Is Nehomar Ochoa that huge high school kid that we signed over slot? Sucks that he hasn't succeeded yet, I had unreasonably high expectations for the kid.
He could turn it around quickly. Last season was derailed by getting a giant hook lodged in his head. So it was a lost year. But his ceiling is still there and he is still young.
Ahh, I read a story on that last year. It sounded like a brutal freak accident, it almost killed him. I didn't make the connection that that was him. Thanks Snake. Even more reason to root for him to succeed!
The Ochoa incident... https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/astro...eatening-car-accident?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage
The BA guys did a video on the Astros system today. Notes: System has more power hitters than prior years. Frey has elite power and could be a midseason top 100 guy if he hits and gets to Corpus. System is better than last year at this time even after losing Melton and Brito. Mentioned Forcucci and Alvarez as potential breakouts. Frey (if he makes it to AAA), Neyens, Alvarez (if he replicates DSL #s stateside and add power), and Forcucci could be the #1 prospect in the system next year. Also #17 overall pick in this draft should be a good prospect. Pecko and Mayer are in the next tier. Matthews and Blubaugh will graduate this year.
The Astros are still trying to fill out the upper minors before spring training and they signed C Freuddy Batista last week. Batista was signed by the Mariners out of the Dominican Republic in 2017 and had spent his entire career in their system. He became a free agent for the first time after the 2024 season but re-signed with the Mariners for one more season. In 2025, Batista split time between Class A Advanced Everett and AA Arkansas, slashing .295/.387/.541 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI. He threw out 20% of would-be basestealers between the two levels (36 SB, 9 CS).
I didn’t like Janek as a prospect entering the draft. I felt he was a 3rd round talent. People way smarter than me disagreed and I was open to being wrong. I didn’t like when the Astros took him and really haven’t seen anything to change my mind or convince me he was worthy of going in round one. While I still don’t like him - he isn’t at the point of being labeled a bust, but has been a little disappointing.
