Astros announce Minor League Players of the Month

HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros player development department has named RHP Miguel UIlola the Astros upper-level Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June and IF Shay Whitcomb the Astros upper-level Minor League Player of the Month for June. The Astros also named C John Garcia the Astros lower-level Minor League Player of the Month for June and RHP Alimber Santa the Astros lower-level Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June.

Ullola, 22, went 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA (8ER/23IP) in five starts in June for Double A Corpus Christi. Ullola also recorded 32 strikeouts, a 1.09 WHIP and a .163 opponent batting average during June. For the season, Ullola has recorded a 4.74 ERA (40ER/76IP) with 101 strikeouts, a 1.18 WHIP and a .164 opponent batting average. The 22-year-old leads the Texas League in strikeouts and opponent batting average this season. Ullola was signed as a non-drafted free agent on Jan. 15, 2021, from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Ullola is rated as the Astros number 20 overall prospect by MLB.com.

Whitcomb, 25, batted .347 (35x101) with 20 runs, four doubles, nine home runs, 29 RBI, 11 walks, 13 stolen bases and a 1.067 OPS in 26 games in June with Triple A Sugar Land. This season Whitcomb is batting .310 (89x287) with 57 runs, 15 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 69 RBI, 20 stolen bases and a .956 OPS. This is the second consecutive month that Whitcomb has been named the Astros upper-level Player of the Month. In the Pacific Coast League, he ranks first in RBI, tied for second in home runs, fourth in batting average, fourth in OPS and third in total bases (162). The 25-year-old was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB First-Year Player Draft from the University of California-San Diego by the Astros. Whitcomb is rated as the Astros number 30 overall prospect by MLB.com.

Garcia, 23, batted .376 (35x93) with 16 runs, nine doubles, seven home runs, 19 RBI, seven walks, three stolen bases and a 1.130 OPS in 23 games in June with High A Asheville. For the season, Garcia is hitting .300 (69x230) with 15 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 34 RBI, 22 walks, six stolen bases and a .882 OPS in 59 games with High A Asheville. In the South Atlantic League, Garcia ranks fourth in batting average and fifth in OPS. The catcher was selected by the Astros in the 19th round of the 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft from Grambling State University.

Santa, 21, recorded a 4.30 ERA (7ER/14.2IP) with 25 strikeouts, one save and a .241 opponent batting average in six appearances between Low A Fayetteville (five games) and Double A Corpus Christi (one game). This season Santa has recorded a 4.58 ERA (10ER/19.2IP) with 33 strikeouts, five walks, a 1.12 WHIP and a .230 opponent batting average in nine appearances including two starts. The 21-year-old was signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent on Feb. 28, 2020, from Azua, Dominican Republic. Santa is rated as the Astros number 25 overall prospect by MLB.com.

April Astros Upper-Level Pitcher of the Month: RHP Aaron Brown

April Astros Upper-Level Player of the Month: IF/OF Joey Loperfido

April Astros Lower-Level Pitcher of the Month: RHP James Hicks

April Astros Lower-Level Player of the Month: IF Pascanel Ferreras

May Astros Upper-Level Pitcher of the Month: RHP Logan VanWey

May Astros Upper-Level Player of the Month: IF Shay Whitcomb

May Astros Lower-Level Pitcher of the Month: RHP Joey Mancini

May Astros Lower-Level Player of the Month: OF Luis Baez

June Astros Upper-Level Player of the Month: IF Shay Whitcomb

June Astros Upper-Level Pitcher of the Month: Miguel Ullola

June Astros Lower-Level Player of the Month: C John Garcia

June Astros Lower-Level Pitcher of the Month: RHP Alimber Santa