Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - The Houston Astros have designated pitcher Lucas Harrell for assignment and are ready to bring up top prospect George Springer.
Harrell made three starts for Houston this season, including Tuesday against Kansas City, and is 0-3 with a lofty 9.49 ERA. He has allowed 14 runs -- 13 earned -- and 19 hits with nine walks in 12 1/3 innings.
The 28-year-old right-hander was 6-17 with a 5.86 ERA in 36 games, including 22 starts, last season and was 11-11 with a 3.76 ERA in 32 starts in 2012.
Springer, meanwhile, was hitting .353 with four doubles, three homers, nine runs batted in and four stolen bases in 13 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.
The 24-year-old was Houston's top minor league player last year when he combined to bat .303 with 37 homers, 108 RBI and 45 stolen bases in 135 games with Oklahoma City and Double-A Corpus Christi.
Houston also reinstated pitcher Scott Feldman from the bereavement list and optioned outfielder Robbie Grossman to Oklahoma City.
Feldman left the team on Saturday after the death of his father and is expected to start Thursday against the Royals. He is 2-0 with an ERA of 0.44 in three starts this season.
Grossman was batting just .125 with six hits in 48 at-bats over 14 games. He hit two homers and was tied for the team lead with six runs batted in.
[SportsNetwork.com]
