Astros call up pitching prospect Mike Foltynewicz

The Houston Astros have called up pitching prospect Mike Foltynewicz, the team announced Friday.

The Astros have called up pitching prospect Mike Foltynewicz, the team announced Friday. 

Foltynewicz is ranked as the 65th best prospect in baseball by MLB.com. 

"Foltynewicz is a pure power pitcher," his MLB.com scouting report says. "His fastball sits in the mid-to-upper 90s, and it has been clocked in the triple digits. Like most young flamethrowers, Foltynewicz is still working tighten up his command and improve the consistency of his offspeed pitches. His changeup is his best secondary offering, and his downer curveball has the promise of giving him another average or better pitch."

Foltynewicz, 22, was a first-round pick by the Astros in the 2010 draft.

He had been pitching for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. He made 18 starts and three appearances in relief. In 102 1/3 innings he had 102 strikeouts (1.96 strikeouts per walk) and a 5.08 ERA.

Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow told MLB.com Astros beat writer Brian McTaggart that Foltynewicz will pitch out of the bullpen for the rest of this season.

- Dan Gartland