BREAKING NEWS ON KYLE TUCKER He has started wearing batting gloves. This may be the reason he has started to strikeout less and started hitting again after a cold streak
He's been working at 2B too...potential IF backup/Marwin if he can handle 1/2/and3B. He's got the athleticism and the arm to handle LF too. And 3rd/emergency catcher (via con dios Tyler White).
Another post highlighting the considerable depth still in Houston’s system. Here is the list of prospects who received a bonus commiserate with a pick in rounds 3-10, by position: C (7): G Stubbs, Salazar, Papierski, Perry, N Rodriguez, J Alvarez, M Palma IF (14): Toro, Tanielu, Adams, Pena, Arauz, Schreiber, Kessinger, E Valdez, Carrasco, Y Ramirez, A Ortiz, Y Martinez, C Gonzalez, Balogh OF (23): Wrenn, Julks, McKenna, Stevenson, Taylor, Guerrero, Brewer, W Abreu, J Ramirez, Barefoot, Cortabarria, Pinto, Nix, Carrillo, Uceta, Rivas, T Ramirez, Liranzo, Caldera, Cooper, R Gonzalez, F Perez, Machandy P (24): Rodgers, Sneed, Bailey, Hartman, Emanuel, Scrubb, Ivey, Adcock, N Hernandez, Solomon, Mushinski, Deason, Hansen, J Solis, Battenfield, Henley, Freure, Robaina, Tokar, Holcomb, J Lopez, Betances, J Ramirez, Gusto, Subero This is a very rough estimate, but rough math suggests an average farm would have ~50 of those types of prospects (Astros have 68). This doesn’t include high (round 1-2) bonus prospects, which a list I posted earlier in the thread. Also, there may be some slight discrepancies or a few missed players.
Great comp. Fun fact: Julio Franco signed about 4 months shy of his 20th birthday. He retired from pro ball at age 49 (spent his last year in the Mexican League).
Tomorrow. Looks like they went with a 6 man rotation like rotation cycle (Ramirez being the bulk pitcher after Pressly was the opener)
The kid has very poor command right now and confidence issues. Bringing him up would be a bad thing for his development.
Cristian Javier @ Midland: 5 IP, H, 3 BB, 8 K Javier has allowed 44 hits in 98.2 innings this season.
Luis Santana went 3-4 and hit his first homer of the year in Tri-City's 5-1 victory over Connecticut. Valente Bellozo allowed just one hit and struck out eight over four scoreless to earn the win. Bellozo is now 6-0 with a 1.39 ERA on the season.
Depends. The stuff was good enough when he was 18-19 years old to not only pitch to big leaguers, but to consistently get them out. If the scouts think his command and poise is good enough, then bringing him up could be a huge boost to his confidence and he may mature. It all comes down to what he shows... and Whitley could also be one of those rare players that is a better big leaguer than a minor leaguer.
I want him up in September bc I feel like this is possible and I worry not one bit if he gets hit up on the bigs from a development standpoint. The only reason not to do that is if they are committed to limiting his innings and making sure he’s not a super 2 next year (Which I suspect they are)
