Astros' Absurd Minor League Depth Will Carry Them Through Recent Injury Woes

The Houston Astros have been extremely unlikely this month, losing four strong position players in their lineup during May alone.

Currently, José Altuve (2017 AL MVP), Carlos Correa (2017 All-Star), George Springer (2017 Silver Slugger), and Aledmys Díaz (2016 All-Star) are all sidelined with injures, and 'Stros fans are beginning to wonder who is going to keep them afloat.

Luckily for Houston, their farm system has got this covered. Their Triple-A affiliate, the Round Rock Express, has shown that the Yankees aren't the only organization that can persevere through injury-related adversity. The Astros will not need to look for temporary replacements outside the organization because they already have several MLB-ready prospects who've been carrying their weight in the interim.

Though there was much hemming and hawing when he was promoted over Kyle Tucker (.259, 16 homers, 37 RBI) and Yordan Alvarez (.358, 20 homers, 64 RBI as a 21-year-old at Triple-A), Derek Fisher's dinger proved to be the game-winner Friday night.

Myles Straw, promoted in Carlos Correa's place, scored a run, streaking around the diamond as a pinch-runner. Jack Mayfield, filling in for Diaz, dove and stopped a Marcus Semien hot shot with a runner on third, preventing a deficit late. The replacements all delivered Friday night (and Alvarez and Tucker are still lurking).

Once the All-Star caliber players at their position return from their ailments, Straw and Mayfield will be gone. But for now, they're enough to stake your future on.

It's clear you can expect this group of former Express to hold down the fort. And, if needed, there's plenty more where they came from, thanks to excellent roster building.