It is indicative of a system adapting to change and isn’t top tier anymore. They are on their third GM in 5-6 years, a third different group of player development people in 5 years - and lack any high level prospects at the top of their system - so it makes their system seem sicker than it likely really is. Brown has essentially replaced the entire upper level decision makers outside of Dickey and Cook. He has also invested heavily is high ceiling bats with loud tools. On the pitching side his strategy is different, but they are still an extreme outcome prospects. I don’t have any real criticism of Brown’s handling of the system so far - he has probably the most accomplished scouting/player development group in baseball with the possible exception of LA or ATL. Still - his players will take awhile to move up. Arrighetti and Loperfido both look like competent big leaguers. Arrighetti has strong deep advanced numbers and may be a #2-3 starter with improved control. Loperfido looked good IMO but didn’t have the at bats. So, even with a rag tag upper minor league system, they continue to produce helpful players. The reports I have heard from Sugar Land are that IF Leon takes the same approach and is patient in the big leagues, he will at least have a Jose Guillen type 10 year run and maybe better with improvement.
Guy is still pushing to pitch as of a few weeks ago. Wants to do both now. Team approach is focus on hitting- on off days he does a pitching routine.
C Miguel Palma started a rehab assignment in the FCL today. He looked pretty good in AA before getting hurt and is probably Houston’s best catching prospect. Brice Matthews was activated back in Asheville. He looked good in the FCL so hopefully will carry that over and make it to AA later this year.
Camilo Diaz and Luis Rives both had three hits in the FCL squad's win today. Diaz hit his first home run of the season. Rabel Colon had a double and a two-run triple. He had a solid pro debut in the DSL in 2022 but scuffled in his first stateside action last year. He's picked up the pieces and is having a nice start to the year. Miguel Palma went 2-4 in his first rehab game. Luis Rodriguez allowed a run on five hits and struck out six over 4.1 innings to get the win. Again, the Astros got him in the Corey Julks deal a few weeks ago.
So in the general manager. I don’t believe he is a natural hitter - but neither was Biggio and he is in the Hall of Fame.
Brice Matthews goes deep twice for Asheville and Franny Cobos throws 4.1 scoreless innings in a 4-3 win over Greensboro. Cobos allowed a hit, walked one, and struck out four.
Jeron Williams hit his first AA home run; he now has 6 on the season between Asheville and Corpus. Over the high wall in left field in Midland.
Will Wagner is on a 5-game hitting streak and he has recorded at least one hit in 8 of his last 9 games. In that stretch, 7 of those 8 games have been multi-hit outings.
I am glad Nehomar Ochoa is constantly pushing to be a Starting Pitcher. He can seriously make even more Money being a 2 way player. Game has changed the Coaching Staff and Front Office need to get with the Current Game. Shohei Ohtani changed the current Era.
Stocks entering June... Up Nehomar Ochoa - The numbers aren't eye-popping, but Ochoa is playing most of this season as an 18-year-old. Right now, holding his own should be the main objective. I know he's pitched before and as Nook mentioned, he's doing pitching routines on off days, but I'm not sure if it signifies that he's working towards becoming a two-way player (Maybe, maybe not?). For all I know he's just doing off-day bullpen sessions because he feels like it. He's a solid top-20 in the system guy who could get some top-10 consideration if there's a breakout. James Hicks - Getting an appropriate challenge in Asheville and so far, he's handling it well. I think he'll go to Corpus after the draft if he turns in a solid June. Jake Bloss - I don't expect him to jump all the way to Houston in his first full season (that means something terribly wrong has happened with the Astros' pitching staff) but he'll likely be needed for a spell in 2025, especially given the questions surrounding the health of Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy that have now emerged. A.J. Blubaugh - Javier's and Urquidy's health issues may open the door for Blubaugh at some point this season. That will also likely depend on whether or not Hunter Brown's rebound is real. Six of his nine starts with Sugar Land have come in the biggest hitter's parks in the PCL (2 Albuquerque, 2 Reno, 1 El Paso, 1 Vegas). I also imagine that his numbers might be a bit better once he's out of this environment. Jeron Williams - Williams put up some very loud numbers in his draft year and has gotten off to a blazing start this season, with the caveat that almost all of his production has been a result of playing in Asheville (1.242 OPS at home, .683 on the road). As a toolsy utility guy who can play all over the infield, he reminds me a bit of early-career Jonathan Villar. If Williams can demonstrate that he's not a product of the Asheville Effect, that's probably his ceiling. Pedro Leon - He's finally putting it all together. Unfortunately, there is no real path to playing time for him in Houston and I doubt they'll bring him up to be the last position player on the bench. Shay Whitcomb - Yet another utility infielder hopeful who's blocked. Whitcomb has made huge strides towards making better contact on offense. The strikeouts will always be there, but cutting his strikeout rate is an encouraging sign. It also appears that he's making strides towards becoming a passable defender, so he's probably someone who's willing to put in the work. Ethan Pecko - Not privy to whatever was affecting him off the field, but his performance so far suggests that he's done a great job shutting out the noise. I've talked about the Astros possibly needing at least one of the 2022 mid-round arms this year, but Pecko, James Hicks, and Jake Bloss could force their way ahead of those guys. Yeriel Santos - Wiry kid who's hitting 97 has formed a great tandem with Alain Pena. Yet another wave of arms from the international ranks is coming and Santos, Pena, and Raimy Rodriguez may be the top three from this next crop. Alain Pena - Don't know much about him, but Pena seems like he fits the bill for the Mexican pitchers the Astros have targeted; decent stuff with the ability to mix pitches. He's done that with great effectiveness while teaming with Santos in Fayetteville. Steady Will Wagner - Wagner has exceeded all expectations for an 18th-round pick and he's always shown the bat-to-ball skills that has given him helium as he's progressed through the system. After missing a chunk of last season, Wagner's priority is turning in a healthy 2024 season. Could be Marwin with better contact skills, but there's not much playing time available for him in Houston either. Probably trending up a bit. Miguel Ullola - Big arm with the big variance in results to match. They'll give him every chance to start until he proves he can't. Maybe trending slightly down. Luis Baez - More or less performing as expected in Asheville. Down Jacob Melton - Seems harsh because he hasn't been awful, but Melton has been kinda... meh. That's rather disappointing for a guy who is supposedly expected to see time with the Astros this season. Also worth noting that he didn't appear in any games this week. Kenedy Corona - Going 2-25 to start pretty much set the tone to the beginning of Corona's season. He's still walking at a decent clip and the strikeout rate is reasonable, so he's a little bit down for me. A good month on offense will get him out of this section. Trey Dombroski - Well, Asheville can make any pitcher's numbers look ugly. What would be concerning, however, is whether Dombroski's stuff, which was middling to begin with, has taken a step back. The road numbers suggest it's been a bit of bad luck (although he is definitely getting bombed at home) and his control/command has pretty much remained as advertised, so maybe a rebound is coming. Way Down Tyler Whitaker - Yeah... starting to think that he will not live up to his $1.5 million price tag. Alex Santos - Well, he got to Corpus by virtue of being assigned there to open the season, but he's been absolutely outmatched at AA. TBA: probably the two best athletes in the system, so they really could go either way Brice Matthews - Getting hits in all his rehab games is a good start. For a college draftee, Matthews possibly requiring a much slower burn will certainly aggravate some folks (not trying to call out anyone here, so I apologize. I think most of us are aware that he's a bit of a project) but I think he may be well worth the wait. The question is where he'll ultimately end up on defense. Zach Cole - Hopefully he's over the injury that put him on the shelf to start. The fact that Cole is currently in Corpus definitely means the front office likes him, they thought he did enough at both Class A levels to move on, and they probably think he'll hit enough to get to his power. I thought Zach Daniels could be George Springer lite but he can't stay healthy. Now that ceiling likely belongs to Cole.
RHP Adrian Chaidez retired yesterday. A 15th-round pick out of UCLA in 2021, Chaidez started off hot in his first pro season but things unraveled on him after moving up to Corpus and he just couldn't get himself going at AA.
Baseball is a funny game We have two of out top prospects who are ready to be in MLB. We are having the worst season since what, 2014? And we can't find a place for them...only in baseball (and to be fair, if either of them can play a decent 1B there is room . . .)
He's listed at 6-2, 181 but I figured you would get a kick out of the camera setup. Also, here's some bombs from Astros shortstop prospects:
