Yep, we're just all waiting on it. 40% of the time, they make it to AAA then get a cup of coffee every time.
Interesting note from Fangraphs prospect guy’s chat: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/eric-longenhagen-prospects-chat-12-20-24/ 12:41 Kelvin Cato: What does Jacob Melton have to iron out to be a factor in the Astros OF in 2025? They don’t seem to be prioritizing OF additions post Tucker deal and the current situation is thin to say the least. 12:42 Eric A Longenhagen: Darkhorse ROY candidate It might not be opening day, but we might have a McCormick/Melton/Dezenzo outfield by July, and I’d be fine with that if Houston isn’t able to swing a trade for a really good OF bat by opening day.
Nice to see that our old friend Kelvin Cato is interested in the Astros prospects and OF situation All jokes aside though, if Melton isn’t traded for a quality bat, I could definitely see him getting a shot to be a big contributor this upcoming season
So you're saying Melton will hit .387 in ST and the Rockets Astros will sign him to a 10 year extension?
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id...gbility-ruling-diego-pavia-mlb-draft-shake-up A recent college football ruling against the NCAA could end up having a sizable impact on the future of college baseball. On Wednesday, a federal judge in Tennessee granted an injunction to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, allowing him to pursue another year of NCAA eligibility. That means a college athlete's time in junior college doesn't count toward his overall years of NCAA eligibility. If upheld, this would mean that a player who spends two years at a junior college could start his NCAA career as a freshman with four years of eligibility left instead of the current two. While Pavia's case is tied to an SEC football player, pending a final ruling, the change could impact college baseball, MLB draft and even the minor leagues in a profound way. I spoke with a dozen MLB scouts and college coaches about the potential fallout. An ACC assistant baseball coach summed up his thinking: "I wonder what's coming next from administrators. College baseball will be a whole lot different if juco doesn't count." [much more at the link above] The feedback I got from MLB scouts and college coaches on what this means for four-year schools showed the ramifications would also be felt all the way up to the highest levels of Division I baseball. The top schools would have rosters featuring a mix of top draft prospects of a typical college age and "professional" collegiate players in their mid-to-late-20s, with the latter shuffling in and out nearly every season. In fact, a scout texted me the Pavia headline and added: "The NCAA just got a minor league." I texted back to clarify, "The SEC will just be big draft guys and 26-year-olds?" "Pretty much."
That ruling is all kinds of dumb. After two years of JUCO, players can either go pro … or sign on for three years at a D1 school and then go pro?
I do not see this having much effect in baseball. Getting prospects as young as possible is more important in baseball than in many other sports.
Thought my favorite thread was a good place to put this. My wife and I had a great time this morning watching our 3 year old grand daughter open Christmas presents on line. Hope you all have a great Christmas too.
"or sign for one year at a time at any D1 school (can go pro at anytime after the 2 JUCO) up to 4 years of D1 on-field play" In college baseball, as I'm reading it: 2(JUCO)+4(DI)+2(grad/redshirt, the 2nd would have to be approved for medical reasons) = potential 8 years of college baseball
Very nice. Teach her to play Center field. Astros will probably still need that when she comes of age.
A signing has apparently happened. Jose Gonzalez went to Klein High, then Navarro College, and then Texas State. His 33 home runs are 2nd all-time at Texas State behind Paul Goldschmidt. He hit 5 home runs in the MLB Draft League in 2023 but wasn't picked and then spent 2024 in the independent Pioneer League, where he slashed .370/.473/.640 with 19 homers and 84 RBI for the Yolo High Wheelers.
Is he a switch hitter or at least a lefty? Looked him up, If he is the Jose Gonzalez I think he is he's a lefty hitter indeed. he played in the draft league so should be a candidate to start in left field. Sounds like there is at least some chance he is our lefty bat and in the OF in the upcoming season. Or at least a competitor for the position.
Here is a neat interview with Jose Gonzalez. Seems the interview was 2 weeks ago and I think he was dropping hints about the Astros with his shirt. Okay so I am watching the interview, and the dude is a character, he would be a great locker room guy. He has a future in podcast if baseball doesn’t work out for him… He played with the Mexico City Diablos, his father played in rec leagues in Houston and that’s where his love for the game grew. He gre up watching and idolizing the killer B’s!!!
The Astros also made two signings yesterday: IF Zack Short and LHP Blake Weiman Short was drafted by the Cubs in the 17th round of the 2016 draft. He bounced across three teams and played 42 MLB games last season; he played 30 with the Braves, 10 with the Mets, and 2 with the Red Sox. Short was awful offensively last season as he put up a cumulative slash line of .129/.282/.171 with no homers and 5 RBI. He wasn't much better at AAA, going .216/.361/.273 in 24 games at Gwinnett. The bulk of Short's time as a big leaguer has come with the Tigers; he slashed .204/.292/.339 with 7 homers and 33 RBI in 110 games for them in 2023. Weiman was an 8th-round pick of the Pirates in 2017. Strictly a reliever, he's done well in the minors but hasn't been able to make the breakthrough out of AAA. Weiman spent 2024 in the Cubs system and went 5-0 with a 2.68 ERA in 43 appearances, all but one of which came in AA. In 50.1 innings, Weiman allowed 18 runs on 41 hits (3 HR), walked 8, and struck out 55.
already posted in main offseason thread, but the guy who's coming is a minor leaguer (and will be a minor leaguer in 2025) so re-posting here... Baseball Reference As mentioned above, Linskey went to Atascocita and Rice. The D-Backs selected him in the 16th round of the 2023 draft. He's strictly a reliever (the 4 starts he made in 2022 summer ball was him being used as an opener). In 22 appearances across both Class A levels (13 Visalia, 6 Hillsboro) and three appearances in the Arizona Complex League spanning 32.1 innings, Linskey allowed 14 runs (10 earned) on 20 hits (1 homer), walked 16, and struck out 51. Opponents hit .180 against him across all three levels. Linskey is probably heading to Asheville. And, since he's a reliever only, his ceiling is already limited. But he's had some experience in extreme hitter's environments so hopefully that will serve him well as he heads back to his hometown organization.
