Mariners acquire OF Andrew Aplin from Houston, DFA Chris Heston
May 24, 2017, 10:59 AM
Andrew Aplin, 26, has hit .271 in parts of six minor-league seasons in the Astros organization. (AP)
(AP)
The Mariners on Wednesday acquired outfielder Andrew Aplin from the Astros for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Seattle designated right-handed pitcher Chris Heston for assignment to make room on its 40-man roster.
Aplin, 26, was DFAd by Houston on Monday after hitting .250 with five extra-base hits, 13 RBIs and a .375 on-base percentage in 32 games with Triple-A Fresno this season. A fifth-round pick by Houston in 2012, he’s a left-handed hitter who batted .271 with a .384 OBP in parts of six minor-league seasons in the Astros organization.
Heston, 29, went 0-1 with a 21.60 ERA in two stints with the Mariners this season.
Here is the Mariners’ press release on the move:
Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today that the club has acquired outfielder Andrew Aplin from Houston in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. To make room on the Major League 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Chris Heston has been designated for assignment.
Aplin, 26, was designated for assignment on Monday. He hit .250 (21×84) with 14 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 13 RBI and a .375 on-base percentage in 32 games with AAA Fresno this season. He was a 2014 Texas League Midseason All-Star, a 2013 California League Postseason and Midseason All-Star, a 2013 MiLB.com Organization All-Star and a 2012 TOPPS Short Season/Rookie All-Star during his minor league career.
In parts of 6 minor league seasons in the Houston organization, he has hit .271 (553×2041) with 361 runs, 87 doubles, 27 triples, 30 home runs, 295 RBI and a .384 on-base percentage in 576 games. He was selected by Houston in the 5th round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State University where he was a 2012 Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention during his junior season.
Heston, 29, had two stints in the Majors with Seattle this season, going 0-1 with a 21.60 ERA (12 ER, 5.0 IP) with 3 strikeouts. With AAAA Tacoma, he was 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA (12 ER, 31.2 IP) with 28 strikeouts and 11 walks in 6 starts, including 1 shutout. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-hander has gone at least 5.0 innings in 5 of his 6 starts with Tacoma. During his first stint, April 23-25, he appeared in 1 game with the Mariners, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits while striking out 1 in 2.0 innings on April 25 at Detroit. In parts of 4 Major League seasons with the Giants (2014-16) and Mariners (2017), he is 13-13 with a 4.62 ERA (99 ER, 193.0 IP) with 161 strikeouts in 40 games, including 33 starts. In eight minor league seasons with San Francisco (2009-2016) and Seattle (2017), Heston is 50-55 with a 3.63 ERA (359 ER, 889.0 IP) with 735 strikeouts and 268 walks in 157 games, including 151 starts. He was drafted by the Giants in the 12th round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player draft out of East Carolina University (Greenville, NC).
