The Astros are bringing a familiar face back to Texas, signing right-hander Christian Roa to a minor league deal. For Roa, it’s a return home-he’s a Houston native and a product of Texas A&M-and it’s a fresh opportunity to build on a career that’s seen its share of ups and downs.
Roa was a second-round pick by the Reds in 2020, a selection that came with high expectations. Cincinnati clearly saw enough potential to add him to their 40-man roster three years later to shield him from the Rule 5 draft.
But 2024 didn’t go as planned. Roa struggled at Triple-A and saw his season cut short by a shoulder injury in August.
He never made it to the big leagues with the Reds.
At the end of the year, Cincinnati tried to pass him through waivers, hoping to keep him in the organization without a roster spot. That’s when the Marlins stepped in and claimed him.
Miami managed to get him through waivers a couple of weeks later, stashing him at Triple-A Jacksonville. And that’s where things started to click.
In Jacksonville, Roa put together a strong season. He posted a 2.60 ERA and struck out 26.1% of the batters he faced-numbers that suggest he found a rhythm in the bullpen.
That performance earned him a call-up late in the year, and he made his MLB debut with two appearances, tossing three scoreless innings. The stat line was a mixed bag-three walks, three strikeouts-but it was a solid first taste of the majors.
Despite the late-season cameo, Miami outrighted him again at season’s end, and Roa chose free agency. Now, he’s getting a second chance with Houston.
Stuff-wise, Roa brings a power arsenal to the table. Both his four-seam fastball and sinker sit around 96 mph, giving him legitimate velocity.
He leans heavily on those heaters, pairing them with a mid-80s slider that serves as his primary offspeed weapon. The changeup is in his back pocket, but it’s not a pitch he uses frequently.
While Roa began his pro career as a starter, he’s been working exclusively out of the bullpen the past two seasons. That shift was largely due to command issues that never quite smoothed out enough for a rotation role.
Even last season, his walk rate sat at 11.4%-still high, but an improvement from the 14-17% range he had posted in prior years. There’s still work to be done in the control department, but the progress is notable.
For the Astros, this is a low-risk move with potential upside. Roa has big-league stuff and some momentum coming off a solid Triple-A season.
If he can continue to refine his command and stay healthy, he could be a bullpen option down the line. At 26, there’s still time for him to carve out a role-and doing it in his hometown makes the story even more compelling.
