HOUSTON -- It was a homecoming for Astros starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski on Tuesday, as the former Cy-Fair High School product, a part of Cy-Fair ISD in Northwest Houston, took the mound at Daikin Park.
Wesneski, who played his college ball 70 miles north of Houston at Sam Houston State, was met with cheers when he was announced as the starting pitcher in pregame ceremonies.
¡°I didn¡¯t think I was going to be as nervous as I was,¡± Wesneski said. ¡°A little kicked in right before I went out. It was a really good time. It¡¯s a moment I won¡¯t forget. Next Tuesday is what really matters.¡±
The 27-year-old gave up one run on six hits, walking two and striking out three in 4 1/3 innings of the Astros¡¯ 7-6 exhibition loss to Triple-A Sugar Land. It was his longest outing of the spring.
¡°I felt like I was in control, I felt like there was focus there,¡± Wesneski said. ¡°Was intentional with the pitches. I would miss and I would make an adjustment. I didn¡¯t feel like I was ever out of it, really. What I really appreciated about tonight was that I would get behind in counts and I would work my way back.¡±
It was his fifth spring outing after being acquired from the Cubs this offseason as a part of the Kyle Tucker trade.
¡°I do feel like I¡¯m a better pitcher than I was when I came in,¡± Wesneski said. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m in shape, my body feels great. We¡¯re in a good spot for the year to start off.¡±
Last season, Wesneski appeared in 28 games for the Cubs across three stints. He posted a 3.86 ERA and opponents hit .215 against him. Wesneski hopes to anchor the back end of the Astros¡¯ rotation.
In his Major League career, Wesneski has never played a game in his hometown or his home state of Texas.
¡°Yesterday I took my time and went out, put my cleats on outside and just looked around,¡± Wesneski said. ¡°It¡¯s a view I really haven¡¯t had before. So take the moment and enjoy it. Sit in the bullpen and look around. Not a whole lot of people get that experience. I took full advantage of it.¡±
Garcia to receive second opinion
Astros right-hander Luis Garcia will seek a second opinion about the right elbow soreness that scratched him from a live batting practice session on March 20.
¡°We want to talk to some other doctors around the country to make sure that we can all be on the same page and get the treatment that Luis Garcia needs,¡± Astros manager Joe Espada said.
Garcia hasn¡¯t pitched in a Major League game since May 2023. He started a Minor League rehab assignment last June but suffered another setback and was shut down in August.
Final roster spots solidified
Entering Tuesday, Espada still had three final roster spots to fill out his 26-man roster ahead of Opening Day.
Zach Dezenzo, who homered on Tuesday night, made the roster after hitting .391 with two home runs and seven RBIs in Spring Training.
¡°It all pays off,¡± Dezenzo said. ¡°When you¡¯re going through it and you're in the grind of it ¡ you kind of get that feeling that someday it is going to pay off.¡±
Cam Smith was surprised by his mother during a team meeting with the news that he had made the roster. The 22-year-old spent a mere 32 games in the Minors and will now be the Astros starting right fielder.
The final roster spot, which came down to infielders Brendan Rodgers and Zack Short, ended up going to Rodgers.
¡°I think we identify a few things offensively that we can tap into and get him back to hitting the ball in the air frequently,¡± Espada said about Rodgers. ¡°We like his defense, we know he¡¯s won a Gold Glove before and he had a really good showing in Spring Training. Really wanted to have him around and tap into those things we identified that we could get a good offensive player.¡±
Espada said that Rodgers will be playing some second base for the Astros. Last season, as the Rockies primary second baseman he hit .267 with 29 doubles, 13 homers and 54 RBIs in 135 games. In 2022, Rodgers won the National League Gold Glove Award at second base and has 395 career starts at second. He was originally selected by Colorado with the third overall pick in the 2015 Draft.
¡°I think I ended up in the right place,¡± Rodgers said. ¡°Winning franchise, winning team, winning coaches. I¡¯m excited to be here.¡±