If the organization thinks Abreu is good defensively, we’ve got bigger problems. There’s no way Dubon is worse there.
Alain Pena allowed an unearned run on three hits and struck out six in four innings for Fayetteville last night. Abel Mercedes struck out one in a 1-2-3 5th to bridge the gap to Yeriel Santos, who finished with four no-hit innings to complete the Woodpeckers' 5-1 win in Fredericksburg. Santos walked one and struck out six. Chase Jaworsky doubled twice and scored a run and Nehomar Ochoa had a bases-clearing double.
Yeah - that’s the joke… but honestly Brown’s picks look good too. Let’s see how Melton turns out before making a decision.
This is worth keeping an eye on. He has lost a lot of time going back to HS, but he has very high upside as a starter for the Astros. Right now the last two drafts have produced 3 possible long term starting pitchers.
current wRC+ for primary players at each position: C: Salazar 129 Palma 118 Garcia 121 Bush 14 1B: Loperfido 169 Brewer 78 Price 207 Santander 155 2B: Wagner 65 Arocho 168 Ferreras 169 Hernandez 91 SS: Whitcomb 106 Sacco 105 Matthews 132 Jaworsky 118 3B: Hensley 120 Stevens 70 Johnson 55 Luciano 103 RF: Cabbage 144 Melton 67 Baez 138 Ochoa 95 CF: Leon 105 Corona 53 Whitaker 130 Gomez 144 LF: Julks 88 Barber 106 Fisher 211 Nunez 161 DH/9: Bastides 173 Hamilton 16 Cerny 37 Sherwin 93
I’m really surprised by the Bush struggles. I thought his bat would translate. Not sure when they will put Brewer out of his misery. Ochoa is still putting it all together…. and Gomez is just a natural hitter.
Bush is only 20 so I’m willing to give him some time. But with a 6% bb rate and 42% k rate, hes both swinging at bad pitches and swinging and missing at good pitches. I would guess there will be a dozen or so guys cut loose after the draft: Brewer, Cerny, Correa, and a few others are probably history if they don’t show something significant in the next 2 months. That Corpus lineup should get a big boost once Dezenzo and Cole return.
It might be time to start paying attention to Jesus Bastidas. He’s 67 pa thru a dominant start in AAA. Bastidas was a non prospect international signee who rose thru the Yankees system slowly. He showed nothing offensively until 2021, when he broke out after a promotion to AAA. He mostly carried that over to 2022 when he hit 18 HR, although overall he was an average AAA bat. He fell off a bit last season, although he still hit 15 HR with middling k/bb ratios. He was allowed to go to free agency last offseason and Houston signed him. This season he is posting his lowest k rate since he was in the complex leagues in 2017. He also has 4 HR in 15 games. He’s currently 9th in all of AAA in wRC+ with a 173, with almost everyone ahead of him being either a top prospect or a 30+ year old with big league experience. Bastides is only 25. Bastidas appeared to have added significant power after the pandemic, going from zero to average. So far this season he appears to have been able to make a marked reduction in striking out and if that holds, he’s probably a real prospect given his defensive ability.
Ha. I’m sure he could. He hasn’t appeared at 1B in the minors. He is also only 5’8” so doesn’t exactly give a big target.
108 max EV, 102 90th percentile EV, 2 Barrel% this season. Looks like a guy who has been hitting a lot of line drives but doesn't seem to have much power.
Jesus Bastidas is 5'8 from Venezuela. Chose to sign with the Astros after being a Free Agent from the Yankees. Jose Altuve Impact is Real Nehomar Ochoa wearing 27, Jesus Bastidas both from Venezuela.
The Astros Training Facility with Gym and Cafeteria. Jim Crane invested so much money in Minor Facilities at Every Level Low A to AAA. Pitchers and Position Players are Physically Stronger.
1B Joey Loperfido, 3B/2B/SS Jesus Bastidas, CF Pedro Leon hopefully called up. 1B Jose Abreu, Jon Singleton, CF Jake Myers.
I have alwas been excited about Pedro Leon on the Astros, and seeing if his tools and talent translate to stardom. That said, the chances of him being as good as Meyers is now is 50/50 at best, and Jake still has upside. The only reasons you replace Jake with Leon now is due to injury, or if Meyers is traded.
