Astros Outright Jorge Barrosa

The Astros announced Tuesday that they’ve sent Jorge Barrosa outright to Triple-A Sugar Land. The 5’6″ outfielder cleared waivers after being designated for assignment over the weekend.

It’s the first career outright assignment for Barrosa. That technically means he needs to accept the minor league assignment, though it’s essentially a moot point. Sugar Land’s season is over. Barrosa has played parts of seven years in the minors and will therefore qualify for minor league free agency once the MLB season ends if he’s not on the 40-man roster.

Houston claimed him off waivers in September, so he would not have been eligible for postseason play in either case. Unless the Astros need to call him back up in the final five days of the regular season, he’ll become a free agent. Brice Matthews is working as the backup center fielder but has drawn into the lineup for consecutive games while Daulton Varsho nurses left wrist soreness (via Chandler Rome of The Athletic).

Barrosa made four appearances in a Houston uniform, going 1-7 with a couple walks. The Venezuela native had otherwise spent his entire career in the Diamondbacks system. Barrosa has minimal power and carries a .179/.244/.301 slash line across parts of three big league seasons. This was his first season with an extended look at the MLB level. He’s out of options and the D-Backs kept him on their bench into September rather than expose him to waivers.

The 25-year-old Barrosa is a plus runner who can play good defense anywhere in the outfield, though his fringe arm is stretched in right field. He has traditionally made a lot of contact, leading to a .277/.368/.421 batting line over seven minor league seasons. He’ll likely be looking at a minor league deal this offseason.