Employees of the Month: April 2013

And so the Astros finished April with a record of 8-19. Which is five games better than what one of Danny Knobler's Scout Buddies predicted for the Astros in April. So with one month (plus one March game) in the books, let's get to the Astros' Employees of the Month. (Minor-League Employees of the Month will come later today).

Hitter:

Jose Altuve
This one could have gone one of two ways. But Altuve did what Altuve does, and that's rack up hits - his 37 hits are tied the Torii Hunter, Miguel Cabrera and Adam Jones for the Major-League lead. With Altuve as the only Astro with 50+ PAs to hit over .300, as well as being tied for team-lead in extra-base hits, and whose nine walks are third on the team, the honor goes to Altuve.


Honorable Mention:

Marwin Gonzalez

But it could have just as easily gone to Marwin Gonzalez. If you had Gonzalez leading the team (among players with 50+ PAs) in OPS, then you should be burned for witchcraft. Gonzalez is hitting .297/.338/.516 with three homers in April. That's 72 plate appearances. In 219 plate appearances in 2012, Gonzalez hit two homers. He's already over halfway to his 2012 extra-base hit total in a third of his PAs.  

Brandon Barnes
In 18 games (47PAs), Barnes is hitting .375/.468/.525 with 10K:6BB and a team-high three stolen bases.

Pitcher:

Lucas Harrell:
By default we have to go with Lucas Harrell. In six starts, Harrell was 3-2 with a 3.60 ERA/1.54 WHIP. In his last four starts, Harrell threw 24.2IP, 25H/5ER, 18K:9BB with a 1.82 ERA. In five of his six starts, Harrell has kept the opposition to two runs or less.

Honorable Mention:
Nobody.