[Baseball America] Astros Top 10 Scouting Reports

Someone asked for this in another thread, just getting around to it.


1. Forrest Whitley, RHP

Track Record: As a tall, thick-bodied righthander, Whitley was considered one of the better prep prospects in the 2016 draft class. But during his senior season, he wowed scouts after he melted away 20-30 pounds, turning himself into a more athletic pitcher with still-excellent stuff. By the end of his senior year, he was touching 97 mph and breaking off 90 mph sliders. In his first full pro season in 2017, Whitley dominated three levels and became just the fifth high school first-round pick to pitch at Double-A in his first full season this century. The previous four were Chad Billingsley, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw and Dylan Bundy.

Scouting Report: Few young pitchers are as advanced as Whitley, and few can match the quality of his stuff. He entered 2017 with four quality pitches and left it with five. All his pitches are at least average and a trio are already plus. Pitching with an over-the-top arm slot emphasizes the downhill plane on his fastball, and Whitley can blow hitters away at 92-97 mph. He actually is even more comfortable toying with batters with his varied assortment of offspeed pitches, and he commands his breaking balls better than his fastball at this point in his career. His plus 84-87 mph slider has modest depth but strong tilt as it dances away from his opponent's bat head as it nears the plate. His 78-82 mph curveball is also plus with a big 12-to-6 break. At times his changeup will also show otherworldly movement, when it dives down and away from the barrel of lefthanded batters. And in 2017 he refined a 90-92 mph cutter that some scouts throw a plus grade on. With so many pitches, Whitley can stick one or two in his back pocket early in the game, then break them out the second time through the order. One of the few criticisms raised is that he's a slow worker.

Projected Future Grades On 20-80 Scouting Scale
Fastball: 70. Curveball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Cutter: 50. Control: 55.

The Future: Scouts are understandably reticent to project almost any pitcher as a future No. 1 starter. But Whitley has a chance to be an ace with dominant stuff and advanced feel and control. It would surprise no one to see a 20-year-old Whitley make his major league debut later in 2018. He doesn't require much projection. He has not yet thrown even 100 innings in a season, so the Astros will likely be conservative with his workload in 2018.


2. Kyle Tucker, OF

Track Record: The BA High School Player of the Year in 2015, Tucker broke his brother Preston's school home run record. Early in his pro career, he impressed with an advanced approach and hit tool. He showed a significant power increase in 2017, when he sacrificed contact to hit 25 home runs and reach Double-A Corpus Christi.

Scouting Report: Tucker's swing has never been picture perfect. He begins his swing with the bat laid back over his shoulder, leading to a little bit of a sweepy beginning. But it's hard to argue with the results. His excellent hand-eye coordination leads to ton of contact, and as he has gotten stronger he's turned doubles into home runs. Tucker isn't a true center fielder, but he has a chance to be fringe-average there while being above-average in the corners with an average arm that works in either spot. He's an average runner who has shown a knack for stealing bases.

The Future: Tucker's even-keeled approach turns off some scouts, who describe him as low-energy. He has a half-season of Double-A experience under his belt before his 21st birthday so he may need a little more Double-A time, but a big league arrival by age 22 is a likelihood.


3. Yordan Alvarez, 1B/OF

Track Record: The Dodgers and Astros battled to sign Alvarez when he left Cuba. The Dodgers won that battle, signing Alvarez on the last day of the 2015 signing period for $2 million. The Astros traded for Alvarez in August 2016, before he ever played a game for the Dodgers.

Scouting Report: Alvarez earned a spot in the Futures Game in 2017, his first full season. A wrist injury sapped his power in the second half, but when healthy Alvarez showed some of the best power in the organization. He produces high exit velocities and has 25-plus home run potential. His swing is not really geared for power, but the ball carries thanks to leverage and bat speed. Alvarez uses a whole-field approach, and hit more home runs to the opposite field than his pull side. He has a big strike zone, but his ability to recognize breaking balls and lay off pitches out of the zone helps him cover the plate. Alvarez is an above-average runner underway and is a better left fielder than first baseman. His fringe-average arm is his worst attribute.

The Future: Alvarez needs to continue to refine his game, but he has an exceptionally high ceiling as a pure hitter with a chance for plus power. He will be ready for Double-A Corpus Christi in 2018 with a strong spring.


4. J.B. Bukauskas, RHP

Track Record: Much like Lance McCullers Jr., Bukauskas is a short, hard-throwing righthander with an exceptional breaking ball whom some scouts see as a reliever, but whom the Astros believe can start. Bukauskas went 9-1, 2.53 with 116 strikeouts in 92.2 innings as a North Carolina junior.

Scouting Report: Bukauskas had the best slider in the 2017 draft class. It's a 70 pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale. He relied on it too often in college--in some outings he threw more sliders than fastballs--but it's a pitch that requires no projection because it's already hard (85-87 mph) with sharp, late bite and comes out of his hand looking like his 91-95 mph fastball. Bukauskas can touch 96 mph, but his velocity usually dips into the lower registers of his range as the game wears on. He has average command and control of his fastball but plus command of his slider, and he often succeeds with a largely two-pitch approach. His 84-86 mph changeup flashes average, and its development will be one of the keys to him remaining in the rotation.

The Future: Bukauskas has a high floor because his fall-back option is potential closer, but he also has a chance to be a Sonny Gray-esque starter.


5. Freudis Nova, SS/3B

Track Record: Nova was expected to be the centerpiece of the Marlins' 2016 international signing class before a positive steroid test pushed Miami away. The Astros then signed him for $1.5 million. His bonus was then reduced further to $1.2 million after an issue with his elbow. Nova has passed every drug test since then, while staying healthy and showing unchanged athleticism and twitchiness.

Scouting Report: Nova's earliest big league ETA is some time in the 2020s, but there are few Astros prospects with more potential. He has a chance to be an impact bat who can stick at a middle-infield position. He's athletic with above-average bat speed, plus speed and a plus arm. Nova shows surprising power for a speedy teenager. Like a typical 17-year-old, he has to make strides in pitch recognition, but with his bat speed and bat-to-ball skills, he has a chance to be an above-average hitter with average power. Defensively, Nova's hands work well, he has the twitchiness for a quick first step and the arm to make plays in the hole.

The Future: Nova is ready to head to play for a U.S. affiliate. The teenager faces plenty of work ahead, but he has a chance to be an impact everyday shortstop.

 

6. Jairo Solis, RHP

Track Record: Solis was considered one of the better players in the Astros' 2016 international class and landed a $450,000 bonus that reflected it. The Astros liked how his arm worked and thought he had room to fill out. Since then, he has exceeded expectations.

Scouting Report: Solis has put in a lot of work, improved his body and has seen his stuff jump up as well. When the Astros signed him, he could touch 91 mph. Just a year later, he sat 90-94 mph and touched 96 with a fastball that has late life. Once Solis made his pro debut, it was hard to hold him back. He sped from the Dominican Summer League to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League to the Rookie-level Appalachian League in the span of two months in 2017. He misses bats and shows advanced control for a teenager. Solis has a hard, slurvy 76-78 mph slider that shows plenty of promise. He also quickly picked up an 83-85 mph changeup that shows some late tumble. The Astros are also encouraged by his intelligence and aptitude.

The Future: Solis could make it to low Class A Quad Cities in 2018, and with his feel he may continue to move quickly.


7. Hector Perez, RHP

Track Record: When Perez throws strikes, he dominates. He wasn't particularly dominant in 2017 because he walked 6.5 batters per nine innings in a season spent primarily at high Class A Buies Creek.

Scouting Report: Perez is a fast mover who has gone from the complex leagues to high Class A in two years, but his control problems have forced him to develop survival skills. There's nothing particularly ugly or problematic about his delivery, but he has trouble staying in sync. His wildness has few apparent patterns--he will spike a ball in the ground after 55 feet and the next ball will be up and out of the zone--but Perez's arm is special. He sits 92-97 mph and has touched 99. When he keeps his fastball around the strike zone, he sets up his plus low-80s split-changeup that leaves hitters flailing. He can locate a potentially average slider at times but it can sometimes blend with his 78-80 mph curveball.

The Future: Perez's control troubles lead to speculation that he's destined for the bullpen, where he would likely touch 100 mph, but he has a good frame and his delivery isn't awful, so there's no reason to give up on starting.


8. Jorge Alcala, RHP

Track Record: The Astros signed Alcala as a late-blooming 18-year-old. He sat 90-92 at that point, but since then his velocity has improved by leaps and bounds.

Scouting Report: Alcala's fastball ranges from 93-99 mph. He generally sits in the mid-90s and has touched 100-102. His slider and changeup are both much less refined, but the quality of his fastball allows them to play up. His slurvy slider will flash average mainly because it's 88-90 mph and has some modest late break. His below-average changeup doesn't move much, but when he maintains arm speed and throws it with conviction, hitters have a hard time gearing down from 100 to 87-88. If Alcala could refine one of the two offspeed pitches into a two-strike weapon, he'd shorten his innings significantly. Alcala's control needs to improve, but he showed improvement with that in 2017, especially when working out of the stretch.

The Future: Alcala is another flame-thrower in the Jorge Guzman/Albert Abreu mold. It's easy to see Alacala eventually ending up in the bullpen, but with physicality, athleticism and a delivery with no glaring issues, he'll keep trying to stick as a starter.


9. David Paulino, RHP


Track Record: Paulino only added to concerns about his durability in 2017. He missed the start of the season with a sore elbow and returned in May, but just a month later he was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for a steroid.

Scouting Report: Paulino came off the suspension on the final day of the season, but was immediately put on the 60-day disabled list because of surgery to remove bone chips in his pitching elbow. Paulino will be 24 when the 2018 season begins, but he's yet to prove he can hold up over a full season. Between Tommy John surgery and suspensions, he's yet to throw 100 innings in a season. When he's healthy, Paulino has a 91-94 mph fastball and a devastating, 82-84 mph plus curveball. The fastball wasn't as hard in 2017 as it's been in the past, but the curve retains its sharp 12-to-6 break and Paulino has the feel to manipulate it depending on the situation. He can make it bigger and slower or harder and sharper. His changeup also flashes plus.

The Future: Paulino still has the makings of a mid-rotation starter, but he is now one positive test away from a full-season ban.


10. J.D. Davis, 3B/OF


Track Record: The Astros' depth at first and third base meant that Davis faced a tough-to-swallow assignment in 2017. Coming off of a productive full season at Double-A Corpus Christi and a strong spring training, he was sent back to the Hooks because Houston had Alex Bregman and Yuli Gurriel set in the majors and Colin Moran and A.J. Reed above him in Triple-A. To Davis' credit, he didn't pout and was a little more productive in a second stay with the Hooks. He eventually made it to Triple-A and made his big league debut. He even got to show off his big arm, throwing 92-93 mph fastballs in mop-up relief work.

Scouting Report: Davis has some of the best raw power in the organization and one of the strongest arms. It will always come with a significant number of strikeouts and he's unlikely to hit better than .230-.240 albeit with decent on-base percentages because he draws some walks. While many Astros have embraced hitting more fly balls, Davis' swing leads to a lot of screaming ground balls. If he could get the ball into the air more he could hit 30+ home runs.

The Future: Davis is a fringe-average defender at third and is the same at first with limited range but good hands. He's also tried left field, where his arm is an asset, but his below-average speed is a detriment. Davis is an injury fill-in for the Astros for now, which may make him a trade asset eventually.


Read more at https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2018-houston-astros-top-10-prospects/#FJwGCSe6FSycPpiG.99

 

Some of the guys that were traded.

Detroit Tigers

1. Franklin Perez, RHP

Track Record: When he was training with Carlos Guillen as an amateur, Franklin Perez was a strong-armed third baseman. But in reality, he was a pitcher who just hadn't found his true home yet. When he moved to the mound, Perez quickly showed a delivery and an aptitude that seemed somewhat remarkable. He surpassed more experienced pitchers from the 2014 international amateur class, and his clean delivery and ability to work in the strike zone made Perez stand out. He signed with the Astros for $1 million in 2014 and, despite missing a month with a knee injury, he reached Double-A Corpus Christi before his 20th birthday in 2017. The Tigers made him the signature acquisition in the Justin Verlander trade with Houston, though the Aug. 31 deal came late enough in the season that Perez never got into a game with the Tigers.

Scouting Report: The Tigers have pitching prospects with higher ceilings than Perez, but not one who combines stuff and feel like Perez. While he is less likely to be an ace, Perez also is about as safe a bet as a teenage pitcher can be to become a big league starter. For a young pitcher, he already understands many of the finer details of his craft. He responds quickly to instruction and shows an aptitude for adjustments. After working on a new grip for his slider in just one side session, he successfully took it into his next game. Perez generally sits 92-94 mph, though he can touch 96. Some scouts believe he may end up throwing a little harder in his 20s because his delivery is clean and he has plenty of athleticism. What's most notable is that Perez commands all four of his pitches. His 75-80 mph curveball is his best secondary pitch. He has long had an ability to spin it with 12-to-6 break, and he has shown he can loosen it as an early-count strike or tighten it up as a swing-and-miss out pitch. His changeup is a potentially average pitch as well, with more deception than late fade. His newly-added slider comes in at 88-89 mph with late movement.

Projected Future Grades On 20-80 Scouting Scale
Fastball: 60. Curveball: 60. Slider: 45. Changeup: 50. Control: 60.

The Future: Perez doesn't blow hitters away like a future No. 1 starter, but he also doesn't have much to refine to be a future mid-rotation starter. He had knee problems in 2017 that are worth keeping an eye on, but he has present above-average stuff and advanced control for his age. He'll head to Double-A Erie in 2018 but could be only a year away from Detroit.


6. Daz Cameron, OF

Track Record: The son of long-time big league center fielder Mike Cameron, Daz slid in the 2015 draft because of his asking price. He landed a $4 million bonus from the Astros, matching that of Houston first-round pick Kyle Tucker. He wasn't ready for the low Class A Midwest League in 2016, and a finger injury ended his season early. He was much better in 2017, impressing the Tigers enough to make sure he was included in the Justin Verlander trade with Houston.

Scouting Report: Cameron has a good understanding of his strike zone and recognizes pitches to hit, but early in his career he would fail to consistently square hittable pitches. His swing path proved to be too steep. Cameron has worked to keep his bat through the zone longer and it has paid off with better contact. Optimistic projections see Cameron as an average hitter, but that should be enough to be a regular because he has the strength and bat speed to hit 15-20 home runs in his prime. Cameron is an above-average defender in center field with an average arm and above-average speed.

The Future: Cameron lacks a truly exceptional tool, but he's a hard worker and has a well-rounded skill set. He's ready for high Class A Lakeland.


Read more at https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2018-detroit-tigers-top-10-prospects/#BLjC3e2jDD7KLiQy.99

 

New York Yankees

6. Albert Abreu, RHP

Track Record: When the Astros signed Abreu in 2013, they knew he had the potential for big-time stuff. They were proved right when he started hitting the mid-90s with his fastball when he got to low Class A. Houston dealt both Abreu and righthander Jorge Guzman to the Yankees for Brian McCann in December 2016 in a deal that worked out for both sides. Abreu dealt with right elbow inflammation at times in 2017, which he spent mostly at high Class A Tampa, but never had surgery.

Scouting Report: With another year under his belt, Abreu's fastball has ticked up even more. He now sits in the mid-90s with regularity and touches as high as 101 mph on occasion. He couples his fastball, which has average life, with a curveball and changeup that project to be at least average if not plus in the future. He still needs to refine his command, and some evaluators have seen more of a thrower than a pitcher at this point, but scouts inside and outside the organization see a pitcher with the upside of a No. 2 starter if everything develops.

The Future: Abreu could be ready for Double-A to begin 2018, though a return to high Class A to begin the season is a likely option as well.


7. Jorge Guzman, RHP

Track Record: The Astros signed Guzman out of the Dominican Republic on the strength of his lightning-quick arm and projection for a massive fastball. He spent his first two seasons in complex leagues before moving to the Rookie-level Appalachian League. He was traded with Albert Abreu to the Yankees that December for Brian McCann and lowered his walk rate in his Yankees debut.

Scouting Report: Just as the Astros expected, Guzman developed a big-time fastball, but he exceeded even their expectations. He averaged 99 mph with his four-seamer in 2017 and just a tick less with his two-seamer. To put that in perspective, Guzman threw harder than Luis Severino (97.6 mph), the hardest throwing starter in the majors in 2017. He paired his fastball with a developing slider which was inconsistent but flashed average potential as well as a seldom-used changeup. He sometimes had trouble keeping his slider in the zone early in games before finding his feel later.

The Future: After leading the short-season New York-Penn League in strikeouts in 2017, Guzman will take his raw but tantalizing package to low Class A Charleston in 2018. He has a ceiling as a mid-rotation starter.


Read more at https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2018-new-york-yankees-top-10-prospects/#frVkTJDSUboml47Q.99