2025 Astros Minor League Thread

He's played 8 games in the last 3 years

He will definitely have to earn playing time or a guaranteed starting rotation spot, ie, treated with a short leash

This is sports -- we will in the NOW

Just like the Astros were right not to include Verlander in the postseason roster based on historical precedent- he was throwing stinker after stinker

Blanco and Framber are ahead of him especially with how Blanco finished the 24 season

Is Lance arrogant? Maybe... but if it helps him work back to consistency after 3 years of couch time more power to him . Just please don't promote your coffee every 5 min

 

If there was just 1 rotation spot and the Astros had to make a decision, if everyone was healthy:

Framber is obviously choice #1 because he has earned it over the past 3+ seasons.

Brown would not be a slam dunk, but based in his Cy Young potential and how he pitched last year, (especially in the past season) he likely is 2nd choice.

Javier has the resume to make a case.

Nobody else has a case to be chosen over Lance, if they are all healthy.

 

No point debating opinion at this point, we have an entire season to rotate 6 guys and let them duke it out for their spots in the pecking order. But in no way is Lance guaranteed anything based on what he's done 4+ years ago.

 

Love LMJ, but he's got to earn his spot.

I see you've got a new favorite now that Bregs is in Boston.

 

I will need to find one.

I just think Lance's history means something. And he pitched plenty of times hurt or susceptible to getting hurt and pitched anyway for the team when they needed him.

There are not 5 guys on this roster that have earned consideration ahead of him.

My opinion.

 

It's like a 50's doo-wop band:

Framber Brown and the Question Marks

 

There are 4 and he should have to compete for the 5th spot.

 

I don't mind him competing for a spot. The best 5-6 should always be chosen.

If another starter out pitches him, fine.

I'm just saying that coming into ST his past performance along with the lack of that pedigree by other candidates gives him a gives him a spot where others have to take it from him.

Just like everyone agrees that Framber deserves to be #1 until someone takes that from him, Lance deserves to be no lower than #3.

If Arrighetti, Blanco, or anyone else out pitches him this spring, then cool, but no way anyone can say there is a pitcher outside of Framber, Brown, and possibly Javier who right now has had a better career and established himself above Lance.

Any fan who does not appreciate and respect Lance for what he has done is no real Astros fan.

 

Lance has been out for three years and he should be competing for the SP5 spot on equal footing with other pitchers. If things are equal or close to equal LMJ gets the job. Being SP5 will also help cut down on his innings pitched. This isn't about respecting what LMJ has done in the past, it's about giving the team its best chance to win.

 

Framber
Brown
Blanco?
Spencer
...
I have no idea what vets are healthy
I have no idea what rooks are good

 

Looking for the following numbers from Kenni Gomez in High A this season: 8%bb, 18%k, 10 HR, 30SB, 120 wRC+. That would approximate the numbers Michael Harris II had in High A at age 20 the season before he played 1/3 of a season in AA before coming up to the majors and posting 4.8 fwar over 114 games. Gomez’s numbers in A ball weren’t far off from Harris’s in A ball. Harris was one of Dana Brown’s biggest wins and a good roadmap for what some of these teenage prospects can follow and how quickly they can be promoted.

For any of Gomez, Chase Jaworsky, Nehomar Ochoa Jr., or Jancel Villarroel, a k rate under 20% with enough power to be a threat in High A is all they really need for their stock to explode.

 

I've been keeping up with Gomez for awhile now, ever since Nook told me about him. He's a top 5 guy to me. He's a hard worker who looks like he's fixed the hole in his wing that Nook told us about. I'm not trading him and think he will be at Crawford in a couple of years.

Smith Matthews, Gomez are the next wave. Gotta make do and hope one of the young guys hit this year or make a trade at the deadline. The margin for error is less this year.

 

Don’t sleep on Jaworsky and Ochoa. Both guys very high ceiling and acquitted themselves pretty well in A ball at 18; I think both guys are right there with Gomez as exciting young prospects. I’m less excited about Villarroel but he’s also worth tracking. The roster assignments that come out in a few weeks should tell us a lot about their trajectory.

 

Is Ochoa the kinda giant kid?

 

Some potential fast movers in the Astros system this year.
AA, Cam Smith could finish the season as the Astros starting right fielder. Eventually replacing Tucker’s production there.
Single A, Joseph Sullivan high expectations may carry him very early to A+. with a taste of AA at the end of the season.
Single A, Anderson Brito is already on some Astros top prospect lists and could also get a cup of coffee at AA to end the season
FCL, Jagger Beck could finish the season as the youngest pitcher in high A.
Unassigned, Parker Smith if healthy he could finish as a top ten prospect on Astros top prospect lists.

Who am I missing?

 

Yes. He’s gotten into a couple of big league games this spring. He’s a good looking athlete, will probably end up like 6’5” 240 lbs. Huge 70 grade OF arm (can get into mid-upper 90s on the mound and led his league in OF assists last year). Speed may end up being an issue but he has a chance to be a premium player, 30+ HR (60+ grade power) bat with plus corner OF defense.

 

5 Astros position player prospects who could emerge as legit ROY candidates this season:

1. 3B/OF Cam Smith
2. 2B/3B Brice Matthews
3. OF Jacob Melton
4. OF/3B Zach Dezenzo
5. 3B/2B Shay Whitcomb

5 Astros position player prospects who could emerge as Top 100 prospects this season:

1. C Walker Janek
2. OF Kenni Gomez
3. IF Chase Jaworsky
4. OF Nehomar Ochoa Jr.
5. OF Joseph Sullivan

5 teenage Astros position player prospects who could catapult into the spotlight this season:

1. OF/1B Kevin Alvarez
2. IF Camilo Diaz
3. IF German Ramirez
4. OF Esmil Valencia
5. OF Anthony Huezo

 

I guess you can scratch Melton off your list for this year.

 

Why is that?

 

I thought I saw he was reassigned to minor league camp. I suspect he will be down there for a while. Thus, eliminating him from ROY contention.

Houston Astros outfield prospect Jacob Melton among five players reassigned to minor-league camp