Hicks’ numbers at age 23 in AA compare favorably to Bloss’ at the same age/level. I think Bloss probably had a slightly higher ceiling due to more velocity and spin.
Nice things being said about Brito: Keith Law at The Athletic: The most impressive pitcher I saw was Houston Astros right-hander Anderson Brito, who was partially responsible for that one game where the teams combined for fewer than 10 walks — well, sort of, as he walked the first two batters he faced, so I don’t want to give him too much credit. He then struck out the next seven, allowed a groundout, and struck out one more to finish the day with eight Ks in three innings. Brito was 95-97 from a high three-quarters arm slot with a hard sweeping slider at 84-88 and a changeup at 86-88 that both missed bats, along with a cutter at 91-92 and a curveball at 85-86. He doesn’t have a pretty delivery, with some late effort and a stiff landing, but the slider is easily a plus pitch, and the changeup isn’t far behind. He’s listed at 5-foot-10, 155 pounds, with the weight probably a few years out of date; he is small for a starter who lives off a four-seamer rather than a sinker, but I’d absolutely let him start until he shows he can’t do it. Eric Lonerhagen: Hudson Leach is a potential power reliever who has the best pure breaking ball I’ve seen so far this Fall. .... Little Astros righty Anderson Brito (whom I’ve seen once bad and once very good) is only 5-foot-10, 160 pounds or so. There are many more relievers who look like him, physically and mechanically, than there are starters. But Brito has one hell of a curveball, throws really hard for a 5-foot-10 guy, and still has multiple years to develop as a starter because he isn’t Rule 5 eligible until 2027. If you want active precedent for a guy this little succeeding as a starter, Sonny Gray provides some amount of it, but he’s maybe the only one from the last decade or so to have a prolonged career as a starter at 5-foot-10. For every Sonny Gray there are many more David Robertsons (if Brito were to become a career-long setup man like Robertson, that’d be a great outcome) and Deivi Garcias. I think it merits developing Brito as a starter just to see what happens, but he’s the one of this group I’m least convinced will stick in that role. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/arizona-fall-league-prospect-stock-check-in/
https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/ari...cast-standouts?t=arizona-fall-league-coverage Hudson Leach has one of the best spin rates in the fall league. A 3000 rpm curve with a high 90s fb gives him a pretty high ceiling in the pen. Walker Janek has the best pop time in the fall league. Odd that his caught stealing is so low. But still adds weight to the idea that he will be a very good defensive C.
It's called stealing on the pitcher or stealing on the pitch. Nothing a catcher can do about that but minimize errors.
Anderson Brito and James Hicks combined for 6ip, 0er, 2bb, and 10k in the fall league game yesterday. Derek True also pitched making for an all-Astros pitching staff for the scorpions. Their team is 14-6 and the best team in the league.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/eric-longenhangmans-spooky-prospect-chat-10-31/ 2 Astros related comments from the fangraphs guy: Guest: It sounds like Janek has done well in the AFL. What should Astros fans expect from him next year? Eric A Longenhagen: Needs to improve as a receiver and ball blocker. He’s a handsome kid, which I know from him constantly running to the backstop with his mask off. Nick: What are your thoughts on Kevin Alvarez. Think he can be a top 50 guy by year’s end? Eric A Longenhagen: One of the few guys that young who have a shot
If Alvarez becomes a top 50 prospect this year and Neyens has a good pro ball start (for his age)- that would have a huge impact on the Astros farm system moving forward.
I don’t think his stock will go up that much. We should find out next month if he got to the US. I’m actually thinking teams might have trouble getting visas for DSL guys. But if Alvarez does get over he’d have to be assigned to Fayetteville out of the gate to get that kind of helium. Projected July 29th Astros Top 20 prospects: Xavier Neyens (Top 100 prospect) Anderson Brito (Top 100 prospect) 2026 1st round pick 2026 PPI pick Kevin Alvarez Walker Janek 2026 2nd round pick 2026 QO comp pick Ethan Frey Bryce Mayer Ryan Forcucci Joseph Sullivan 2026 3rd round pick Jase Mitchell Luis Baez James Hicks 2026 International signee Will Bush 2026 11th round (overslot) pick Cole Hertzler Graduated: Brice Matthews, Jacob Melton, Zach Cole, Ethan Pecko, Miguel Ullola, AJ Blubaugh, Alonzo Tredwell, Jackson Nezuh, Alimber Santa, Jose Fleury
Watched Brito’s game. Dude has a legit shot at making the roster in spring training. That stuff will play with or without control.
You aren’t wrong but we have a guy on the active roster starting who can’t even do that in LMJ. I hope they give this guy a real shot.
He is tough, Astros need his Mentality of Attacking Hitters. Really need more Power Pitchers in the Rotation.
