Houston Astros: Called-up prospect Jack Mayfield has something to prove

Houston Astros infielder Aledmys Diaz is heading to the 10-Day DL and the team has called up prospect Jack Mayfield to replace. What will be his impact?

The Houston Astros continue to deal with a myriad of injury woes as Aledmys Diaz has now been added to what is now a growing injury roster. George Springer suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain over the weekend and he could be out weeks — possibly longer — before he returns.

Max Stassi (left knee soreness) and Diaz have been placed on the 10-Day injured list so that way they’ll have the opportunity to heal. Jose Altuve (hamstring) is currently up in Nashville with Triple-A Round Rock tending to his rehab assignment. He went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts in a 9-5 loss to the Sounds yesterday.

The expectation is that Altuve will get one more rehab start, re-evaluate and may be back in the Houston Astros lineup Tuesday but it all is contingent on how his injury responds in live game action.

With the uncertainty of Altuve’s return, per a report from Jake Kaplan of The Athletic, the Houston Astros have called up infielder Jack Mayfield from the Express to take Diaz’s spot for the time being.

However, if Altuve does return back the lineup, it may be a quick stay for Mayfield as they’d prefer to have their likely future Hall of Famer back in the fray, giving them the best chance to win against the Chicago Cubs.

What is the deal with these hamstring injuries? They’re worse off than the Houston Texans which had a similar issue back in the 2017 season! But luckily with the depth of this roster, the Houston Astros will likely see some continuity and be able to remain competitive.

I would’ve liked for the Houston Astros to sweep the Boston Red Sox yesterday but it just looked like they just didn’t have enough to push themselves over the top, despite a still-decent pitching performance from Justin Verlander.

Mayfield, a versatile infielder that can play second, third and shortstop as well being able to pitch, has been in the Houston Astros organization since 2013 and was signed as an undrafted free agent. His ascent through the minors has been a bit slower than most but this is his shot to let the world know that he’s a quality baseball player.

Here’s what Brad Kyle of The Runner Sports Blog, who interviewed him, had to say back in

More from House of Houston

2018:

"“Jack Mayfield, if his career continues on its gently upward trend, will continue to prove what an inexact science (and art, for that matter) scouting and drafting has proven to be for decades. Especially if he makes his MLB debut, prompting 29 other teams to wonder what they overlooked in Mayfield in the 2013 draft.He began his pro career customarily, finally reaching Double-A Corpus Christi in 2015, and spending parts of both 2016 and 2017 at Corpus and AAA Fresno. For both teams, he’s played SS, 2B, and 3B, weighted slightly more toward second base, followed closely by shortstop. Not once has he climbed the mound or jogged out of the bullpen.”"

So Jack is far from the pedigreed prospect and he has scrapped for everything he has today still holding out for his dream of making it to the big leagues.

I certainly hope he makes the best of it and I’ll be rooting for his success.

Next. Astros: What a Garrett Stubbs call-up could look like. dark

Mayfield, 28, has been hot as of late — batting .283/.362/.572 with 10 homers and 31 ribbies through 152 at-bats in 40 games with the Express.

Good luck Jack!

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