Astros Still Believe In Reymin Guduan

HOUSTON—Lefthander Reymin Guduan signed with the Astros as a 17-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in September 2009. He is now 24, a seven-year minor leaguer who reached Triple-A only last May, but the team still felt his value was high enough to add him to the 40-man roster in November.

Lefthanded relievers with the ability to throw 100 mph don’t come along all that often, and despite shoddy results the Astros didn’t want to lose this one to another organization. When they selected Guduan’s contract on Nov. 5, they did so with the expectation he would reach the major leagues in 2017.

“He’s a guy that, being lefthanded and throwing as hard as he does, has shown glimpses of being able to help us in the big league level,” Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said.

Most likely, Guduan will require further seasoning in Triple-A to earn a spot on the Astros’ 25-man roster. Standing 6-foot-4 and featuring a mid-to-high 90s fastball and a slider in the mid 80s, control issues separate him from reaching his potential.

Guduan has struck out 10.9 batters per nine innings over his career but also issued a whopping 7.1 walks per nine. He walked 34 batters in 43 innings last season in Triple-A, where he went 2-3, 5.23.

The Astros’ lack of lefthanded relief options helped Guduan’s case for a 40-man roster spot. Veteran Tony Sipp is under contract for two more years at $6 million each but is coming off a career-worst season. Their only other lefthander, 28-year-old Kevin Chapman, posted a 4.87 ERA at Triple-A last year.

Guduan will have more competition if the Astros acquire another lefthanded reliever to protect themselves in the event Sipp doesn’t bounce back. Even so, the longtime minor leaguer will have a chance to crack the majors next season, so long as he learns to more consistently control his electric two-pitch mix.

SPACE SHOTS

• Former Astros top prospect Jon Singleton cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Fresno. Singleton, still guaranteed $4.5 million of the divisive five-year, $10-million extension he signed in the summer of 2014, batted .202 with 20 home runs and a .728 OPS in Fresno last season.

• The Astros lost 2012 second-round draft pick Nolan Fontana off waivers to the Angels. Fontana, 25, a middle infielder, hit just .195 with a .529 OPS last season in Triple-A.