Poor man's Mookie Betts? If you think about it the comparison is pretty uncanny: Smaller guys that rely on quick twitch athleticism to create impressive bat speed. Plus runners. Defensive homes were in question because Mookie had throwing issues across the diamond and moved to 2B. Moved to OF because he was blocked by Dustin Pedroia. Matthews' ability to stay at SS is in question because of average arm strength and was projected to move to CF. Also blocked at all 3 IF positions. And as you pointed out the real question is going to be the hit tool. What leads to all the strikeouts? Approach? Pitch recognition? Hole in his swing? I'm very curious to see how this develops over hopefully a healthy next season. Does he have a Shay Whitcomb transformation or is he Zach Daniels?
German Ramirez and Camilo Diaz were assigned to Fayetteville for the final home series of the season. They were two of the three big signings from the 2023 IFA period (along with Esmil Valencia), and they've both gone through a big adjustment period in their US debuts this year.
That’s really interesting. I’m assuming that’s an “acclimation” assignment in anticipation of them being in Fayetteville to start next season. But opportunity for both those players next season similar to Jaworsky/Gomez/Ochoa this year.
Some other interesting moves: Up to Fayetteville: Ramirez, Diaz, P Twine Palmer, P Ryan Mathieson; Palmer is a sleeper pick as a 20 year old overslot signee with big upside (he’s also a big kid at 6’5” 200). Up to Asheville: RP Hudson Leach, RP Dawil Almonte Up to Corpus: RP Jeremy Molero; Molero has posted extremely high k rates but has walk problems (13k/9 every stop the last 5 years) Up to Sugar Land: SP Aaron Brown; he’s been up and down but has had some stretches of dominance. He had a 2.53 era in August. He has some mild Rule 5 risk.
No idea, but you won't really know until the 40-man rosters are finalized for the winter, which is sometime in November iirc.
P Miguel Ullola is extremely likely to be added. P Ryan Gusto and P Colton Gordon are significant risks. P Aaron Brown, P Julio Robaina, and OF Quincy Hamilton are moderate risks. Minimal risk guys who are also eligible are pitchers Alex Santos II, Alimber Santa, Abel Mercedes, Jeremy Molero, Cesar Gomez, Rhett Kouba, Misael Tamarez. No other position players are significant risks to be taken imho.
Thanks. Wow, seems like only yesterday we drafted Santos. Thought we had another year before he’d be exposed to the Rule 5 draft.
Zobrist wasn’t better. Thon was better from what I have been told… Andújar Cedeño was probably the highest rated SS prospect ever, he was #1-2 prospect in all of baseball when the Astros called him up. He could have been a superstar if the Astros coaching had been better.
I'm thinking the strikeout issues are due to a lack of experience. A guy with that quick/strong of wrists will probably be able to fix those issues.
His lower half is really impressive- strong flexibility, lots of movement that is under control. Getting up to 96 mph is impressive- but a lot of guys lose a few ticks when the Astros call them up. Let’s see what he does. I’m more of a movement, deception and pitch fit guy than raw velocity. Look at Joyce with the Angels - guys are catching up to his fastball, he has adjusted by throwing a heavier fastball
Spoiler: Snake Diggit's August Astros Prospect Rankings Rank. Pos Name Grade Opening Day Rank Note CF Jacob Melton 55 (1) I like what I've seen from him in AAA so far. SS Brice Matthews 55 (7) Great last month and is shining in AA; will need to work on k rate but stock is up. C Walker Janek 50 (NR) Disappointing numbers so far but next year is when we'll really keep track. OF Luis Baez 50 (8) I like what we've seen in AA the last 2 weeks. CF Pedro Leon 50 (5) Not a great MLB debut but I still think he'll end up being a solid MLB player. P AJ Blubaugh 50 (HM) Numbers have tailed off but I'm still optimistic. P Ryan Forcucci 45+ (NR) We'll have to wait awhile to see how good he is. This ranking is based on his bonus and pre-injury value. P Miguel Ullola 45+ (17) Very high upside, needs to work on reducing walks. P Anderson Brito 45+ (HM) Fast mover this season looks like he could be the real deal. P Alonzo Tredwell 45+ (18) He's a guy with middling early numbers but who is going to get a long leash and could take awhile. CF Zach Cole 45+ (HM) One of many elite power/speed combo guys in the system, big numbers in AA tempered by k's. P Ethan Pecko 45+ (HM) Really really like what he's done in AA. Breakout candidate next year. CF Kenni Gomez 45+ (20) I expect big things from him in Asheville next year. SS Chase Jaworsky 45 (13) Not quite a breakout, but looks like a legit prospect who just needs the power to develop without losing a step OF Kenedy Corona 45 (6) I like what we've seen since his promotion to AAA; still lacking power but not striking out and he has defensive value and speed. P Ryan Gusto 45 (10) Mild breakout; rich man's Bielak P Colton Gordon 45 (24) Not a breakout but looks like a future MLB contributor. P Jose Fleury 45 (16) Upped his k rate last month. He's a sleeper. IF Jeron Williams 45 (HM) breakout guy already in AA and has speed, contact skills, and defensive value, with enough power to keep pitchers honest; 2025 breakout candidate. P Trey Dombroski 45 (HM) Been very homer-prone in AA so far but otherwise looks really good. OF Nehomar Ochoa Jr. 45 (14) Super high ceiling and I'm very encouraged that he is holding his own and more in A ball, but being limited to a corner OF he is striking out too much to be a lot higher on this list. This could end up being way too low. P James Hicks 45 (HM) Already in AA. One to watch next season. OF Quincy Hamilton 40+ (HM) Cooled off in August but I still think he will be somebody's 4th OF soon. P Andrew Taylor 40+ (26) I liked what he was showing in Asheville but then he got hurt. I'm assuming he'll be healthy to start next season. P Alex Santos II 40+ (11) I was super stoked when he was assigned to AA but he's been hit hard, walked too many guys, and has had some bad luck, plus now he's hurt. Still only 22 and I think the stuff is still there so could break out at any time. P Wilmy Sanchez 40+ (HM) Dominating High A at age 20, dinged for being relegated to RP this early. 2025 breakout candidate. P Alain Pena 40+ (HM) Really like his k/bb numbers. 2025 breakout candidate. 3B Caden Powell 40+ (NR) Going with a hunch here; his early numbers in Fayetteville are bad. OF Colin Barber 40+ (9) Hugely disappointing season but he hasn't been released yet so I'm going to keep him listed going into next season. SS Tommy Sacco Jr. 40+ (HM) He had a good year in AA but has looked really really good in an early small sample in AAA. He has a lot of defensive value so he won't have to hit much to get a callup. Honorable Mention: C: Miguel Palma, Collin Price, Luis Encarnacion, Will Bush, John Garcia, Jancel Villarroel, Carlos Cauro, Kedaur Trujillo, Andrews Sosa, Alexi Quiroz; Price, Bush, and Villarroel saw their stock rise in July. IF: Pascanel Ferreras, Yamal Encarnacion, Sandro Pereira, Waner Luciano, Alberto Hernandez, German Ramirez, Camilo Diaz, Ryan Johnson, Alejandro Nunez, Narbe Cruz, Austin Deming, Trevor Austin; not much here, I'm mildly disappointed in the FCL bonus babies. Yamal Encarnacion could be a major sleeper. OF: Joseph Sullivan, Cesar Hernandez, Esmil Valencia, Tyler Whitaker, Luis Rives, Logan Cerny, Anthony Huezo, Karniel Pratt, Cam Fisher, Eduardo Perez, Evan Wagner, Ryan Boettcher; I really like Valencia but we'll have to wait a year on him and Rives and Huezo, Whitaker and Fisher will be on short leashes to make good on their power/speed combo next season. I like what I've seen from Logan Cerny in AA last month. I like the early returns from Sullivan. P: All of them, ymmv Graduated/Traded: Joey Loperfido (2), P Spencer Arrighetti (3), 3B Zach Dezenzo (4), Will Wagner (12), Jake Bloss (15), P Forrest Whitley 45 (25), P Bryan King (HM), SS Shay Whitcomb (HM) Fell off: OF Tyler Whitaker (19), IF Camilo Diaz (21), P Abel Mercedes (22), OF Cesar Hernandez (23), P Jaime Melendez (27), C Will Bush (28), P Drew Strotman (29), C Miguel Palma 40+ (30); Barber has been a big disappointment. Otherwise no major busts. I like this system now. I wish they had 2-3 more elite prospects but their pitching depth is elite and in terms of ceiling, their position player prospects are above average. The ding on this system is their best position player prospects have strikeout warts.
