HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Astros player development department has named OF Zach Cole the Astros Minor League Player of the Month for June and RHP Nic Swanson the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June.

Cole, 22, batted .311 (28×90) with 24 runs, seven doubles, three triples, three home runs, 15 RBI, 23 walks, nine stolen bases and a 1.018 OPS (.556 SLG / .462 OBP) in 26 games with Low A Fayetteville. For the 2023 minor league season, Cole is batting .267 (59×221) with 42 runs, 15 doubles, four triples, 10 home runs, 43 RBI, 42 walks, 21 stolen bases and a .913 OPS (.507 SLG / .406 OBP) in 62 games with Low A Fayetteville. In the Carolina League, Cole ranks second in extra-base hits (29), third in slugging percentage, third in RBI, third in OPS, third in on-base percentage, fourth in total bases (112), tied for fourth in runs, tied for fifth in doubles, fifth in walks and tied for sixth in home runs. The 23-year-old was also selected as the Carolina League Player of the Week for the week of June 18. He batted .455 (10×22) with two doubles, two triples, two home runs and seven RBI in six games for the Woodpeckers during the week of June 18. Cole was selected in the 10th round of the 2022 First-Year MLB Player Draft from Ball State.

Swanson, 23, went 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA (5ER/26IP) in five appearances including three starts in June for Low A Fayetteville. The right-handed pitcher also recorded 28 strikeouts, a 0.92 WHIP and a .194 opponent batting average in June. For the 2023 minor league season, Swanson has recorded a 2.61 ERA (17ER/58.2IP) with 21 walks, 66 strikeouts, a 1.07 WHIP and a .194 opponent batting average in 14 appearances, including seven starts. The 23-year-old was promoted to High A Asheville on June 26. Swanson was selected in the 16th round of the 2021 First-Year MLB Player Draft from Northeastern State University.

COURTESY ASTROS MEDIA RELATIONS; COURTESY MLBpressbox.com