<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Astros expect shortstop Carlos Correa, 20, to begin regular season at Double-A. He's healed from broken right ankle.</p>— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/566348769986240512">February 13, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Minor league spring training begins for pitchers and catchers on March 9, with position players starting March 13. Here is the complete roster for the minicamp: Pitchers: Akeem Bostick, Brock Dykxhoorn, Kent Emanuel, Edison Frias, Evan Grills, Reymin Guduan, Josh Hader, Adrian Houser, Chris Lee, Francis Martes, Lance McCullers, Daniel Mengden, Tyson Perez and Tommmy Shirley. Catchers: Alfredo Gonzalez, Brian Holberton, Jobduan Morales, Jamie Ritchie. Infielders: JD Davis, Jose Fernandez, Mott Hyde, AJ Reed, Kristian Trompiz Outfielders: Bobby Boyd, Derek Fisher, Jason Martin http://goo.gl/XErYoH
Fangraphs Top 200 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-fangraphs-top-200-prospect-list/ I've included the writeups on Correa and Appel, but there are short writeups on Phillips, Velasquez, Moran, and McCullers at the link as well. 5. Correa Correa was seen as a consensus top-three pick in the 2012 draft, but only a portion of the scouting community had him as the top prospect in the draft. The Astros saw him as the best talent and also saw an opportunity to capitalize on this perception (with Buxton seen as the consensus top prospect) to cut a below-slot deal with Correa, allowing them to sign two high schoolers — 3B Rio Ruiz (#43 on this list, since traded to Atlanta in the Evan Gattis deal) and RHP Lance McCullers (#126) — to over-slot deals later in the draft. Correa has really performed since signing and hasn’t added the weight many expected to come and force a move to third base. His 2014 season ended early with a broken fibula, but he’s been back to 100 percent for over a month and is expected to be ready to head to Double-A to start the year. 18. Appel Appel was a polarizing figure in the 2012 draft, when he went 8th overall and didn’t sign with the Pirates, turning down a $3.8 million offer. Scouts liked the size and stuff but thought Appel wasn’t quite athletic enough to make his delivery work and lacked the aggressiveness and killer instinct to be a frontline arm. Appel answered these questions in 2013, with an improved approach and the Astros took the Houston native #1 overall. He had some trouble in 2014 with his velocity disappearing then coming back, and he still isn’t all the way back to his peak form as a senior at Stanford. The pitch grades above are a notch higher than what he consistently showed last year, but there’s no physical reason to think he can’t regain that form and become a #2 starter. 75. Velasquez 107. Phillips 121. Moran 126. McCullers 142-200 Tier. Santana
Also in the "about 100 that got considered for the list as well" we had: Michael Feliz, Josh Hader, Teoscar Hernandez, Lance McCullers Jr., Colin Moran, and Vincent Velasquez. One thing that I found interesting was that Maverick was ranked 6th behind Velasquez and Feliz, yet he was closer to the top 100. I guess they moved him up since they posted the top 10.
Brett Maverick Phillips, did not know that. Little disappointed that Velasquez has been top 80 on every list, yet missed the top 100 on the preeminent list. I'm guessing it has more to do with his inability to put forth a full season than his stuff/results. Even through we only have to clear top 50 guys, we still have 8-10 other guys who could be top 100 next season, plus the 2 high draft picks.
I can't even be mad. We have Carlos Correa. As great as Kris Bryant has been, and as talented as Byron Buxton is, there isn't a prospect I'd rather have.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Vincent Velasquez is limited with a lat strain</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/569143735180615682">February 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Luhnow said Velasquez will be reexamined in 2-3 weeks.</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/569146726692466688">February 21, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Think correa gonna be on the huge blow up this year, and as for a sneaky good season I think Derek Fisher is gonna post some big big numbers! Hoping for the best from everyone!
Wilson Karaman at Minorleagueball.com continued his series on California League prospects with an outstanding write-up on Kid Correa.
A couple of pitchers were recently signed, one of which was a former catcher and a Jeff Luhnow draft pick. Christian Powell was released by the Twins in May. He was their 8th-round pick in 2012 out of the College of Charleston. He spent the last 2 season at Low-A Cedar Rapids. <script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.sports-reference.com/wg.fcgi?css=1&site=br&url=%2Fminors%2Fplayer.cgi%3Fid%3Dpowell001chr&div=div_standard_pitching"></script> Jeff Luhnow selected Robert Stock in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft out of USC as a catcher. He moved to the mound in 2012 and has made to High-A as both a position player and a pitcher. <script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.sports-reference.com/wg.fcgi?css=1&site=br&url=%2Fminors%2Fplayer.cgi%3Fid%3Dstock-001rob&div=div_standard_pitching"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.sports-reference.com/wg.fcgi?css=1&site=br&url=%2Fminors%2Fplayer.cgi%3Fid%3Dstock-001rob&div=div_standard_batting"></script>
John Sickels came out with his Top 175 (and 182-ish others considered) list and the Astros had 11 ranked and 4 in the "others" section. 2: Correa 33: Appel 70: Feliz 85: Hader 87: Folty 95: Velasquez 109: Santana 113: McCullers 122: Ruiz 129: Fisher 141: Phillips 148: Moran 160: Reed Other: Davis Other: Gregor Other: Hernandez Other: Kemp Other: Tropeano
Astros system ranked 8 by MLB. The link for their top 30 list is here Spoiler 1. Correa (70 overall) 2. Appel (60) 3. Santana (55) 4. Velasquez (55) 5. Feliz (55) 6. Moran (55) 7. Phillips (50) 8. Hernandez (50) 9. Hader (50) 10. McCullers (50) 11. Fisher (50) 12. Reed (50) 13. Davis (50) 14. Kemp (45) 15. Tucker (45) 16. Musgrove (45) 17. Fontana (45) 18. Smith (45) 19. Stassi (45) 20. Vasquez (45) 21. Martes (45) 22. Mengden (45) 23. Wojchiechowski (45) 24. Hoyt (45) 25. Houser (45) 26. Rodgers (45) 27. Aplin (45) 28. Torreyes (45) 29. Mauricio (45) 30. Durate (45)
Santana did come off a strong minor league season and time is still very much on his side, but this year is a crucial one for him.
Guys with that high a K% without a high walk rate in AAA have not fared well in the majors regardless of how young they were in AAA. A fangraph article I read a while back showed guys his age with similar BB%, K%, and ISO had a greater than 90% bust rate. The article wasn't on Santana, but it was easy to find where he fell...High K%, High ISO, average BB% (though he was in the upper 1/3 of average BB%).
Santana is like your typical 7 footer in the NBA who can walk but still can't chew gum yet. Sure, the bust rate is high. But if he's not a bust, he'd become one of the most valued young talent instantly. There is value is having all the tools other than hitting. It may be a different kind of value from a guy who can hit but limited athletically, but it's value.
