DETROIT -- Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel was in the lineup for the first time on Saturday in Kissimmee, Fla., for the Gulf Coast League Astros at designated hitter, after having his work visa approved, general manager Jeff Luhnow said. He struck out in first at-bat against Mat Latos, who was pitching for the GCL Nationals.
Gurriel, 32, signed a 4 1/2-year, $47.5-million contract with the Astros on July 16. He had been working out in Kissimmee for the last couple of weeks, but couldn't play in games until he got his visa approved. It's expected he'll join the lineup at Double-A Corpus Christi soon, in preparation for making his Major League debut with the Astros in August.