Musgrove Moves To Cusp Of Majors
HOUSTON—Within the first five days of righthander Joe Musgrove’s tenure at Triple-A Fresno, he witnessed teammates Tony Kemp and Colin Moran called to the majors on back-to-back days.
In the near future, the Astros’ prospect starter closest to the majors will likely find himself getting the same call. Musgrove made his Pacific Coast League debut on May 13, and on his current trajectory could reach Minute Maid Park this summer.
The 23-year-old Musgrove earned his promotion to Fresno by dominating to the tune of a 0.34 ERA over 26 innings at Double-A Corpus Christi.
His main focus this season, he said, is throwing each of his five pitches for strikes.
“The mindset I think is the biggest thing that’s kind of changed for me the past couple years,” said Musgrove, an El Cajon, Calif., high school product whom the Blue Jays selected in the supplemental first round in 2011. “I’ve become really confident and trusting in my stuff that I throw.”
Toronto traded Musgrove to Houston in July 2012 in a 10-player deal, in part because his career had been sidetracked by injuries.
“I take every pitch as if there’s a runner on third base,” Musgrove said. “I try to stay focused on every pitch and not relax on two-out pitches or (pitches with) no one on base. I just try to really make the most of every pitch. That’s going to keep me in the zone and keep me in the game longer.”
Musgrove’s calling card is his command, which enhances his entire repertoire. In addition to four-seam and two-seam fastballs, he throws a slider, a curveball and a changeup. His curveball is probably the weakest link, but even that he throws for strikes.
“I haven’t really changed my approach at all (at Triple-A) just because it’s a different level,” Musgrove said.
“I’m trying to stick to my strengths and the things that have really gotten me here and made me successful.”
SPACE SHOTS
• The Astros began testing Alex Bregman at third base in games at Corpus Christi on May 13. Carlos Correa has long made a position change inevitable for Bregman, a natural shortstop who has excelled in his first year in Double-A. He could reach the majors as early as later this season.
• Riley Ferrell, a righthanded reliever at high Class A Lancaster, had surgery on May 11 to repair an aneurysm in his throwing shoulder area. The 2015 third-round pick out of Texas Christian will probably miss the rest of this season but is expected to recover for next year.
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