With the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins kicking off the 2012 MLB season tonight, Spring Training 2012 has finally been closed. The Houston Astros, fittingly, went through a period of change this spring, and are now ready to open up the 2012 season against the Colorado Rockies.
Perhaps the biggest, and most shocking, change to the 2012 Astros is with the pitching staff. Last year's Opening Day starter, Brett Myers, is now serving as Houston's closer. Myers does have experience as a closer, as he served as Philadelphia's closer in 2007 and pitched out of the bullpen in 2009 as well, before making 66 starts for the Astros the last two seasons.
Once a highly regarded top prospect, Brett Wallace is back in the minor leagues. The Astros decided to option Wallace to AAA, presumably to get consistent at bats and further his development.
Perhaps the most exciting player in Houston's camp this year was Jordan Schafer, who hit .379/.455/.483, and earned the starting gig in center field as a result.
For more on the Astros, be sure to head over to the Crawfish Boxes.