Astrodomain-Houston Astros

George Springer has been promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi, according to Lancaster play-by-play broadcaster Jason Schwartz.  Earlier this morning, Delino DeShields announced through his official twitter page that he has bypassed High-A Lancaster, and will join Springer in the Hooks starting lineup.

Springer, hitting .316/22/82 with 28 stolen bases at Lancaster, will join recent acquisition Robbie Grossman and minor-league veteran Drew Locke in the Hooks outfield.  A strikeout rate of 26.2% must improve,  and his .955 OPS could even off a bit removed from the California League.  Springer's glove could slot him in centerfield, but that position is occupied by Grossman.  This three-week stint should give Springer a nice kick-start in 2013.

Delino Deshields Jr.  will bat at the top of the JetHawks lineup.  Repeating Lexington in 2012, Deshields has enjoyed his greatest professional accomplishment.  Second in the entire minor-league system with 83 stolen bases, and also sports a slash line of .290/10/52 with a .401 OPS.  He has already set career highs in home runs, RBI and walks, while also named a South Atlantic League All-Star in June.

The promotion of Springer was expected by the beginning of 2013, so it didn't come as a big surprise.  Deshields could have been expected to at least finish the year with the JetHawks, and see a promotion to Corpus Christi sometime in 2013.