Fische » Texas declined its $4.5 million option on the catcher shortly

WEST PALM BEACH http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-khris-davis-jersey , Fla. (AP) — A trip to Japan helped Robinson Chirinos get to Houston. before the 34-year-old traveled to Japan last November with a big league all-star team. He developed a friendship with the squad’s pitching coach, Houston’s Brent Strom. Less than a month later, the Astros agreed to a $5.75 million, one-year contract.“When I signed, he called me and he was saying, ‘I told you you were coming here,'” Chirinos said of Strom.During the Japan trip Walt Weiss Jersey , Chirinos liked the way Strom worked to improve pitchers who weren’t even on his major league team.“It showed a lot of the kind of person he is,” Chirinos said. “He cared about the pitchers.”Meanwhile, Strom relayed information about Chirinos’ character to his bosses.“Just the personality and the presence, not necessarily the catching,” Houston manager A.J. Hinch said.Catchers Brian McCann and Evan Gattis had left the Astros as free agents. Chirinos impressed against Houston last year, hitting three of his 18 home runs against the Astros.“He’s got a big swing. He likes hitting in our ballpark,” Hinch said. “I hope he likes hitting against the opponent in our ballpark as much he liked hitting against us.”Chirinos was 5 for 15 in spring training with one home run entering Tuesday. He has been focused on developing relationships with Houston’s pitchers.“I think his openness to listening is very impressive Marcus Semien Jersey ,” said Hinch, a former major league catcher. “I know it sounds like it should be common, but for someone who’s been in the league it’s easy to feel like you know everything and he gives off no impression that he knows everything, and I can appreciate that.”Chirinos has altered the way he sets up behind the plate and presents his target.“We demand a lot of our catchers in this organization with our pitching staff,” said pitcher Collin McHugh, who first played with Chirinos on that Japan tour. “He’s been really willing and eager to come and learn, come and listen http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-khris-davis-jersey , and willing to get his feet wet.” Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesChicago White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech has been diagnosed with a torn UCL in his elbow, the team announced on Friday.Kopech will miss the entire 2019 season and is "expected to be ready for spring training in 2020."Tommy John surgery has been recommended for the 22-year-old, but plans have not been finalized since he is scheduled to receive a second opinion in the coming days."It sucks," Kopech said, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. "That's it. It sucks."According to MLB.com, Kopech is the13th-rankedprospect in baseball and theNo. 2 prospectin Chicago's system.The fireball-throwing right-hander made his highly anticipated Major League debut against the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 21, and he didn't disappoint. Despite only lasting two innings Reggie Jackson Jersey , the 2014 first-round pick logged four strikeouts and no walks while flashing his exceptional velocity.Kopech picked up his first MLB win five days later against the Detroit Tigers, and he picked up a no-decision in Chicago's 6-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 31.However, his season ended on a sour note Wednesday when he was shelled to the tune of seven earned runs, including four home runs, across 3.1 innings against the Tigers.Kopech finished his first stint in the majors 1-1 with a 5.02 ERA, 15 strikeouts and two walks.