Houston Astros Spring Training Begins Thursday
February 13, 2008 by Kori Ellis
Filed under Baseball
On Thursday, the Houston Astros will begin spring training as they prepare for the first pitch of the 2008 baseball season. Pitchers and catchers report on Thursday, while next Tuesday is the date that position players report.
The top two catchers for the Astros in 2008 are expected to be J.R. Towles and Brad Ausmus. Towles joined the Astros at the end of the 2007 campaign and hit .375 in 14 games for Houston. The 38-year-old Ausmus is entering his tenth season as a member of the Astros.
Roy Oswalt headlines the pitchers this season for the Astros. Oswalt has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since he entered the big leagues in 2001. Wandy Rodriguez, Woody Williams and Brandon Backe are expected to join Oswalt in the starting rotation.
The bullpen is led by the newly-acquired Jose Valverde. Valverde, who led all of baseball in saves last season while with the Arizona Diamondbacks, will be the closer in 2008.
The Astros are holding their spring training in Kissimmee, Florida and will play their first spring training games on Feb. 28 against the Cleveland Indians.
