Sorry left out the part of the instructions where MLB has a dotted line under it after going to a previous date then you click that underlined MLB to change to the other minor league levels.
5 injury rebounds I will be looking for next year: RHP Jaime Melendez: one of my top 5 pitching prospects in the system before he got hurt; will be interesting to see if he is protected from the Rule 5 this offseason. IF Cristian Gonzalez: one of the highest ceiling prospects in the system, really bad time for him to have a major injury/lost season; will need to prove he needs Rule 5 protection next year. IF Will Wagner: had a lot of momentum coming into the year and has lost it all but could get right back on track and be in the majors by the end of next season if all goes well. C Miguel Palma: he’s shown enough in High A to warrant a promotion but hasn’t stayed healthy; another one who needs to prove he needs Rule 5 protection next season. C Nerio Rodriguez: in the same boat as Palma but is 2 years older and lost this entire season; may be too late. 5 guys whose career will be defined by the next 6 weeks (if they aren’t traded or released): OF Logan Cerny: obvious 20/20 talent but for strikeout woes; might be justified in giving him one more shot in High A to start next season but there’s a lot of OF talent coming up behind him, so he really needs to show some sign of figuring it out over the rest of this season. OF Justin Dirden: played himself off the 40 man this season and there’s a half dozen guys better than him pushing for OF spots in the upper levels next season; needs a strong finish to keep his leash from getting really short. C Collin Price: I think he’s had some bad batted ball luck but defensive reviews are not glowing so overall this has been a disappointing season; he will very likely get some kind of chance next year, but a strong 2023 finish would put him in position to start 2024 in AA and redirect his trajectory. C/IF JC Correa: the swinging strike data, low k rate, and defensive versatility makes me love him so it would be a shame if they cut bait, but he will be 25 next year and AA roster spots will be at a premium, so he needs to show some improvement in batted ball outcomes to avoid being a release candidate. C CJ Stubbs: he will be 27 next year and has been awful in over 360 AA pa, so it’s probably too late, although he does benefit from the High A catchers not performing well enough or staying healthy enough to push him out; barring a breakout this month, he’s probably toast.
I like Correa as a versatile bench bat but I would be surprised if any of these guys are on the forty man roster in December. It would sting a little to lose any of them but not too much.
I am going to the Outer Banks in North Carolina next week and convinced my wife to go to a Fayetteville game with me. Any prospect to watch out for? I will be there for next Saturday's game, looking forward to it!
Lucky. Luis Baez for sure is their best prospect. Tyler Whitaker is a high ceiling player. Most of their pitchers have potential and would be worth watching. If you’re lucky some of the recent draft picks will have been assigned there.
It's crazy....... Luis Baez is 19 years old and so far in his professional career has 42 extra base hits in 77 games. Kenni Gomez ....... turned 18 this summer....Waner Luciano just turned 18 and should be state side next year..... Raimon Rodriguez is 17 and is in the rookie league...... Juan Santander is barely 20 and is in AA.....
Thanks for the names everyone! We are sitting directly behind the Woodpecker's dugout, so hopefully I'll get a good luck at some of these prospects.
Another young player lost in the discussions and attention Baez and Gomez have got - I think he is still 18
Astros All-Teenager Team: C Andrews Sosa, 18, 164 wRC+, DSL 1B Cristopfer Gonzalez, 17, 173 wRC+, DSL 2B Sandro Pereira, 17, 175 wRC+, DSL SS Camilo Diaz, 17, 123 wRC+, DSL (>$800k bonus) 3B Tyler Whitaker, 19, 142 wRC+, A (>$800k bonus) RF Luis Baez, 19, 170 wRC+, FCL (>$800k bonus) CF Kenni Gomez, 18, 94 wRC+, FCL LF Ryan Clifford, 19, 130 wRC+, A+ (>$800k bonus) DH Esmil Valencia, 17, 125 wRC+, DSL (>$800k bonus) IF Chase Jaworsky, 18, 5th rd pick (>$800k bonus) C Jancel Villarroel, 18, 163 wRC+, DSL OF Nehomar Ochoa, 17, $300k bonus in 11th round HM: OF Anthony Huezo, 17, 12th round pick OF Eduardo Perez, 16, 93 wRC+ DSL (>$800k bonus) OF Karniel Pratt, 18, 167 wRC+ DSL IF Alberto Hernandez, 19, 94 wRC+ FCL (>$800k bonus) IF German Ramirez, 16, 73 wRC+ DSL (>$800k bonus) IF Waner Luciano, 18, 5 HR FCL C Will Bush, 19, 16th rd pick C Francisco Caldera, 17, 140 wRC+ DSL C Carlos Cauro, 18, 149 wRC+ DSL There’s several more not listed who are dominating the DSL in small samples. Astros currently have 7 of the top 30 in wRC+ in the DSL (min 70 pa).
Luis Baez is 2-2 with 2 doubles today…it’s the 3rd inning. Kid is looking legit. He doesn’t have Yordan Alvarez’s body type or total offensive upside, but Baez should have more defensive value than Alvarez. At age 20 in 139 pa in A ball, Alvarez posted a 16.5% walk rate, 25.9% k rate, and a 207 wRC+. Baez should get a similar number of pa in Fayetteville before the season ends, and he is only 19, so it’ll be interesting to see how he compares.
