2015 Astros Minor League Thread

So you want to have objective, non-biased conversations with hard core, long time Astros fans? Makes sense.

 

Jason Martin is putting up pretty good stats, but he's about to turn 20 in A ball, doesn't hit home runs, and doesn't steal a ton of bases.

Tools grade out as:

Hit- 50
Power- 40
Speed- 55
Defense- 55
Arm- 50

No true standout tools. Plus he's not very projectable at 5'10 190lbs.

 

I don't know much about Martin, but I am sure happy he is doing well. He is building his value, and can help the Astros on the field, as a trade chip, or even as a standard for higher rated prospects to emulate. Having an accountable professional minor league roster provides an environment that talented prospects can reach their higher potentials.

Nobody is saying Martin is the next Phillips. For all we know Phillips may not even make the big leagues.

If Martin and other guys do better, then the Astros have additional resources. Which is a good thing. If they fail, well its minor league baseball where most do fail!!!

 

It's the projectability and tools that matter most in the low minors of course. Things that fans reading stats would never really know about a player without seeing him play or reading a scouting report. If he's still raking in double A at 21 years old then we may have something.

 

He's a 19 year old with nearly double digit home runs in a ball.
What do you mean he doesn't hit homers.
You day he's about to turn 20 like that is anywhere close to old.
He is extremely young for his level.
Younger and performing better than Phillips was at the same level.

 

No plus-plus tool, but 4 to solid-above average tools? I'll take that every day out of a prospect.

 

Martin has that jack of all trades, master of none thing working for him right now, and a lot of these ranking services really hate that. He's not gonna start getting love until he starts dominating. An .800 OPS is good, but not dominant.

FWIW, I too really like him as a prospect. I would probably put him in the 12-18 range, and that's only because our farm is so damn deep. He could make the Phillips/Nottingham jump next season.

 

I actually think they like that jack of all trades prospect type a little too much.
Brett Jackson, formerly of the Cubs, is one that comes to mind.
Every time I read his scouting report, it was along the lines of:
"Does not have a tool that stands out, grades out as average across the board"

I always wondered how grading out as average gets you to be the top 40 prospect like he was.

Now, he is showing to be a bust more than likely.

Teoscar Hernandez is another one.

Every scouting report basically says he is average to slightly above across the board.
I don't expect Martin to be a Top 100 guy, but for his age, he is putting up outstanding numbers.
He is only 11 months older than Brendan Rodgers for instance.

 

I think Martin profiles as a slightly slower Coco Crisp. Would take one of those on my team any day of the week.

 

I don't expect him to be a top 100 guy, but is definitely a guy to follow that could be there soon. Playing well against older talent is usually a very good sign for a prospect. It isn't the only thing to look at as teams combine scouting reports and analytics when evaluating a player.

From an analytics side, he's looking very good.

 

LOL at "about to turn 20 in A ball" as some sort of negative.

 

Say what you want about Martin, but it is absolutely absurd that MLB did not put him in our top 30, but put the likes of Nolan ****ing Fontana in. How does that happen?

 

See, that's the thing. I haven't seen any scouting reports on him this year because nobody seems to be talking about him.

The scouting reports out of high school were exactly as you say--decent athlete, great feel for game, etc. But what about now? This is just a hunch, but it's starting to seem like he's maturing physically.

By the way, 5'10" 190 isn't un-projectable as some people are indicating above. It's not sexy, but there are plenty of productive major leaguers that are the same size. Some of them are even superstars.

Anyway, nobody here is trying to argue that Jason Martin is going to be a superstar. It's just more and more evident that he probably has a MLB future in some capacity, and that's extremely valuable. A lot of guys on the Top 100 lists are there based on potential, but many never pan out into a productive player. Jason Martin's current production, with great peripherals, at a young age in MWL, project extremely favorably as a future MLB contributor.

 

Exactly! We've been spoiled by Carlos Correa.

This franchise may not see another Carlos Correa for the next 50 years.

 

Aaaand this is what started this whole conversation. We were never saying that Martin is a superstar. It's just criminal that he hasn't been discussed as one of our legitimate prospects.

(And then somebody argued that Martin wouldn't sniff the MiLB Top 200, and here we are.)

 

Jose Altuve & JD Martinez were never top 100 prospects. JD's swing, which ultimately did require a change and Jose Altuve's height are why they never were (not to mention, both came from nowhere). Altuve's was #28 on the Astros BA in the only year they even ranked him.

I bet you'll be seeing Jason Martin popping up on these lists prior to next season. John Sickels gave him a C+ grade coming into this season.

 

If anything, this shows how deep our prospect list is....onemore reason we should be ok with moving some out for help NOW

 

Still have 5 top 100 prospects, not counting Reed.

How many other organizations have more