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2012 Astros Minor League Thread

Discussion in 'Houston Astros' started by tellitlikeitis, Jan 11, 2012.

  1. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    Prospects 25-21

    25. Mike Kvasnicka, C/3B

    DOB: 12/7/88
    Bats/Throws: Switch/Right
    Height: 6'2"
    Weight: 200
    Drafted: Minnesota, 1st Round Supplemental (33rd overall), 2010

    Grade: 45, Medium

    24. Tanner Bushue, RHP

    DOB: 6/20/91
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'4"
    Weight: 180
    Drafted: South Central HS (Farina, Illinois), 2nd round, 2010

    Grade: 50, High

    23. Jiovanni Mier, SS

    DOB: 8/26/90
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'2"
    Weight: 180
    Drafted: Bonita HS (La Verne, CA), 1st round (21st overall), 2009

    Grade: 50, High

    22. Jorge De Leon, RHP

    DOB: 8/15/87
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'
    Weight: 180
    Signed: International FA, Dominican Republic, 2007

    Grade: 50, High

    21. Dallas Keuchel, LHP

    DOB: 1/1/88
    Bats/Throws: Left/Left
    Height: 6'3"
    Weight: 200
    Drafted: Arkansas, 7th Round, 2009

    Grade: 40, Low

    I don't know about you guys, but I felt a little sad reading the bolded part...
     
  2. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects was released today... and as usual, the three guys dominating every Astros prospect ranking under the sun were named to the list.

    http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2012/2612998.html

     
  3. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    Prospects 20-16

    20. Marwin Gonzalez, SS

    DOB: 3/14/89
    Bats/Throws: Switch/Right
    Height: 6'1"
    Weight: 186
    Signed: International Free Agent, Venezuela, 2005 by the Cubs

    Grade: 45, Medium

    19. Juan Abreu, RHP

    DOB: 4/8/85
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'
    Weight: 180
    Signed: International Free Agent, Dominican Republic, 2003 by Royals

    Grade: 45, Medium

    18. Austin Wates, OF

    DOB: 9/2/88
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'1"
    Weight: 179
    Drafted: Virginia Tech, 3rd round (90th overall), 2010

    Grade: 45, Medium

    17. J.B. Shuck, OF

    DOB: 6/18/87
    Bats/Throws: Left/Left
    Height: 5'11"
    Weight: 195
    Drafted: Ohio State, 6th round, 2008

    Grade: 45, Medium

    16. Ross Seaton, RHP

    DOB: 9/18/89
    Bats/Throws: Left/Right
    Height: 6'4"
    Weight: 212
    Drafted: Second Baptist School (Houston), 3rd Round (supplementary), 2008

    Grade: 50, High

     
  4. snowconeman22

    snowconeman22 Member

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    WOW !!

    Thanks for putting all of this BA stuff up ... Its really been interesting to read so far . Also what do you think of Seaton ... I really liked him earlier on and hope with new management he can do as well this year as he did his first.

    Even though he's not a prospect anymore i have a question for you about Lyles ... and to a lesser extent Seaton ... I remeber when they were drafted there were reports of them hitting 95-6 on the gun ... I am curious why they have seemed to lose velocity. Lyles in particular as he moved up seemed to throw softer at each level ... wear and tear ? Or was pitching that fast more of a ok throw as hard as you can for the gun type of thing . Do you think lyles has any chance of getting a few of those mph back . With rest/ strength training.... ? It would be awesome to see him sit at 92-3 instead of 89-91.

    But once again thanks for all the BA info .. it must be a pain to type it all up
     
  5. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    From reading the reports, Seaton definitely has the array of pitches to succeed. He got rocked in Lancaster and clearly felt the aftereffects for most of the season in Corpus. He has taken a beating the past couple of seasons, save for one month last season, but all he needs is stability. He'll get it by repeating Double-A. Repeating Corpus will benefit Ross Seaton greatly. I hope that he's learned from the beatings he has taken the past two seasons and that he can carry his strong finish to last season over to this season and pitch himself into contention for a callup.

    My opinion on Seaton is that his numbers don't reflect his stuff. He's had the stuff to be a successful pitcher, but the results to this point have left a lot more to be desired. And part of it was because the Astros were expecting him to grow up quickly and that's hurt him development-wise and mentally. If he gave up fewer hits per 9 innings and had more strikeouts per 9 innings, Seaton could have been a fringe top-10 guy, even with his poor stats, because everyone would be talking about his upside, and how he hasn't quite put it all together yet. "But once he puts it all together, he could have the upside of a #3 or #4 starter."

    That's just my opinion. I understand Jordan Lyles, who came from the same draft class and is younger than Seaton by several months, did not have as difficult a time in the minors, but the Astros have always considered him the more polished pitcher of the two.

    As for the decrease in velocity, well, I'm just as in the dark as you are. (Sorry!) Pitcher and pitching coaches tinkering with mechanics? Trying to develop offspeed stuff? Lyles is still young and will be 21 all season, so he still has some physical upside. I can definitely see him getting back to 92-94 and up to 96 with his fastball by the time he's firmly established in the rotation. Same story with Seaton, although I'm looking to see how his slider progresses.
     
  6. snowconeman22

    snowconeman22 Member

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    Thanks anyways man. I definitely feel that this year is a make or break ( as far as true prospect status goes ) for a number of our players like Seaton and Mier. I think that a bounce back year from either one of them turns them into a top 10 in our system. When looking purely at upside/ physical tools I really liked both of them coming into our system and although dissapointed havent given up on them yet.

    I really hope Lyles velocity can go up ... even if slightly. The difference between him being at 92-94 and last seasons topping out at 91-2 makes it plausible for him to become a 1 or 2 starter. His change up can be dominant and if he can get a slightly above average fastball then with his savvy at 21 I would be really hopefull of him panning out to be a top of the rotation guy. Also I remember reading that since he is 6'4" and because he has long arms pure velocity doesnt matter as much with him... but i still wonder what happened if he really did flash that speed in 2008 and 09 . Hopefully you are right and he can get the velocity back.

    Once again thanks for all of this info you are putting up ... Its gonna be an interesting season to watch the astros/ their minor league affiliates.
     
  7. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    Prospects 15-11

    15. Ruben "RJ" Alaniz, RHP

    DOB: 6/4/91
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'4"
    Weight: 195
    Signed: Nondrafted free agent, Juarez-Lincoln HS (La Joya, TX), 2009

    Grade: 50, High

    14. Ariel Ovando, OF

    DOB: 9/15/93
    Bats/Throws: Left/Left
    Height: 6'4"
    Weight: 190
    Signed: International free agent, 2010

    Grade: 55, Extreme

    13. Jake Buchanan, RHP

    DOB: 9/24/89
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'
    Weight: 200
    Drafted: North Carolina State, 8th round, 2010

    Grade: 45, Medium

    12. Nick Tropeano, RHP

    DOB: 8/27/90
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'4"
    Weight: 205
    Drafted: Stony Brook, 5th round, 2011

    Grade: 50, High

    11. Adrian Houser, RHP

    DOB: 2/2/93
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'4"
    Weight: 205
    Drafted: Locust Grove High School (Locust Grove, Oklahoma), 2nd round (69th overall), 2011

    Grade: 50, High

     
  8. juicystream

    juicystream Contributing Member

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    Tri-City for Houser? I would have figured Lexington.

    Edit: I'm guessing Tropeano, Hallock, Folty, Bushue, & Dufek. Shirley is another possibility, but I have to assume he will be in bullpen after all his injuries.
     
    #68 juicystream, Feb 28, 2012
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2012
  9. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    Prospects 10-6

    10. Telvin Nash, 1B/OF

    DOB: 2/20/91
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'1"
    Weight: 230
    Drafted: Griffin HS (Griffin, Georgia), 3rd round (100th overall), 2009

    Grade: 50, High

    9. Mike Foltynewicz, RHP

    DOB: 10/7/91
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'4"
    Weight: 200
    Drafted: Minooka HS (Minooka, Illinois), 1st round (19th overall), 2010

    Grade: 55, High

    8. Delino DeShields Jr., 2B

    DOB: 8/16/92
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 5'9"
    Weight: 188
    Drafted: Woodward Academy (College Park, Georgia), 1st round (8th overall), 2010

    Grade: 60, Extreme

    7. Brett Oberholtzer, LHP

    DOB: 7/1/89
    Bats/Throws: Left/Left
    Height: 6'2"
    Weight: 230
    Drafted: Seminole CC, 8th round, 2008 by Atlanta

    Grade: 50, Medium

    6. Domingo Santana, OF

    DOB: 8/5/92
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'5"
    Weight: 200
    Signed: International free agent, Dominican Republic, 2008 by Philadelphia

    Grade: 60, High

     
  10. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    And the grand finale....

    Prospects 5-1

    5. Paul Clemens, RHP

    DOB: 2/14/88
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'4"
    Weight: 180
    Drafted: Louisburg Jr. College (North Carolina), 7th round, 2008 by Atlanta

    Grade: 55, Medium

    4. Jonathan Villar, SS

    DOB: 5/2/91
    Bats/Throws: Switch/Right
    Height: 6'1"
    Weight: 195
    Signed: International free agent, Dominican Republic, 2008 by Philadelphia

    Grade: 65, High

    3. George Springer, OF

    DOB: 9/19/89
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'3"
    Weight: 205
    Drafted: University of Connecticut, 1st round (11th overall), 2011

    Grade: 65, High

    2. Jarred Cosart, RHP

    DOB: 5/25/90
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'3"
    Weight: 180
    Drafted: Clear Creek HS (League City), 38th round, 2008 by Phillies

    Grade: 65, High

    1. Jonathan Singleton, 1B/OF

    And there you have it. The Houston Astros' top 30 prospects, according to Baseball America.
     
  11. tellitlikeitis

    tellitlikeitis Canceled
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    And the grand finale....

    Prospects 5-1

    5. Paul Clemens, RHP

    DOB: 2/14/88
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'4"
    Weight: 180
    Drafted: Louisburg Jr. College (North Carolina), 7th round, 2008 by Atlanta

    Grade: 55, Medium

    4. Jonathan Villar, SS

    DOB: 5/2/91
    Bats/Throws: Switch/Right
    Height: 6'1"
    Weight: 195
    Signed: International free agent, Dominican Republic, 2008 by Philadelphia

    Grade: 65, High

    3. George Springer, OF

    DOB: 9/19/89
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'3"
    Weight: 205
    Drafted: University of Connecticut, 1st round (11th overall), 2011

    Grade: 65, High

    2. Jarred Cosart, RHP

    DOB: 5/25/90
    Bats/Throws: Right/Right
    Height: 6'3"
    Weight: 180
    Drafted: Clear Creek HS (League City), 38th round, 2008 by Phillies

    Grade: 65, High

    1. Jonathan Singleton, 1B/OF

    DOB: 9/18/91
    Bats/Throws: Left/Left
    Height: 6'2"
    Weight: 215
    Drafted: Millikan HS (Long Beach, California), 8th round, 2009 by Phillies

    Grade: 65, Medium

    And there you have it. The Houston Astros' top 30 prospects, according to Baseball America.

    Fixed*
     
  12. snowconeman22

    snowconeman22 Member

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    Awesome man !!!

    I like how Ba said we have the best first base prospect in the minors and how villar is the SS with the 2nd most potential.

    I also liked that they rated Clemens at 5 since most people ar sorta down on him ... if he ever improves his control he has number 2 starter stuff. If some of the astros younger arms do well this year ( and there is alot of room for improvement ) then i think our system ranking should shoot up . Also if springer and ovando and santana live up to expectations ( or exceed them ) then we probably have one the best sytems regarding outfield prospects .
     
  13. xcrunner51

    xcrunner51 Contributing Member

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    Thanks for posting that! It just seems like a waiting game at this point. Only Obie and Clemens are starting the year at AAA. Everyone else is double A and (well) below, so we're still going to wait 2-3 years on the bulk of these prospects. It's so exciting that we have projectable major league players in the system again. I hope the Stros are spending as much money on development as they did on signing bonuses...

    I'd really like to see a breakout year by one of the high upside guys, DDJ, Villar, Ovando or Santana. After seeing Jio Mier disappoint year after year, a high-upside breakout would be sooo nice.
     
  14. juicystream

    juicystream Contributing Member

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    The AA players could easily be in Houston by season's end.

    Definitely a big year for the guys repeating a level, like Folty, DDJ, & Villar. I'm actually very happy reading Folty's writeup as he was very disappointing last year, but I guess that is to be expected when you are reworking his pitches.
     
  15. xcrunner51

    xcrunner51 Contributing Member

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    Random question about development. How common is it for prospects to come up to the majors and only throw three different pitches. It seems like the Astros really emphasize nailing down two plus pitches and having at least one average third pitch. You never read about any Astros prospects coming up with 4 pitches.
     
  16. juicystream

    juicystream Contributing Member

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    3 pitches is the norm. It is one of the common differences attributed between starting pitchers and bullpen pitchers (who usually throw 2). I think the reasoning behind 3 pitches is probably because they don't want plus pitches to suffer from adding more average pitches.
     
  17. xcrunner51

    xcrunner51 Contributing Member

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    Gotcha, thanks. I thought 4 was the norm for starters.
     
  18. juicystream

    juicystream Contributing Member

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    I think 4 is common (but often developed later). I don't know how often pitchers use a 4th pitch, just that the prevailing thought process is that starters need at least 3 pitches.
     
  19. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    FanGraphs Top 15 Prospects

     
  20. xcrunner51

    xcrunner51 Contributing Member

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    2-3 breakouts among that list and we're in business. Depth is nice.
     

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