Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced tonight that they have acquired right-handed pitcher Jorge Alcala and outfielder Gilberto Celestino from Houston in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ryan Pressly.
Alcala, who turns 23 tomorrow, was signed by the Astros in 2015 from Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-hander went 3-7 with a 3.29 ERA (79.1 IP, 29 ER), 35 walks, 82 strikeouts and three saves in 19 games (12 starts) between High-A Buies Creek and Double-A Corpus Christi. In four seasons in Houston’s organization, he went 15-16 with a 2.99 ERA (277.0 IP, 92 ER), 117 walks and 267 strikeouts in 68 games (42 starts). Alcala was named as the eighth best prospect in Houston’s organization this off-season by Baseball America and 10th best by MLB.com.
Celestino, 19, was signed by Houston in 2016 out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The 6-foot, 170-pound outfielder has played 36 games between Single-A Tri City and Double-A Corpus Christi, combining to hit .299 (40-for-134) with eight doubles, four home runs, 21 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 36 games. In three seasons in Houston’s organization, he hit .271 (152-for-560), with 30 doubles, six triples, 10 home runs 64 RBI, 39 stolen bases and a .351 on-base percentage in 151 games. He was named 15th best prospect in the Astros organization by MLB.com.
Ryan Pressly was acquired by the Twins in the Rule 5 Draft in 2013 from the Boston Red Sox. The right-hander had since appeared in 281 games for Minnesota, going 17-16 with a 3.75 ERA (317.0 IP, 132 ER), 108 walks and 282 strikeouts. The Dallas, Texas native went 1-1 with a 3.40 ERA (47.2 IP, 18 ER), 19 walks and 69 strikeouts in a team-leading 51 games for the Twins this season.