http://espn.go.com/blog/keith-law/insider/post?id=4728 Organization ranking: 17 I've ranked every farm system, as well as the top 100 MLB prospects of 2016. Below, I've ranked at least the top 10 Astros prospects, plus an overview of the system and any other names of note beyond the top 10. I also discuss any prospects who might help the big league club in 2016, prospects whose stock has taken a big hit in the past year and a sleeper prospect (or two) I think can jump into the main Top 100 list for 2017. A few quick notes: 1) Just as in my other prospect files, I use the 20 to 80 grading scale when scouting these prospects; and 2) If the prospect is in the Top 100, clicking on his ranking will take you to the page his scouting profile is on. 1. Alex Bregman, SS (19) 2. Francis Martes, RHP (40) 3. A.J. Reed, 1B (44) 4. Kyle Tucker, OF (67) 5. Daz Cameron, CF (just missed) 6. Joe Musgrove, RHP 7. Derek Fisher, OF 8. Colin Moran, 3B 9. Michael Feliz, RHP 10. Tyler White, 1B Overview Despite the promotions and the trades -- including the big prospect dump for Ken Giles -- it's still a strong, deep system with multiple potential stars and probably the next Ken Giles kicking around in here too. Joe Musgrove can touch 95 and pitches at 89-93, filling up the strike zone (he faced 392 batters in 2015 and walked eight) with two average or better secondary pitches in the curveball and changeup, and seems like a very good bet to be at least a fourth starter, though the ceiling might be limited by how the fastball plays. Derek Fisher's tools are better than hi performance suggests, as he has raw power, 70 speed and still plays like someone who's only recently picked up the game. He hit the longest homer in the Arizona Fall League in 2015, for what that's worth. Colin Moran can still hit, and he's playable at third, but he's not great at third, and the raw power he'll show in BP just does not show up in games. If he hits eight homers a year, you're looking to upgrade, and if he gets to 20, you're thrilled with the player. Michael Feliz is probably a reliever, with the control and fastball to start but trouble holding his stuff deep enough into games to be more than a twice-through-the-order guy. Tyler White is about as one-dimensional as it gets, as all he has ever done is hit, and if you know nothing else about a player other than that he has a 6 hit tool, you're interested. He might only be a 10-15 homer guy, but this kind of AVG/OBP potential at first base will make him someone's everyday solution there. Jonathan Arauz (11) came over with Giles in the big trade, a now-17-year-old middle infielder with an advanced approach and strong wrists, generating hard contact even at age 16 in the Gulf Coast League last year. He probably ends up at second base but should be allowed to stay at shortstop to prove he can't do it. Right-hander David Paulino (12) came from Detroit for Jose Veras in 2013, right after Paulino had Tommy John surgery; he returned this year and was sitting in the mid-90s with a power curveball. He's big and a bit uncoordinated, kind of like Daniel Cabrera, and scouts who saw him in A-ball last year thought he'd end up a closer or setup guy. Venezuelan shortstop Miguelangel Sierra (13) is a big upside play, better than just a lottery ticket but still raw and several years away, with a chance for an average bat on a plus defensive shortstop. J.D. Davis (14) still has plus raw power but did all his damage in Lancaster last year, and his defense at third is probably going to make him a first baseman in time. Tony Kemp (15) hit a wall in Triple-A, and when you don't walk or hit for power, you have to hit .300 to have much value. He's limited to second base or left field, and the bat doesn't profile in either spot. James Ramsay (16) can still play great outfield defense, but his ridiculous .322/.384/.463 line came as a 23-year-old in Lancaster, not exactly a good test of his abilities, and he'd struggled badly the year before in low-A. Brady Rodgers (17) could be a fifth starter for someone with a tick more life on the fastball or a slightly sharper breaking ball, as he has the command and control to pitch in the majors, but I doubt the stuff plays up in a relief role. The Astros also have a slew of hard throwers -- Jandel Gustave is up to 100; James Hoyt (acquired with Evan Gattis last winter) is 95-96; Juan Minaya is 94-97; Riley Ferrell is up to 97, as is Edison Frias -- filling out the system, any of whom could do what Giles did: go from some velocity goofball in March to a vicious slider-throwing machine by July. 2016 impact Reed or White should be handling first base and DH duties, somehow. They could match what little Evan Gattis produced last year, and it's not like Jon Singleton has seized the first-base job in past opportunities. The fallen Asher Wojciechowski was the 41st overall pick in 2010 by the Blue Jays but has never developed beyond 1½ pitches and struggled last year in Triple-A and in a brief cup of coffee with the Astros. Sleeper Arauz isn't especially impressive, but multiple scouts who saw him in Florida raved about his approach, instincts and quality of contact.
If it wasn't obvious, the above is Keith Law's top 10 for the Astros. I know I put the link, but since there is no byline, I didn't want someone to think I was passing that off as an original post.
Interesting that he has Ramsay and Rodgers as #16 & #17, when neither made BA's top 31. I definitely can see why there is such a huge disparity between the 2 organizational rankings.
Colin Moran can still hit, and he's playable at third, but he's not great at third, and the raw power he'll show in BP just does not show up in games. If he hits eight homers a year, you're looking to upgrade, and if he gets to 20, you're thrilled with the player. Not a fan of comments like this. Looking to upgrade and thrilled with a player is a lot different than just 12 homers. Unless he'said expecting other things to go up with those 12 homers, but it doesn't sound like it and other things usually go down when a player sacrifices hits for power.
Like the Crawfishboxes have said, if he can hit .280/.380/.450 or so, that would only make him the best 3B in Astros history. If he has that kind of ceiling, I say let him work out his kinks at #7 in the batting order until he can raise his slugging to his plateau levels. I don't think the hit tool that made him a top 10 pick has suddenly disappeared in the minors. I'd much prefer to see an OBP oriented hitter at that spot than the solo HR .220 batting average King Jose Valbuena.
Fangraphs released their 2016 Astros prospect list today. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/evaluating-the-2016-prospects-houston-astros/ Higher on Moran & Davis than most other sites I've seen. Much lower on Tucker.
Tyler White lent a helping hand to his high school after robbers stole equipment from the baseball team. http://www.baseballamerica.com/high-school/theft-tyler-white-pitches-help-alma-mater/
"“(The robbers) knew what they were doing. They took all the (expensive) gloves and good bats, all the stuff that’s worth something,” he said." What a bunch of jerks, man. I'm glad the companies and Tyler got to help them out. Also, off topic, but it was awesome getting to meet you in class last semester. I was the dude sitting a few seats behind you in World War 1 class. I didn't talk much, though.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreakingNews?src=hash">#BreakingNews</a> The Grizzlies SERIOUS announcement: We're celebrating 30th Ann. of 3 Amigos w/ theme unis 7/22, Jefe <a href="https://t.co/QzVD0k93Ce">pic.twitter.com/QzVD0k93Ce</a></p>— Fresno Grizzlies (@FresnoGrizzlies) <a href="https://twitter.com/FresnoGrizzlies/status/702613763980075008">February 24, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
John Sickels' top 20 Astros prospects http://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/2/28/11131432/houston-astros-top-20-prospects-for-2016 Spoiler
It is easy to see that Bregman, Reed, and Martes are top three prospects on nearly every list. Most lists basically has 6 out 7 of Tucker, Cameron, Musgrove, Paulino, Moran, Fisher, Feliz next. Paulino and White seem to be the guys that opinions differ on the greatest.
The Astros' system was ranked 10th overall by MLB.com. Here's their top 30: Spoiler 30. Michael Freeman 29. Akeem Bostick 28. Andrew Aplin 27. Matt Duffy 26. Teoscar Hernandez 25. Alfredo Gonzalez 24. Chris Devenski 23. Brendan McCurry 22. James Hoyt 21. Jon Kemmer 20. Riley Ferrell 19. Jandel Gustave 18. Franklin Perez 17. Miguelangel Sierra 16. Gilberto Celestino 15. Jonathan Arauz 14. Tony Kemp 13. Tyler White 12. J.D. Davis 11. Albert Abreu 10. Michael Feliz 9. Derek Fisher 8. Joe Musgrove 7. David Paulino 6. Colin Moran 5. Daz Cameron 4. Kyle Tucker 3. Francis Martes 2. A.J. Reed 1. Alex Bregman
Actually a good move if a dad wants to take a young daughter to the game. Behold, Dora the Explorer edition: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Well, this a new one ... Can't say I've ever been to Dora the Explorer Day at a minor league park <a href="http://t.co/aDYTfZMx4R">pic.twitter.com/aDYTfZMx4R</a></p>— J.J. Jansons (@jansons_jj) <a href="https://twitter.com/jansons_jj/status/632975007522660352">August 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Well, there was a transaction today. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Astros have traded RHP Troy Scribner to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for cash considerations.</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/713856588352720896">March 26, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Scribner spent 2015 in Lancaster, where his strikeout rate dipped a bit (he still managed to strike out 10 per 9 innings). His walk rate also spiked significantly (5.1, up from 3 in 2014). He also allowed 14 homers (11 of which came when he was pitching at The Hangar) in 100 innings. Spoiler <script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.sports-reference.com/wg.fcgi?css=1&site=br&url=%2Fregister%2Fplayer.cgi%3Fid%3Dscribn000tro&div=div_standard_pitching"></script>
