Kyle Gehrs

Kyle Gehrs

Central Missouri left-handed pitcher Kyle Gehrs has officially signed a free agent deal with the Houston Astros. He agreed to terms with the Astros last week, but officially signed his free agent contract this week and has been assigned to the Astros’ Gulf Coast League affiliate, the GCL Astros.

Gehrs (Independence, Mo./Truman HS) becomes the 57th Central Missouri baseball player to sign with a major league franchise, and the sixth under recently retired head coach Tom Myers.

Gehrs was a first team All-MIAA selection for the conference champion Mules this year after splitting time between the bullpen and the rotation. He went 7-3 with a 3.84 earned run average in 14 appearances, including 11 starts. He struck out a team-leading 71 batters in 63.1 innings pitched and held opponents to a .254 batting average. He struck out at least one batter in every appearance and fanned a career-high 11 in six innings in a win at Lincoln.

The GCL Astros season gets underway on Friday, June 20 at home against the GCL Braves.

Also, left-handed reliever Zach Davis has been assigned to the Astros’ Rookie League affiliate in the Appalachian League, the Greeneville Astros. Davis was drafted by Houston in the 25th round, pick No. 736, of the Major League Baseball Draft on Saturday, June 7.