I can't recall the last time the Astros drafted a kid from D3. IIRC Hunter Brown was from a D2 school.
Round 8, Pick 241: Aaron Piasecki, SS, Troy First position player of the day. Transferred in from Central Michigan and was one of the key players of Troy's surprise College World Series run. Your garden-variety gritty infielder. 70 games, .337/.446/.525, 10 HR, 48 RBI, 62 R, 41 BB (17 HBP), 24 K, 10 SB
Looks like another high contact guy. 41 BB to 24 Ks this season and was 36/9 in the summer league while hitting over .400 last year.
2B/SS/3B currently at A ball and below in Houston's system: Xavier Neyens 2025 1st rd Albert Fermin 2026 Int'l Top 30 Keon Johnson 2026 3rd rd (overslot) Beau Peterson 2026 4th rd (overslot) Randy Arias 2026 big bonus Int'l signee Sami Manzueta 2025 big bonus Int'l signee Nick Monistere 2025 4th rd Kam Durnin 2026 4th rd Aaron Piasecki 2026 8th rd Landon Arroyos 2025 18th rd (overslot) Camilo Diaz 2023 Int'l Top 30 German Ramirez 2023 big bonus Int'l signee Other 3rd tier int'l bonus guys in the complex: Juan Rojas, Pablo Martinez, Santiago Martinez, Sebastian Mendez, Franchely Silverio
Round 9, Pick 271: Ryan Pruitt, OF, South Florida He's from the Metroplex. Pruitt went to Byron Nelson High School and then started his college career in JUCO with a year at Western Texas College and then a year at Yavapai College in Arizona before heading to USF. He actually went to three junior colleges; he originally attended Frontier Community College in Illinois after graduating from high school, but did not play there. Currently the oldest player in the class; he turns 23 on October 19. .262/.371/.347, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 48 R, 36 BB (3 HBP), 25 K, 20 SB
92% contact rate, 94% in-zone contact rate Can get passive, so if he actually swings the bat (which he's very good at), he could do a bit of damage.
Round 10, Pick 301: Taz Butler, RHP, Kansas State Fifth-year senior and the new oldest player in the class; he turned 23 about three weeks ago. Not a great college season, but has been pretty electric as a starter in the MLB Draft League. Four pitches, low-90s fastball, stocky boi (5-11, 210). 21 appearances (4 starts), 0-4, 3 saves, 5.24 ERA, 55 IP, 50 H (8 HR allowed), 36 R (32 ER), 22 BB, 58 K, 1.31 WHIP, .239 opponent average MLB Draft League: 4 starts, 3-0, 1.53 ERA, 17.2 IP, 11 H, 5 R (3 ER), 6 BB, 28 K
Yikes Not great Ok , big splash in the 11th ? This is where swing and misses don't detract from the pool right ?
The Yankees just drafted a guy named "Bayram Hot" He's from Queens and is from an Albanian family with roots in Montenegro
Callis called him "gritty" and a "glue guy" during the College World Series. Not sure where he rates on the David Eckstein Scale of Srappyness yet. Piasecki just goes out and hits. It’s contact over power. He’s a 60-grade runner. He’s got a 50-grade arm so he’s probably more of a second baseman than shortstop at the next level. He’s proven himself with wood bats. Led the Northwoods League with a .406 average last summer and that’s one of the better summer leagues out there. He hit .366 over two years in the Northwoods League. Just a gritty guy. He was brought up to me in the preseason as a guy to keep an eye on. He hit .349 this year and a lot more walks than strikeouts. He does a little bit of everything, he’s just one of those glue guys that powers Troy. I'd like to thank @tellitlikeitis for speaking this pick into existence
