Rogelio Armenteros Takes Strides Toward Houston

Before they invested $47.5 million dollars in first baseman Yuli Gurriel, $4 million in lefthander Cionel Perez and $3.8 million in righthander Elian Rodriguez (including overage taxes), the Astros dipped their toes into the Cuban market by signing little-known righthander Rogelio Armenteros for $40,000 in September 2014.

Three years later, Armenteros is on the doorstep of the major leagues. In other organizations, he would probably already be there.

Armenteros, a 23-year-old listed at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, has bettered his prospect stock by baffling hitters in both the Double-A Texas and Triple-A Pacific Coast leagues this season. In 58.1 innings over 10 starts at Triple-A Fresno, he struck out 72 against 19 walks and recorded a 2.16 ERA.

If it weren’t for a full Astros’ 40-man roster, a lack of available innings (especially in the wake of the team’s acquisition of Justin Verlander) and the fact Armenteros doesn’t need protection from the Rule 5 draft this winter, the young Cuban would have probably already garnered a September callup.

Regardless, he put himself on the map for 2018, whether as a starter or as a reliever for the Astros.

Armenteros, who had 1.93 ERA in 65.1 innings at Double-A Corpus Christi this season, relies on deception. His best swing-and-miss pitch is his changeup, which he’s willing to throw in any count. At the end of his delivery, he falls off toward first base, similarly to Astros reliever Chris Devenski.

“When I think of him, I think of deception and pitchability,” farm director Pete Putila said.

Putila also noted a velocity uptick that has helped Armenteros this season. Whereas his fastball used to sit at 89-92 mph, Armenteros this season has pitched anywhere from 90-95 mph, according to Putila.

Armenteros also throws a breaking ball he manipulates to look like a shorter slider or a bigger curveball. Known as one to fill up the strike zone, his willingness to mix his pitches in any count and pitch to either side of the plate eased his transition to Triple-A.

“He’ll throw that changeup at any time,” said catcher Max Stassi, his batterymate at Fresno before the Astros called him up Stassi. “The thing that’s really impressed me with him is he’s a really intelligent pitcher, too. He reads swings. He’s smart. He works extremely hard. I think he’s going to have a bright future.

“I definitely think that he’ll pitch in the big leagues and have some success up here, too.”