2015 Astros Minor League Thread

Dankush · May 3, 2015

Its disappointing to see Singleton struggling. I think Tucker should get some time at 1b. Carter is just too streaky.

rezdawg · May 3, 2015

Dankush said: ↑

Its disappointing to see Singleton struggling. I think Tucker should get some time at 1b. Carter is just too streaky.
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The way the team has performed, Ive virtually forgotten about Singleton and Santana. Pretty crazy to think that last year, I was excited for these two to be cornerstones of the franchise in the future.

Im sure Singleton is very happy about his decision to sign the contract he was given.

tellitlikeitis · May 3, 2015

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My Carlos Correa excitement couldn't be higher. Went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and two steals (10-for-10 on the year). Just a star.</p>— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenBadler/status/595048636599443456">May 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Mashing · May 3, 2015

And Correa's legs are his worse tool. My god, I can't wait to see this guy in Houston.

FishBulb913 · May 4, 2015

Paging tellitlikeitis, I'm going to the Hooks game Saturday in San Antonio, who would you expect to be the starting pitcher?

RockFanFirst · May 4, 2015

Joe Joe said: ↑

With Correa.
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I would set MMP on fire if that happened.

Amshirvani · May 4, 2015

whats the status on moran?

juicystream · May 4, 2015

Amshirvani said: ↑

whats the status on moran?
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Out 4 weeks with broken jaw

tellitlikeitis · May 4, 2015

Preston Tucker with his 10th homer of the year in Fresno.

tellitlikeitis · May 4, 2015

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HOOKS WIN! Bases-clearing, walk-off double for Carlos Correa! 5-4</p>— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) <a href="https://twitter.com/cchooks/status/595425246175436803">May 5, 2015</a></blockquote>
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cardpire · May 4, 2015

tellitlikeitis said: ↑

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HOOKS WIN! Bases-clearing, walk-off double for Carlos Correa! 5-4</p>— Corpus Christi Hooks (@cchooks) <a href="https://twitter.com/cchooks/status/595425246175436803">May 5, 2015</a></blockquote>
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goodness

MrBear1 · May 4, 2015

Appel got stroked again

tellitlikeitis · May 4, 2015

Allowed 4 singles and a double. Hardly "stroked"

On the other hand, he did walk 4, which equaled his BB total coming in...

tellitlikeitis · May 4, 2015

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cardpire · May 4, 2015

tellitlikeitis said: ↑

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Tip for pitcher: Avoid throwing meatballs down the middle of the strike zone to Carlos Correa. Or anybody.

HstnSprtsFan101 · May 5, 2015

That's such a beautiful swing. He's gonna be great.

bigdaddy · May 5, 2015

Dude is huge, he's living the dream

TimPoopura · May 5, 2015

Baseball Prospectus analysis on Correa, McCullers, and Tucker from Monday's ten pack:

Carlos Correa, SS, Houston Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks)
At just 20 years old, Correa has a presence on the field more impressive than one would expect, and as the first overall draft pick in 2013, there’s a lot expected. In a four-game series against Frisco last weekend, Correa hit .421, including two doubles and two homers. He shows good plate coverage with the swing, punishing pitchers for anything near the heart of the plate, and was only occasionally fooled.

Correa historically has walked at a higher rate than the eight percent in a small sample that he’s shown this year, but with the consistent hard contact against Double-A pitching that he’s shown so far, he hasn’t had much reason to take. While Correa’s currently striking out at a higher rate than he has in previous seasons, nothing in the sample I saw suggests that this is more than an early-season aberration, and his feel for hitting should assert itself in the numbers soon. Listed at 6-foot-4, and weighing 210 pounds, Correa certainly towers over the average shortstop prospect, but has an extremely quick first step and the arm to make plays from all over the infield. The Astros have had a long way to go from the laughingstock of baseball to hopeful contender, but the potential shown by Correa will help them stay there. –Kate Morrison
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Lance McCullers, RHP, Houston Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi)
I’m pretty big on first impressions. First impressions can ultimately decide my love or hate for all things. I’ve played with and watched many first-rounders over the years, and a lot of the time their first impressions have been mediocre at best. As I sat at the Corpus Christi Hooks-Frisco Roughriders matchup a week back, a pitcher I’ve never witnessed before came in relief from the bullpen. I looked at the roster and found the pitcher to be an unassuming 6-foot-2 right-hander, pretty much a standard size among organizational pitchers, named Lance McCullers. I then noticed he was a first-round pick of the Astros back in 2012. So, immediately based upon experience, I thought to myself “alright kid, show me something,” and show me something he did.

Four innings of utter dominance and tenacity entertained me. McCullers was attacking the Frisco hitters and the strike zone pitch after pitch. With a fastball range of 94-97 mph and slider that left knees either buckled or broken, I sat and watched with jaw wide open. McCullers’ line at the end of it all was four innings pitched, four hits, one run (zero earned), no walks, and nine strikeouts. The stuff was there, a 70-grade fastball with 70 slider; two big-league bullpen ready pitches. His changeup was a little hard for my liking (89 mph) but was more of a show-me pitch than anything, something to keep hitters honest. His mechanics were fluid and easy, and he loaded up his backside well, getting all he could out of his frame. His arm was quick and whip like, showing me he stays very loose throughout his delivery.

What impressed me the most was his plan of attack and purpose with each pitch, identifying weaknesses in hitters’ swings and taking advantage of them. Pitchers often give hitters too much credit and deviate from their plan, but McCullers never did. With a bulldog-type mentality and a “you can’t touch my stuff” attitude, I came away thoroughly impressed by this first-rounder. I’m honestly surprised he’s still in Double-A at this point as I’m of the mind frame that organizations should promote consistent, hot arms like his. Who knows, if the Astros maintain the battle for the top of the AL West, McCullers could be an easy and worthy addition down the stretch. –Colin Young
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Preston Tucker, OF, Houston Astros (Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies)
A muscle of a man at 6-foot-0, 215 pounds, Astros outfielder Preston Tucker is having his way with the Pacific Coast League. Through 21 games, the Florida product is hitting .329/.376/.671 with 11 extra-base hits. He reached three times in his first two games in Tacoma this weekend, belting his ninth homer of the season on a pitch that he didn’t even square up Thursday night.

At the plate, Tucker stays balanced and works with a violent swing that produces plenty of power. He isn’t particularly adept at finding the barrel—I wonder if he’d benefit from toning his swing down by about five percent or so—although he has enough bat speed, natural strength, and loft in his swing to do damage even when he doesn’t make perfect contact. He’s average in the field, and he has a strong enough arm to play in right, although Fresno has used him more in left this season. Tucker isn’t a quick runner, but he’s heady on the bases: on Friday, he stole his first base of the season, timing slow-to-the-plate Forrest Snow perfectly and swiping the bag with ease.

While Tucker currently leads the PCL in homers, Astros fans hoping to see him in Houston soon should pump the breaks. The left-handed slugger is still learning how to barrel advanced breaking pitches and despite his improving plate discipline, Tucker is still prone to expanding the zone too often. One scout I spoke with acknowledges both the developmental road ahead and Tucker’s ultimate potential to impact games with his bat, saying, “He’s still chasing too often, and big-leaguers will exploit that. But he’ll hit.” –Brendan Gawloski
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TimPoopura · May 5, 2015

And an update on Fontana from a BP feature on each team's best "fringe" prospects:

Houston Astros: Nolan Fontana
Rosy Projection: Second-Division Starter

A broken pinkie cost Fontana the second half of the 2014 season, and possibly his best chance to stake his claim as Houston’s starting shortstop. With Jed Lowrie in town through 2017 and Carlos Correa on the way, he may not get another shot, and the Astros started giving him game time at second this spring in preparation for a utility role.

Fontana doesn’t have standout tools. His best abilities at the plate are pitch recognition and impressive plate discipline—he’s walked 240 times in 233 career games—and in the field, he makes up for average range and arm strength with good positioning and quick feet. Everything about his profile screams utility player, but if you squint and assume he can translate his natural strength into 40 power while maintaining a solid OBP, you can see a starting second basemen.

Trivia: Fontana credits his grandfather Lew Burdette, a two-time All-Star and World Series MVP in 1957 with the Milwaukee Braves, for his inspiration to play professional baseball.

Why it could work: “Fontana is physically mature. He’s a grinder with gap power, and he profiles as a good utility man.” –NL Scout
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tellitlikeitis · May 5, 2015

Dan Mengden @ Kane County: 6 IP, 5 H, 4 K

He got the win in a 4-0 game. In 23.2 innings, he's walked 3 and struck out 26. Lowered his ERA to 1.52 in the process, as well.

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