Ah. He was reassigned to minor league camp but that’s just because he’s hurt and at this point there’s no way for him to crack the opening day roster. I don’t know the extent of his injury but if it’s minor there’s still plenty of time for him to crush AAA and be up in time to win ROY.
Stock watch halfway thru spring training: Stock Up: Cam Smith, Zach Dezenzo, Shay Whitcomb, Brice Matthews, Chase Jaworsky, Kenni Gomez, Joseph Sullivan, Nehomar Ochoa, Tommy Sacco, Kenedy Corona, Miguel Palma, Will Bush, Cristian Gonzalez Stock down: Jacob Melton, Zach Cole, Walker Janek, John Garcia, Pedro Leon, Luis Baez, Jancel Villarroel, Austin Deming, Jeron Williams
https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/astros/ MLB Pipeline updated their Astros Top 30 Prospects list today. Their coverage and analysis has really improved over the last few years. Not much from their list I disagree with. They do have 2 pitchers in the back end of the list who I hadn’t seen much on, both 2024 draftees: Cole Hertzler and Bryce Mayer. There’s also clearly a lot of industry helium around Anderson Brito and Joseph Sullivan. Interesting omissions were P Alonzo Tredwell and P Trey Dombroski
I had already left Dombroski off my list but I am expecting a Treadwell comeback. Hope they are right about the young pitchers they are touting. I only had 13 pitchers on my list that normally has at least 15.
I thought I saw the player had to be on the opening day roster. I'm probably wrong. PS. I can't fathom that Jasson Dominguez is a rookie. I collect baseball cards. I have a bunch of Dominguez cards all stamped with the Rookie RC symbol, These go back for 3 years. I get Bowman 1st because he was in the minors but Topps has insert cards that have had him as a rookie of the year candidate for the last two.
A player does not have to begin the year in the majors in order to be eligible for rookie of the year. They just have to exceed the designated threshold to lose their rookie eligibility in that season: At-bats: 130 at-bats for hitters Innings pitched: 50 innings for pitchers Active roster days: 45 days on an active MLB roster during the Championship Season Of course baseball card companies can do what they want, but typically a “rookie card” is just the first card produced for that player by that company.
Stock in the Spring doesn't mean a lot - but I am not at all surprised by which guys have gone up and which have gone down. All of the "stock down" guys are players I personally am not really high on. I know a lot of fans like Baez and Janek, and I am not saying they should be released.... but I see a lot of issues with them. You would think that Joseph Sullivan was the son of Jim Crane based on how the Astros coaches and player development people speak about him. Last guy like that was Chas and he didn't get this much praise. Palma seems to keep getting better at hitting.
Sullivan reminds me of Loperfido. Maybe a Loperfido who strikes out way less, which would be a stud. I feel like Palma’s main issue has been staying healthy. 5 pro seasons and only 300+ pa once.
Palma is the guy that I posted hearing good things about 2-3 years ago. I have heard weird things about him, so I don't know if it is nagging injuries, chronic or bad luck. I know at one point they felt he would be a pretty good defensive player, not sure how true that is now.
If prospects are truly the 19-21 best prospects in the system then the system is in fine shape IMHO. 19. Gomez 20. Hcks 21. Gusto
I had the same thought. If Gusto, who is a very good bet to be at least a quality 6th SP or MR, is your 21st ranked prospect, you have a pretty good farm system.
My hope for the opening day AAA lineup: CF Melton 2B Matthews 3B/RF Smith RF/3B Dezenzo SS Whitcomb LF Corona 1B Castro DH Hamilton C Palma Bench: Salazar, Sacco, Bastidas, Lavastida IL: Leon Inactive/Released: Short, Rodgers
Why would Brown not demand Whitcomb start primarily in the OF? An occasional start in the IF ... sure ... to facilitate rotating other players through their MLB possible positions.
I’m sure a lot of those guys will get time at multiple positions. But if Whitcomb is not thought of as an everyday caliber player in the OF then they are better off continuing to give him time in the infield (as they have this spring) to maintain his defensive versatility so he can fill in if/when someone on the. If league roster is hurt regardless of position.
Astros roster for the Spring Breakout prospect game was released today: PITCHERS Miguel Ullola, RHP, No. 6 Anderson Brito, RHP, No. 7 Ethan Pecko, RHP, No. 10 Jackson Nezuh, RHP, No. 15 Jose Fleury, RHP, No. 18 James Hicks, RHP, No. 20 Juan Bello, RHP, No. 25 Alex Santos II, RHP, No. 28 Bryce Mayer, RHP, No. 30 Ramsey David, RHP, NR Alimber Santa, RHP, NR Wilmy Sanchez, RHP, NR CATCHERS Walker Janek, C, No. 4 Jancel Villarroel, C/1B, No. 29 Collin Price, C, NR INFIELDERS Cam Smith, 3B, No. 1 (MLB No. 58) Brice Matthews, SS/3B, No. 2 Chase Jaworsky, SS/2B, No. 14 Pascanel Ferreras, 2B, NR Yamal Encarnacion, 2B, NR Austin Deming, 3B, NR Tommy Sacco Jr., SS, NR OUTFIELDERS Jacob Melton, OF, No. 3 Luis Baez, OF, No. 12 Joseph Sullivan, OF, No. 13 Kenni Gomez, OF, No. 19 Nehomar Ochoa Jr., OF, No. 23 Good to see Yamal Encarnacion on that roster. He’s a guy you can’t tell how the org feels about him. He’s got elite speed (39 SB in 89 G last year) and doesn’t strike out much. But he’s been moved around a lot (both in terms of level and position) and hasn’t gotten consistent playing time.
I think they only have to be on the opening day roster for the team to get the extra draft pick for them winning it?
Nah. I think they’re holding back guys like Dezenzo and Whitcomb that they think have a legit chance to make the opening day roster. For Blubaugh the day for that game probably just doesn’t line up with his throwing schedule.
Holy ****- with the pitching staff we have scheduled to be there that team might win all their games.
