await to see their fate on the Opening Day roster over the next few days.
Loperfido entered Spring Training as one of the club’s top prospects, and someone who could add a left-handed bat to a lineup that lost Michael Brantley to retirement. He finished with a .382/.488/.588 slash line, going 13 for 34 at the plate with five doubles, one triple and seven RBI. He drew seven walks and struck out 13 times in his 41 plate appearances.
Loperfido’s impact isn’t for nothing. In fact, manager Joe Espada told reporters on Sunday that he wants to see Loperfido get some work at first base down at the Triple-A level.
Loperfido played first base during his freshman year of college at Duke University, and played the position in 19 of his 124 games in the minor leagues last season, only playing the position twice at the Triple-A level. Outfielder Jacob Melton, the club’s No. 1 prospect going into this season, struggled in his Spring Training debut, batting .087 for two hits in his 25 plate appearances. Melton will start his season with the team’s Double-A affiliate, the Corpus Christi Hooks.
Cabbage’s Spring Training debut with the Astros wasn’t as strong, going 4 for 36 at the plate for two doubles, one home run and three RBI. He made 36 plate appearances and his batting average of .111 matched his on-base percentage of .111, not drawing a single walk. He struck out 17 times.
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