Houston Astros’ top pitching prospect Spencer Arrighetti debuted in Major League Baseball on Wednesday night against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufmann Stadium.
To accommodate Arrighetti on the roster, the Astros sent reliever Wander Suero to Triple-A Sugar Land and designated catcher Cooper Hummel for assignment.
Arrighetti began the game strong, striking out Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. in the first inning. However, he walked Vinnie Pasquantino before retiring Salvador Perez to end the inning. He navigated around a single by Nelson Velazquez in the second inning.
However, the game took a turn in the third inning when Arrighetti surrendered seven runs. Pasquantino’s double drove in two runs, Velazquez’s single brought home two more, and Adam Frazier’s single added another run. The inning concluded with a two-RBI double by Hunter Renfroe.
Houston brought in Brandon Bielak in the fourth inning, trailing 7-2.
Arrighetti threw 79 pitches in his debut, with 47 strikes. He allowed seven hits, three walks, and struck out three, finishing with an ERA of 21.00.
The decision to call up Arrighetti reportedly came on Tuesday night after left-hander Framber Valdez was placed on the 15-day injured list. With five starting pitchers on the injured list, including Valdez, Justin Verlander, Jose Urquidy, Luis Garcia, and Lance McCullers Jr., the Astros turned to Arrighetti for support.
Ranked as Houston’s No. 3 prospect by MLB.com and the top-ranked pitcher, Arrighetti began the season in Triple-A Sugar Land but participated in Major League spring training with the Astros.
In his two starts with Triple-A Sugar Land, Arrighetti posted a 2.16 ERA in 8.1 innings. Throughout his minor league career, the 2021 sixth-round pick has accumulated a record of 19-15 with a 4.37 ERA.