HOUSTON -- Many of the players the Astros would have typically called upon when rosters expand beyond 25 players are already with the big league club, thanks to an influx of rookies in the past couple of weeks. Guys like Tony Kemp, Teoscar Hernandez and Joe Musgrove hit Houston more quickly than the Astros could have imagined, and their promotions left fewer options at Triple-A Fresno.
Injuries to veteran outfielder Colby Rasmus (right ear surgery), pitcher Lance McCullers (right elbow) and infielder Luis Valbuena (right hamstring surgery) and the release of outfielder Carlos Gomez helped pave way for the youth invasion.