Hooks line-up shapes up

Although it won’t be finalized until opening day, April 7, the Corpus Christi Hooks’ starting lineup is taking shape. Six of the Astros’ top 12 prospects are expected to be on the AA roster: SS Alex Bregman (No. 1), RHP Francis Martes (No. 3), RHP David Paulino (No. 7), RHP Joe Musgrove (No. 8), OF Derek Fisher (No. 9) and 3B J.D. Davis (No. 12).
Headlining the incoming group of top players are Bregman, the second overall pick in last year's draft, and Musgrove, the 2015 Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Astros outfielder Evan Gattis is expected to begin a rehab assignment with the Hooks opening day after he was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 1 due to hernia surgery. 
Rodney Linares returns as manager of the club, still burnishing his title as the reigning Texas League Manager of the Year. 
First pitch in the season opener against the Tulsa Drillers will be thrown at 7:05 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at Whataburger Field in downtown Corpus Christi. The Drillers are the AA affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. 
For a look at some of the special events planned for Thursday night, check out the Business News story that ran on the front page of the current April issue.

Team outlook

According to a press release from the Hooks this week, the prospects for a 2016 season are looking good.  
After being drafted out of LSU last June, Bregman, 22, hit .294 with 13 doubles, four triples, four homers, 34 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 66 games between Quad Cities and Lancaster. As a junior in 2015, he started all 66 LSU games at shortstop, hitting .323 with 29 doubles, nine home runs and 49 RBIs. His 38 stolen bases led the SEC and were the second most in school history. The first-team All-American finished his collegiate career by batting .538 in the College World Series. 
Returnees Conrad Gregor, Jack Mayfield and Chan-Jong Moon join Bregman in Corpus Christi's infield. Davis, Mott Hyde and Chase McDonald complete the inner defense.
Davis, 22, went 4-for-9 with three runs scored and an RBI in big-league camp this spring. Selected by the Astros in the third round of the 2014 draft out of Cal State Fullerton, he finished second in the California League with 101 RBIs last season. His 2015 totals also include a .289 batting average, 93 runs scored, 28 doubles and 26 home runs while playing exclusively for the JetHawks.
Hyde, 23, turned in a .304 average, 40 doubles and 67 RBIs in 124 games between Quad Cities and Lancaster in 2015. His double count led the Astros system and tied for ninth in minor league baseball. McDonald, 20, clubbed 30 home runs as a member of the JetHawks last year, placing fifth in the minors.
In the outfield, Fisher and Ronnie Mitchell will play alongside 2015 Corpus Christi alums Teoscar Hernandez and Danry Vasquez. Hernandez, 23, played in 14 Grapefruit League games this spring. Each of his four hits went for extra bases (3 2B/1 HR).
Fisher, 22, was a supplemental-round pick (37th overall) in the 2014 draft. The University of Virginia product batted .275 with 22 homers, 87 RBIs and a .364 on-base percentage in 123 games between Quad Cities and Lancaster last year. Fisher made his Cal League debut on May 30 at High Desert and drove in a circuit-record 12 runs, fueled by three home runs – including two grand slams.
Alfredo Gonzalez and Trent Woodward comprise Corpus Christi's catching corps. Gonzalez, a member of Houston's 40-man roster, batted .300 over a 32-game stretch with the Hooks to close out 2015. Woodward, 24, divided last year between Tri-City, Quad Cities, Lancaster and Corpus Christi.  
Musgrove, 23, anchors Corpus Christi's tandem starting pitching staff. The El Cajon, Calif., native went 12-1 with a 1.88 ERA in 19 games (14 starts) for Quad Cities, Lancaster and Corpus Christi last year. Musgrove struck out 99 and walked eight in 100 2/3 innings while posting a WHIP of 0.93. His 12.38 strikeout-to-walk ratio led minor league baseball. Musgrove won his Texas League debut June 12 at Midland by tossing seven frames of one-run ball. The effort clinched Corpus Christi's first-half title.
Musgrove is joined by Martes, Paulino, Edison Frias, Brian Holmes (L), Cy Sneed, Keegan Yuhl and Kyle Smith in the Hooks' rotation. Smith, who made 21 appearances (13 starts) for the Hooks in 2014, is working his way back from Tommy John surgery.
Danny Reynolds and Brendan McCurry are slated to begin their Astros career as cogs in the Hooks bullpen. Reynolds was picked up on waivers from the Dodgers in December after pitching a full season at Arkansas, the Angels' Texas League affiliate.
McCurry, 24, was acquired from Oakland via a trade for Jed Lowrie in November. The Oklahoma native posted a 1-3 record, 1.86 ERA and 27 saves in 28 chances over 50 outings for Double-A Midland and High-A Stockton last season. McCurry's save total led the A's system and slotted eighth in the minors. He fanned 11.7 batters per nine innings and averaged 4.82 strikeouts per walk. 
2015 Texas League All-Star Aaron West heads a stable of relievers returning to Corpus Christi. This group includes lefties Michael Freeman, Reymin Guduan and Albert Minnis.
So far the roster includes: 
Starting Pitchers — Edison Frias, Brian Holmes (LH), Francis Martes, Joe Musgrove, David Paulino, Kyle Smith, Cy Sneed, Keegan Yuhl
Relief Pitchers —  Michael Freeman (LH), Reymin Guduan (LH), Brendan McCurry, Albert Minnis (LH), Danny Reynolds, Aaron West
Catchers —  Alfredo Gonzalez, Trent Woodward
Infielders —  Alex Bregman, J.D. Davis, Conrad Gregor, Mott Hyde, Jack Mayfield, Chase McDonald, Chan-Jong Moon
Outfielders —  Derek Fisher, Teoscar Hernandez, Ronnie Mitchell, Danry Vasquez
For tickets to Hooks’ home games, visit the team website.