Experience Guides Gustave

HOUSTON—Hard-throwing righthander Jandel Gustave was somewhat comfortable when he reported to his first major league spring training with the Astros in February.

Unlike the other prospects who had been invited to camp by the Astros for the first time, Gustave, 23, arrived at Osceola County Stadium with plenty of experience, considering he spent last spring training with the Royals and the Padres attempting to stick as a Rule 5 pick.

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Although he had never pitched above low Class A Quad Cities before 2015, Gustave was somewhat of a hot commodity during the Rule 5 draft in December 2014. The Red Sox picked him and then traded him to the Royals, who gave him a look before they attempted to put him through waivers. The Padres then picked him before eventually sending him back to the Astros.

The 6-foot-2, 160 pounder didn’t stick with the Royals or Padres, but he benefited from the experience because the Royals’ Yordano Ventura and Edison Volquez mentored him.

“I felt good because I was able to show them that I had the potential,” he said. “It was no secret that the Royals had the best bullpen in the league. I went to a great team that had proven relievers, so it was difficult to earn a job.

“But Edison Volquez was always looking out for me and telling me that I had the potential to make this team. Yordano Ventura also was a great help. They taught me how to be a better player. They taught me that you have to work hard and do things right.”

Gustave spent last season at Double-A Corpus Christi, where he was 5-2, 2.15 with 20 saves over 46 appearances and 59 innings. He struck out 49 and walked 25.

Gustave, who can hit 99 mph consistently with his fastball, was Corpus Christi’s closer last year. He’s likely to begin the season as Triple-A Fresno’s closer.

MOON SHOTS

• Righthanders Michael Feliz, James Hoyt and Jordan Jankowski received a 15-minute tutorial on the split-finger fastball by seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens during the second week of big league camp.

• Righthanders Mike Hauschild, Cy Sneed, and Tommy Shirley, lefthander Michael Freeman, catchers Garrett Stubbs and Jamie Ritchie, infielders Mott Hyde and Nick Tanielu and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez participated in the Astros’ first minor-league microcamp.