Astros Call Up Righthander David Paulino

With Dallas Keuchel going down with shoulder inflammation, the Astros reached into their minor league pitching depth on Tuesday.

The Astros called up righthander David Paulino from Triple-A Fresno, as first reported by BA correspondent Jake Kaplan. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound Dominican was ranked the Astros’ No. 5 prospect at midseason and went 5-4, 2.00 in 20 games, 15 starts, across three levels this year.

SCOUTING REPORT

The Tigers signed Paulino as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2010 and traded him to the Astros in September 2013 as the player to be named later in a deal for reliever Jose Veras.

Paulino, now 22, has grown into his frame well under the Astros watch and isn’t hampered by the control problems that afflict most pitchers his size. He struck out 106 against just 19 walks in 90 innings this season, lowering his career walk rate to 2.3 batters per nine innings as he continues to repeat his delivery well and keep his long limbs in sync.

His fastball ranges from 91-96 mph and settles in at 94 with a good downward angle and late tailing action. It is his best pitch that he uses to get strike three with, elevating well to get batters to chase when needed. He complements it with an upper-70s curveball with 11-to-5 movement and tight spin, but he has a habit of bouncing his curve in the dirt and is inconsistent with landing it in the strike zone. At times Paulino throws his curveball it too hard, giving it more slider action without the necessary bite. His changeup isn’t thrown as often, but he maintains his arm speed and gets decent sink on the pitch when he does.

Paulino’s size, occasional flash of two-plus breaking pitches to go with his fastball, and ability to pound the strike zone have some projecting him as a No. 2 starter long-term. However, more skeptical evaluators question his feel for his offspeed pitches and durability (his 90 innings this season are the most he’s ever thrown) and believe he is a fifth starter/swingman down the road.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Astros haven’t announced if Paulino will start or relieve for them, but with an open spot in the rotation it is reasonable to assume he will get the chance to start.

He’ll give Houston a relatively fresh arm down the stretch with Keuchel and Lance McCullers both out injured, and has the stuff to make an impact as the Astros chase a wild-card spot in the American League.