By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

The Houston Astros’ Gulf Coast League team, about 30 players, totals some 35 years of professional baseball playing experience.

The coaching staff — five career baseball men — have nearly 100 years in the game.

So, for a collection of teenagers or 20-somethings new or fairly new to the sport, their experience at Osceola County Stadium this summer will be akin to Baseball University.

The Astros are two weeks into their 60-game season in the GCL, a Rookie League comprised mostly of high school players chosen in of the last two Major League Baseball drafts. In Houston’s case, it also includes players who have graduated from their Venezuelan and Dominican summer leagues.

Here, they are introduced to the nuances of being a professional baseball player — the everyday work, the travel and being self-sufficient.

Ed Romero, who managed the Greenville Astros of the Appalachian League last year, swapped roles with Omar Lopez, who managed the GCL team the last two years. Romero played 13 years in the big leagues, mostly with Milwaukee and Boston, and he was Houston’s third-base coach in 2008 and bench coach in 2009.

He said coming to Kissimmee is an ideal situation for both him and the Astros. For the franchise, he can provide his wealth of experience to pro-ball newcomers, and for him he’s just 30 minutes from his home in West Palm Beach when the team makes its trips to Jupiter to play the Marlins and Cardinals GCL teams.

“Makes the bus trips worthwhile,” Romero, 53, said.

He understands his role is to teach.

“These kids need to come out of here with the right work habits and motivation,” he said. “We have to teach the right fundamentals, and they have to get their work in.

Because games begin at noon, players must adjust to early wake-up calls  and Florida’s hot, humid weather. The Mets (Port St. Lucie) and Nationals (Viera) GCL teams are in the same division, and the bus leaves for away games at 8 a.m.

Players also have in-game adjustments to make. Some have little experience swinging a wood bat after years with an aluminum stick.

“At first I just try to get the feel for the guys’ strengths and let them play. I don’t want to mess around with them,” he said.

The pitchers work with Coach Hector Mercado, who spent four seasons (2000-03) in the bigs with Cincinnati and Philadelphia. The former Astros farmhand, who pitched here with the Osceola Astros and Kissimmee Cobras from 1993-96, said this pitching staff has to develop mental toughness.

“The toughest part is to get them to stay aggressive and pitch to contact,” he said. “When they leave here, we need them to have command of their fastball and have a feel for other pitches, an offspeed or a breaking ball. Since this is where they start, having their mechanics down is important.”

Two of the pitchers, right handers Adrian Houser (second round) and Brandon Culbreth (seventh), were taken in the top 10 rounds of this month’s draft.

Outfielder Javaris Reynolds was taken in the sixth round. Five other recent draft picks dot the roster.

Through seven games, the Astros were 3-4 before a game Wednesday against the Nationals.

Their best bat has been Telvin Nash (5-for-13, 5 runs in 5 games), a 2009 draftee from Belleview rehabbing an injury before returning to the Class A Lexington Legends.

Second baseman Yonathan Mejia was 7-for-24 through Monday with seven RBI. On the mound, lefty Zachary Hardoin struck out seven in four innings that covered three appearances.

The GCL Astros play  home games at noon at Osceola County Stadium. They play Friday against the Cardinals and Tuesday against the Marlins. Admission is free.