On The Farm: Dykxhoorn, Ferrell, Garza
Leading up to Opening Day, cchooks.com will profile select farmhands in the Astros system. Today, we feature RHP Brock Dykxhoorn, RHP Justin Ferrell, and RHP Ralph Garza.
Leading up to Opening Day, cchooks.com will profile select farmhands in the Astros system. Today, we feature RHP
Pitcher
BORN July 2, 1994 in Goderich, Ontario, CAN
OPENING DAY AGE 23
HEIGHT 6'8
WEIGHT 250
BATS Right
THROWS Right
RESIDES Delhi, Ontario, CAN
SCHOOL Central Arizona College
ACQUIRED Selected in the 6th round of the June 2014 draft
Career Highlights: 2017 - Led Corpus Christi in innings pitched and strikeouts. Fared far better in 23 1/3 innings as a reliever (9 G, 1.93 ERA) than in 16 starts (76 IP, 5.45 ERA). Also was better at home, going 3-1 with a 2.50 ERA in 11 appearances (8 starts) at Whataburger Field and 0-4 with a 7.15 ERA in 14 appearances (8 starts) on the road. After going 1-4 with a 5.47 ERA (49 1/3 IP) in the 1st half, rebounded in the 2nd half by going 2-1 with a 3.78 ERA (50 IP). Surrendered 9 homers for a rate of .81 per 9 innings. Completed 4 innings and allowed 2 runs in Double-A debut on April 10 at Northwest Arkansas while retiring 9 of the final 10 batters faced. Logged an 8.20 ERA in first 5 games (4 starts). Struck out 7 over 3 1/3 shutout innings for a win on June 8 vs. Frisco. Threw 6 2/3 innings and allowed just 2 runs on 3 hits on June 24 vs. Frisco. Tossed a season-high 7 innings for a victory on July 7 vs. Northwest Arkansas, fanning a season-high 8 batters. Dazzled out of the bullpen on July 25 vs. San Antonio, retiring 15 of 16 batters faced over 5 shutout frames. Followed that performance with a rough outing on July 31 at San Antonio, giving up a season-high 10 runs and 11 hits (3 HR) in 3 2/3 innings. Finished the season with 4 consecutive relief outings from August 18-September 1, throwing a combined 6.2 innings (3 ER, 7 H). Finished season by picking up lone save with 3 scoreless innings of relief on September 1 at Frisco.
2016 - Tied for 3rd among Astros farmhands in wins. Also, tied for 4th in the system in starts and slotted 5th in innings pitched. Owned the best winning percentage (.714) among California League Pitchers. Tied for 4th in the circuit in victories, and averaged 2.40 walks per 9 innings, which ranked 5th among CL starters. Surrendered 21 home runs, the 3rd-highest total in the league. Tabbed Lancaster Pitcher of the Month for April, going 1-0 with a 2.29 ERA in 4 assignments (3 starts). Struck out 15 and walked 3 in 19 2/3 frames, holding the loop to a .276 average and 1 home run. Hurled a career-high 8 innings while allowing 2 runs in a June 29 triumph at High Desert. Earned Cal League Pitcher of the Week honors after striking out a season-high 8 batters over 7 shutout innings August 31 vs. Rancho Cucamonga, his final regular-season appearance. Struggled at Lancaster's hitter-friendly ballpark, yielding a 5.85 ERA and 17 home runs in 15 games. Featured a 3.72 ERA and permitted 4 home runs in 9 road assignments. Left-handed batters posted a .326-12-43 line while righties batted .255 with 9 dingers and 33 RBIs. Went 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA and .314 opponent batting average (4 HR) in 2 playoff starts.
2015 - Led Quad Cities in wins and strikeouts, and tied for 1st in starts. Also, slotted 2nd on the team in innings pitched. Excelled in April, going 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA and .206 opponent batting average in 4 games (3 GS). Matched career-high by striking out 10 batters in a 6-inning triumph June 12 opposite Lansing. Hurled 7 scoreless frames to beat Peoria July 2. Did not allow a run in back-to-back starts July 26 and August 2, going 5 innings each time out. In the latter performance, struck out 8 of the 17 Wisconsin hitters he faced. Made only 3 appearances (2 GS) in July, but boasted a 1.84 ERA and .189 batting average against. In 10 2nd-half assignments (54 1/3 IP), struck out 38 while issuing only 8 walks. Featured a 2.92 ERA at home compared to a 5.13 mark on the road. Received a no-decision in Game 2 of the Midwest League Quarterfinals. Held Cedar Rapids to 1 unearned run on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6 in 6 2/3 frames.
2014 - Averaged 10.3 strikeouts per 9 innings in first pro campaign. Authored a 1.50 ERA and .177 opponent batting average in final 5 assignments. Earned the victory and was named Appalachian League Pitcher of the Week after striking out 10 batters over 5 innings August 25. Bluefield managed only 1 unearned run, 4 hits and 1 walk in what was his final outing of the season.
Career Notes: Has surrendered 40 home runs for a rate of 0.99 per 9 innings. Averaged 3.40 strikeouts per walk. Selected in the 20th round of the June 2012 draft out of St. Anne's Secondary School in Clinton, Ontario.
Brock Dykxhoorn Career Stats
Pitcher
BORN April 21, 1994 in Wagoner, OK
OPENING DAY AGE 23
HEIGHT 6'7
WEIGHT 204
BATS Right
THROWS Right
HOMETOWN Wagoner, OK
SCHOOL Connors State College
ACQUIRED Selected in the 36th round of the June 2014 draft
Career Highlights: 2017 - Went 6-3 with 5.63 ERA in 13 games (7 starts) during 1st half while going 1-2 with 3 saves and 2.50 ERA in 15 games (1 start) during 2nd half. Struggled at start of campaign, recording 7.07 ERA in April and May (33 1/3 IP, 45 H, 33 K, 12 BB). Allowed 6 earned runs and 9 hits in 4 2/3 innings on April 13 at Winston-Salem. Best outings in first 2 months came on May 13 at Down East (5 IP, 1 R, 4 K) and May 29 at Frederick (3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 4 K). Excelled in June with a 1.59 ERA in 17 innings (11 H, 16 K, 7 BB). Had string of 6 scoreless appearances from June 14-July 9 (16 1/3 IP, 10 H, 19 K, 4 BB), including back-to-back 4 inning outings on July 3 vs. Potomac and July 9 at Down East. Held 2.93 ERA in July (15 1/3 IP, 12 H, 15 K) and 1.98 ERA in August (13 2/3 IP, 11 H, 15 K). Longest outing were 5 innings, achieved twice (April 26 at Winston-Salem, May 13 at Down East).
2016 - Gave up 6 earned runs over first 3 starts (11 1/3 IP) to begin campaign. Threw 2 scoreless innings out of bullpen on June 3 vs. Burlington. On June 8 vs. Beloit, allowed 6 earned runs and 7 hits in 2 2/3 innings. Bounced back on June 13 vs. Wisconsin, tossed 5 scoreless innings (3 H, 2 K). Followed up with 6 innings (1 ER, 5 H, 4 K) on June 19 vs. Cedar Rapids. Roughed up on June 26 at Wisconsin through 1 2/3 IP (8 ER, 6 H, 3 HR). Finished campaign with strong July, August, and September…pitching exclusively out of the bullpen: 3.18 ERA, 34 IP, 35 K, 19 BB. In 7 starts, held 7.09 ERA (26 2/3 IP) while recording 3.00 ERA (36 IP) in relief appearances.
Justin Ferrell Career Stats
Pitcher
BORN April 6, 1994 in Edinburg, TX
OPENING DAY AGE 23
HEIGHT 6'2
WEIGHT 222
BATS Right
THROWS Right
RESIDES New Braunfels, TX
COLLEGE Oklahoma
ACQUIRED Selected in the 26th round of the June 2015 draft
Career Highlights: 2017 - Went 3-3 with a 4.22 ERA in 36 appearances between Buies Creek, Fresno, and Corpus Christi. Pitched 64 innings while striking out 68 and walking 36. Right-handed hitters fared better (.232 BAA, 155 AB) than left-handed hitters (.193 BAA, 83 AB). Had 2.70 ERA in April with Buies Creek (10 IP) and had a brief appearance with Corpus Christi on April 27 vs. Midland (2 IP, 0 R, 4 K). Spun season-high 3 2/3 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts on April 9 vs. Winston-Salem. In 4 straight outings from May 11-May 27, put together 12 scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts. Had an appearance with Fresno on June 7 at Sacramento, giving up 2 earned runs in 2 frames. Went back to Carolina League and rejoined Buies Creek. 5 consecutive scoreless appearances (7 2/3 IP, 2 H, 12 K) to finish time in Carolina League. 3-3 in save chances with Buies Creek. Sent back to AA and rejoined Corpus Christi. Tossed 3 scoreless innings (4 K) on July 8 vs. Arkansas. Back-to-back apperances of 2 innings with 2 ER on August 8 vs. Tulsa and August 12 vs. Springfield. Had particularly tough consecutive outings on August 23 vs Midland (1 IP, 4 ER, 3 H) and August 28 at San Antonio (1 IP, 3 ER, 3 H). Tossed 3 shutout innings (0 H, 4 BB) on September 1 at Frisco. With Corpus Christi, allowed 11 of 14 ER in 6th inning.
2016 - Went 6-5 with a 3.35 ERA in 40 games between Quad Cities and Lancaster over 75 1/3 innings pitched. Picked up 6 saves. 2.46 strikeout-to-walk ratio (64 K, 26 BB). Went 6-7 in save opportunities with Quad Cities. Had sensational June, tossing 14 2/3 scoreless innings in 7 appearances (15 K, 11 H, 3 BB). From June 2-July 17, put together string of 13 consecutive scoreless appearances (23 IP). Made debut with Lancaster on August 4 vs. Modesto, hurling 3 scoreless innings with a career-high 7 strikeouts. Began California League stint with 3 scoreless outings (7 1/3 IP, 9 H) before being roughed up for 6 earned runs in 2 innings on August 18 at High Desert, which began challenging stretch over 4 appearances from August 18-September 1 (8 2/3 IP, 13 ER).
2015 - Made pro debut on June 23 at Brooklyn, giving up a run in 2 innings of relief. Had 2.63 ERA in 27 1/3 innings as reliever and 7.45 ERA in 9 2/3 innings as a starter (3 starts).
College Notes: Went 12-8 with a 4.20 ERA and .262 BAA in 84 games (4 starts) over 3 seasons as a Sooner. Finished his career ranked 3rd all-time at Oklahoma in games pitched. Led team with 30 appearances as a junior in 2015. 4-year letterwinner at New Braunfels High School.
Ralph Garza Career Stats