It only took one mighty swing from the bat of Lorenzo Quintana to put himself on the map. Actually, for punctuation, Quintana made it three mighty swings that resulted in a trio of homers for the Texas League’s Corpus Christi Hooks, Monday, July 9, in a 15-6 shellacking of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City Royals’ affiliate).

The Houston Astros’ Double-A backstop prospect became the 15th minor leaguer to go deep three times in a game this season, and the first in the Texas League. In that game, Quintana scored five times and chased in six more. The Hooks, through Monday’s action, have won nine of their last 10, and enjoy a 57-30 record, overall, with a 14-4 second-half record, and a 3.5 game lead at the top of the South Division.

Quintana is the third player in Hooks history to notch a three-homer game, joining the ranks of JD Davis in 2016 and Domingo Santana (2013, currently with Milwaukee’s AAA affiliate).

Quintana’s Monday night heroics marked his second multi-homer game of the year. Of the Cuban catcher’s eight home runs this season, seven have come at the expense of Northwest Arkansas.

“I didn’t know a whole lot about him since he was playing in Cuba,” Corpus Christi hitting coach Troy Snitker said recently about the 29-year-old. “But his reputation was that of an offensive-minded backstop. We got some glimpses of him in Spring Training. In fact, the first swing I ever saw him take resulted in a line drive off the top of the left-field wall. I think we knew then he definitely had some offensive tools.”

Quintana, a right-handed batter, is hitting .417 with five homers and 15 RBIs in his last 10 games, coming into play July 10. He’s driven in at least two runs in three consecutive games, totaling 10 in that span.

Lorenzo’s Toil

Quintana, a former Cuban All-Star, signed with Houston for $200,000 as an international free agent in early November 2017. He actually got to spend several weeks working out for various team scouts at Houston’s Dominican Republic complex before signing on November 7.

The solidly stocky 5’9″, 187-pounder has slashed .263/.325/.493 with 19 extra-base hits and 30 RBIs through 42 games with the Hooks.

“Lorenzo’s an older guy coming out of Cuba, but it’s important for him to play and get consistent time behind the plate,” Snitker continued. “He needs to learn our system and what it’s like to play professional ball in the states. He’s had to learn a lot of stuff on the fly, especially early in the year. Now he’s starting to get comfortable and it’s taken some pressure off him and it shows.”

His strong offensive output notwithstanding, Quintana has impressed Snitker and others with his overall approach and off-field demeanor.

“He’s eager to learn and wants to work,” Snitker, a former minor league catcher himself, said. “The transition for him fitting in has been fairly seamless. I know the guys enjoy having him around and he enjoys being at the field every day. Lorenzo’s always the first guy to knock on my door to watch video. He loves the game and being around the clubhouse.”

Quintana en Cuba

Quintana defected from Cuba in early 2015, batting .270/.362/.413 with four homers over 35 games in Serie Nacional before he left, while also earning a Gold Glove in 2014.

Scouting reports have Quintana owning a fast and compact swing, with skills to direct a pitched ball to all parts of the diamond, according to El Nuevo Herald.

And while his defensive skills leave a lot to be desired (his arm, particularly), it’ll be his bat that propels his ascension to Houston. Cuba’s Martin Dehigo El Mejor blog put Quintana’s struggles against would-be base stealers this way, a description made humorous only by the translation: “Average of runners caught stealing: he caught 76, while 178 achieved to laugh at him.”

“His [throws] to second are calculated below two seconds,” continues the Herald, “and it is estimated that he has the tools to lead a pitching staff, although he still must do a lot to continue opening the eyes in Houston.”

It’s possible, too, that Quintana might benefit from a defensive switch to either first base or left field or become a full-time DH as he gets closer to Houston by way of AAA Fresno, his next stop.

“In seven seasons with Pinar del Rio, Quintana batted .310 with 35 homers and 204 RBIs [in 422 games], and was a pillar of the squads of that province that won titles in the National Series 50 and 53.”

Quintana, by the way, is the latest in a series of Cuban nationals who have joined the Astros, including pitchers Cionel Pérez (The Cuban Cannon, Quintana’s Hooks battery mate) and Elián Rodríguez (currently with the Rookie League GCL Astros).

Add to them Corpus Christi SS Aníbal Sierra, as well as Hooks hurler Yoanis Quiala, Advanced-A Buies Creek pitcher Jesús Balaguer, and newly-promoted slugger Yordan Alvarez, currently bashing at AAA Fresno.

Related: Yordan Alvarez on Fast Track in Houston System

“Above all,” in the words of the Herald, “stands the figure of Yuli Gurriel, who rounded [out] one of the best seasons for a Cuban baseball player of recent times, and contributed greatly to the [World Series] title reached against the Dodgers.”

With Brian McCann still on the DL following right knee surgery, and due to be out until late July to early August, Max Stassi has taken over as Houston’s catcher of choice. Stassi’s 129 wRC+ is far better than the 72 wRC+ mark that McCann has posted so far this season. 30-year-old veteran Tim Federowicz has been more than an adequate sub for Stassi, with his .227/.261/.364.