The Houston Astros have outrighted right-handed reliever Cody Bolton to Triple-A Sugar Land following his designation for assignment earlier this week. Bolton, who went unclaimed on waivers, will remain with the organization and serve as non-roster depth in the minors. With less than three years of Major League service, Bolton cannot reject the assignment in favor of free agency.
Bolton has struggled in 20 innings with the Astros this season, posting a 5.40 ERA with 14 walks and 21 hits allowed. Opponents have hit three home runs off him and he’s struck out just 22 of 95 batters faced, a 23.2% strikeout rate that still trails league norms. His swinging-strike rate of 6.6% is well below the MLB average of 10.8%, while his opponents’ chase rate of 22.8% is significantly lower than the 32.5% league standard.
The 27-year-old entered the season with only 42 MLB innings of experience and has appeared for four different teams in his career: the Pirates, Guardians, Mariners, and now the Astros. Bolton’s pitch mix includes a fastball averaging 95.1 mph, a cutter and changeup at around 90 mph, a 94.5 mph sinker, and a low-80s slider. He added an upper-70s curveball this season in an effort to expand his arsenal.
Despite his struggles in the majors, Bolton has shown better results in Triple-A. Across parts of five Triple-A seasons, he has compiled a 3.32 ERA with a 24.8% strikeout rate and an 11% walk rate. The Astros’ bullpen has been among the worst in baseball this season, so a strong run in Sugar Land could earn him another shot in the majors.
Bolton’s assignment is a roster move as Houston continues to evaluate its relief corps. The decision allows the team to focus on players with more consistent results at the MLB level. For Bolton, the assignment is a chance to reset and prove he can be a reliable arm at the Triple-A level.
The Astros will continue to monitor the situation and could recall Bolton if he performs well in the minors. Sugar Land begins a crucial stretch of games this weekend as the team pushes for a playoff spot in the Pacific Coast League.
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