Castro heading Home for the Off-Season

After Saturday's Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game, the Astros have decided to send catcher Jason Castro home to rest and focus on the 2010 season. Houston's 2008 #1 draft pick has had an eventful first professional season, playing almost nonstop from February to November. He has donned the tools of ignorance in Florida, California, Texas, Europe and Arizona. He is expected to challenge for the Astros starting job next spring.

Watch Castro in Arizona Saturday

Farmstro Catcher Jason Castro will be on the MLB Network (simulcast on MLB.com) Saturday night at 7:15 pm (Houston Time). Castro is slated to play in the Rising Stars Game of the Arizona Fall League.

Congratulations to Sutil

It was good to see Wladamir Sutil added to the 40-man roster. Maybe it's the first name, Wladamir!, but I he's been one of my favorite Farmstros since this blog launched back in September 2007.

Abad, Sutil added to 40-man Roster

Infielder Wladamir Sutil and Left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad have been added to the Astros 40-man roster. Sutil spent 2009 in Corpus Christi. Abad spent the majority of the season in Lancaster's bullpen. However, he started a few games for Corpus at the end of the season. He is reportedly transitioning to a starting role, and has started a few games in the Caribbean this off-season.
Both players were eligible to become minor league free agents on Monday.

More On Coe

Yesterday, I posted about the Astros releasing Ryan Coe, who hadn't played in ten years. The word from Stephen Grande in the Houston Media Relations Department is that Coe landed a scouting job with the Rangers, so the Astros released him completely.

A few Links

Brian McTaggart at astros.com has an update on Farmstros playing in Arizona

Zach Levine at the Houston Chronicle has an interview with 2009 first round draft pick Jiovanni Mier

Coe Released

A transaction post on Baseball America on October 29 indicated that the Astros activated from the inactive list consequently released a first baseman name Ryan Coe. Being unfamiliar with this name, I did a little research on Coe. As best I can determine, Coe was drafted in 1995 by Houston. He played in the system through 1999, reaching the High A Level. I am assuming this move was mostly just a paperwork move.

I also discovered yesterday that Jacob Priday, IF, who the Astros drafted out of Missouri in 2008, retired after the 2008 season. Priday was listed as inactive throughout the 2009 season.