2016 Astros Minor League Thread

Surprised they couldn't flip Sclafani (and even Buchanan) somewhere for a lottery ticket low-A player. Seems like Sclafani would have some value to clubs looking for upper-minors talent and/or a cheap utility guy.

 

The potential for a Downtown ballpark in San Antonio may lead to Round Rock switching back to the Astros, possibly even accelerated to 2017 with an early termination depending on how fast a deal happens in SA.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/mino...911&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook

 

Interesting. I spoke with Jeff Luhnow a few years back and at the time they were hoping to do a downtown San Antonio park for the Astros.

Getting Round Rock back is definitely a step up from Fresno, but it's probably a push vs. a downtown SA park. Not sure which is better from an Astros' point of view. Austin/SA used to be Astros country, but that's likely shifted during the Astros' rebuilding years.

 

IMO, after Ryan was forced out of Arlington & joined the Astros, a reunion with Round Rock seemed like a forgone conclusion, just a question of when and where the Rangers next AAA affiliate would eventually be. Texas tried previously to buy OKC before the Dodgers rolled in. And after all the "Big League Weekend" exhibition games they've hosted in the Alamodome the past few seasons, San Antonio naturally began to feel like the next stop.

 

I'm keeping an eye out for our international/young guys as sleeper picks: Sierra, Arauz, Abreu, Perez, Celestino, and Muriel.

 

Top guys to watch:
Martes (could be a MLB Top 20 type by midseason if he isn't called up)
Moran (expecting a breakout)
Tucker/Cameron (need them to pan out to carry the farm the next few years)

Sleepers to watch:
RHP Jose Hernandez
OF Alejandro Garcia
IF Wander Franco

Breakout position player:
Cameron (think he will be MLB Top 20 by season's end)

Breakout pitcher:
Albert Abreu

Best team:
Fresno. Their entire lineup will be future MLB guys, and their staff is deep. They should continue to be strong after the waves of promotions with guys like Bregman, Fisher, Martes, and Paulino coming up.

 

This late release of the minor league rosters is killing me.

 

Daz and little Tuck in full season ball..... yessssss

 

On guys I'm following:
Fresno IF, Gustave, Bregman, Fisher, Davis, Martes, Musgrove, and Paulino are the main guys. Will also follow Tucker and Cameron, but typically much more loosely until they get higher in system.

Breakout Position Player: Caveat...not including anyone in AA or AAA or a recent high pick, Jason Martin. He's at a time when some guys his age find a little power (not expecting him to be a power hitter). Lancaster will probably skew the results, though, leading calls that it is just Lancaster even if he starts getting more loft legitimately.

Breakout Pitcher: Same caveat. Bostick. (though feels like cheating as he was a 2nd round pick)

Best Team: My guess will be CC as they have starting pitching with some interesting offense. Fresno should have an offense and a very nice bullpen.

 

Thanks JR.

Thoughts on each team:

Fresno:
Stacked with position players. Their rotation is a little thin, with Feliz in Houston. But he should be back when McCullers returns. With Peacock, Feliz, Rodgers, and Devenski, the rotation is pretty good. The bullpen is very strong. The back end of Hoyt, Gustave, and Minaya is as good as any minor league tandem out there. Kemmer and Devenski are my sleepers.
Breakout: Moran, Hoyt

Corpus:
Another stacked position player roster, but this will also feature an incredible pitching staff. Mott Hyde is a sleeper as is Aaron West. This is one of the best rosters in the entire minors.
Breakout: Fisher, Paulino

Lancaster:
A little weak on offense. Alejandro Garcia is my #1 sleeper pick in the entire system. I don't think Martin, Ferguson, or Muniz are worth much. I am high on Elieser Hernandez. This pitching staff is underrated.
Breakout: Garcia, Hernandez

QC:
Tucker and Cameron have enough talent to make this offense worth watching, but that infield is lacking. I do take it as a really good sign that Duarte is in full season hall. The rotation features 2 guys I think will be talked about a lot more by season's end in Abreu and Hernandez.
Breakout: Cameron, Hernandez

There were quite a few guys missing. Here is the list of guys which experience in full season ball that were not on any of the rosters and have not been released that I have seen:

C: Ruben Castro
IF: Wander Franco, Luis Reynoso
OF: James Ramsey, Edwin Medina
RHP: Agapito Barrios, Justin Ferrell, Octavio Acosta, Christian Powell, Tyson Perez, Gonzalo Sanudo, Enrique Chavez, Juan Robles
LHP: Kent Emanuel, Bryan Radziewski, Chris Cotton

Other notables in Extended Spring Training or the DR: SS Jonathan Arauz, OF Myles Straw, 3B Connor Goedert, SS Miguel Sierra, IF Arturo Michelena, OF Nestor Muriel, IF Marcos Almonte, IF Wilson Amador, IF Joan zmauricio, OF Gilberto Celestino, Of Ronny Rafael, P Carlos Sierra, P Devonte German, P Austin Nicely, P Derick Velasquez, P Robert Kahana, P Patrick Sandoval, P Franklin Perez, P Yoanys Quiala, P Yeuris Ramirez, P Enmanuel Valdez

 

I'll be watching that catcher in Quad Cities, last name of Correa. I hear he's pretty good. Smart, too.

 

Wonder who starts for Devenski now that he was called up today

 

Who?

They both had pretty good numbers last year, but I don't know anything about them. I would have assumed Abreu would have been their opening day starter.

 

Musgrove 5.0 IP 1 hit no walks no runs

Call him up!