HOUSTON -- The wait for George Springer's arrival is over.Springer, one of the Astros' most anticipated prospects in years, was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday to infuse life into an offense that has struggled through the first two weeks of the season. Fellow outfielder Robbie Grossman was told following Tuesday's game he was being sent down.The Astros also reinstated right-hander Scott Feldman from the bereavement list and optioned right-hander Lucas Harrell to Oklahoma City. Feldman will make his scheduled start Thursday against Kansas City. 
Springer, the Astros' No. 3 prospect and No. 21 overall, continued his assault on Minor League pitching Tuesday. He went 3-for-4 with a grand slam, a walk and four runs in Oklahoma City's 11-9 victory at Colorado Springs. The home run was Springer's third of the season and second in as many nights.Springer, who was removed early from Tuesday's game, was hitting .353 with three homers and nine RBIs. He was the Astros' first-round pick (No. 11 overall) in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.The Astros are hitting .185 as a team through 14 games with several players, including Grossman, struggling. He went 0-for-4 on Tuesday, was hitting .125 with six hits in 48 at-bats and has struggled on defense this season.Last year, Springer batted .303 with a .411 on-base percentage while slugging .600 with 37 homers, 45 steals and 83 walks between Double-A Corpus Christi and Oklahoma City en route to being named the Astros' Minor League Player of the Year."That's in the past and this is 2014, and I have a lot to live up to, in my standards," Springer said prior to this season. "Just go out there and have fun and see how hard I can hit it."Springer, 24, wasn't promoted to the Majors Leagues last year because the Astros didn't need to put him on the 40-man roster just yet and wanted to save that roster spot. General manager Jeff Luhnow didn't rule out Springer making the Opening Day roster out of Spring Training, but he emphasized that Springer is an everyday player and would have to win a starting job.By calling up Springer now, he'll likely qualify for Super Two status and be eligible for arbitration one year earlier than he would have if he were called up after the Super Two eligibility date (expected to by late May/early June). That would be a hit to the team's pocketbook, but it will be worth it if he's as good as advertised.Brian McTaggart / MLB.com
Springer, the Astros' No. 3 prospect and No. 21 overall, continued his assault on Minor League pitching Tuesday. He went 3-for-4 with a grand slam, a walk and four runs in Oklahoma City's 11-9 victory at Colorado Springs. The home run was Springer's third of the season and second in as many nights.Springer, who was removed early from Tuesday's game, was hitting .353 with three homers and nine RBIs. He was the Astros' first-round pick (No. 11 overall) in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.The Astros are hitting .185 as a team through 14 games with several players, including Grossman, struggling. He went 0-for-4 on Tuesday, was hitting .125 with six hits in 48 at-bats and has struggled on defense this season.Last year, Springer batted .303 with a .411 on-base percentage while slugging .600 with 37 homers, 45 steals and 83 walks between Double-A Corpus Christi and Oklahoma City en route to being named the Astros' Minor League Player of the Year."That's in the past and this is 2014, and I have a lot to live up to, in my standards," Springer said prior to this season. "Just go out there and have fun and see how hard I can hit it."Springer, 24, wasn't promoted to the Majors Leagues last year because the Astros didn't need to put him on the 40-man roster just yet and wanted to save that roster spot. General manager Jeff Luhnow didn't rule out Springer making the Opening Day roster out of Spring Training, but he emphasized that Springer is an everyday player and would have to win a starting job.By calling up Springer now, he'll likely qualify for Super Two status and be eligible for arbitration one year earlier than he would have if he were called up after the Super Two eligibility date (expected to by late May/early June). That would be a hit to the team's pocketbook, but it will be worth it if he's as good as advertised.Brian McTaggart / MLB.com
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