Reddick latest to join revolving door at DH

MINNEAPOLIS -- Josh Reddick became the ninth Astros player to see his name on the scorecard at designated hitter on Tuesday at Target Field, marking his first start at DH in more than three years. Reddick went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Houston's 11-0 win over the Twins.

The DH spot has been a revolving door as manager AJ Hinch continues to use it as a way to get players like Michael Brantley, Jose Altuve and George Springer off their feet.

Houston’s primary designated hitter, Tyler White, went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Monday’s 1-0 loss to the Twins and has gone hitless in two consecutive games since reaching in seven consecutive plate appearances over the weekend. He has a .377 on-base percentage but has yet to drive in a run.

Still, the Astros entered Tuesday ranked fifth in the American League with an .827 OPS at designated hitter. After White, Springer (six), Brantley (five) and Tony Kemp (four) have started the most games at DH. Brantley has flourished, hitting .450 (9-for-20), and Springer is hitting .333 (8-for-24) with four homers at DH.

The only non-catching position players who have not been at DH are shortstop Carlos Correa and outfielder Jake Marisnick, who’s one of the best defensive outfielders in the game.

Farmhand suspended
Minor League infielder J.J. Matijevic, the Astros’ No. 22-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, received a 50-game suspension without pay after a second positive test for a drug of abuse in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Matijevic, who was playing at Double-A Corpus Christi, was hitting .240 with two homers and seven RBIs in 19 games for the Hooks. He was selected in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of the University of Arizona.

Last year, Matijevic hit a combined .277 with a .350 on-base percentage with 22 homers and 62 RBIs at Class A Quad Cities and Buies Creek. He’s a career .257 hitter with 31 homers and 100 RBIs in 179 games in the Astros' system.