From a pipe dream standpoint, I'm hoping that it'll be one of the big-bonus Dominican kids like Waner Luciano, who's looking at another year in Fayetteville since he had a tough go of it in his first shot. Camilo Diaz could fit that mold (6-3, 210) too, but he'll be out for most if not all of this year. It'll more likely be a college guy though
I don't know enough about the Latin kids to have an opinion on any of them. I want a hoover, as long as he can hit some. I love good 3B defense. Pitchers like it too.
The Debbie downer in me says: Dubon is not hitting well Chas is not hitting well. Alruve and Alvarez not hitting well. If you want good defense witch them Texans this year.
I had no idea Hudson Leach threw that hard, I thought he was a release candidate. Houston sure seems to have a bunch of dudes going 96+.
96+ isn't the same as 96+ was 15 years ago. It's like a 55 yd field goal. 15 years ago only half the kickers in the NFL had the leg for them but now everyone does AND half of them hit from 60+ Thinking of 96+ fastball, if this continues - if 10 years from now 10% of pitchers are hitting 100 mph and 2% are hitting 104-105 then there need to be rule changes coming.
It might not be but it's still cool to see those guys sitting 95-98. I use to get sick of all our prospect barely touching 90. I never heard of some of these guys. This guy David Ramsey? Have to do some research.
I think this level of velocity is relatively new. This from college suggests he can really spin a breaking ball. Looks like late inning stuff, but it's been the command that's been the issue in his career so far.
If Smith wins ROY and the Astros stay under the CBT and get a QO pick for Framber, that would give them an extra first rounder and an extra 2nd rounder in the 2026 draft. So in a dream world: Smith, Dezenzo, Melton, Matthews, and Whitcomb get established in the big leagues this season. Janek, Baez, Gomez, Jaworsky, and Ochoa break out and become top prospects this season. Cam Smith wins ROY and the stros stay under the tax, so they have 4 of the top 90 picks in the 2026 draft, along with Kevin Alvarez coming stateside. The pitching train keeps chugging with Blubaugh, Gusto, Gordon, Pecko, and Ullola graduating this year and Brito, Nezuh, Bello, and a couple of 2024 draftees breaking out and becoming top prospects this year. Then we start hearing rumblings about “Soandso Suchandsuch who signed for $10,000 is looking really good in the FCL.” Dana Brown wins GM of the Year (if there’s a thing for that).
How about Brown finishing in the top 3 of CY voting, giving them a pick after the first rd. Give Smith everyday reps at RF in Sugar Land until mid-August and then let him be a big bat for the playoff run and post season. Then next year he wins ROY and Astros get another pick after rd 1. My understanding is they only get 1 per year, so Brown and Smith both qualifying will only yield 1 pick.
Back to Hudson Leach: I don't know why young guys with serious arms and questionable other stuff don't develop a cutter/sinker. It's easier to control (even if it breaks out of the zone it looks like a regular FB out of the hand) and harder to hit than a straightass 95+FB "get it over the plate" pitch
We’ve got 3 years of Paredes still in front of us. And in theory Dezenzo, Whitcomb, or Cam Smith could also fit into the picture at third as well. That’s probably a better set up than what we were all wondering last year post Bregman.
Will Bush has looked really good this spring. I’ve been high on him since he was drafted. He could hit 20+ bombs in Asheville this season.
Kind of crazy that the big league team has an exhibition set for tonight with the AAA team and they haven’t even released the minor league rosters yet. One of the geekiest days of the year for me is seeing the surprises of where all the guys get assigned.
