Former Georgia Southern pitcher signs with Astros STATESBORO, Ga. – Former Eagle Justin Hess is set to continue his baseball career in the professional ranks after signing a free agent contract with the Houston Astros. Hess joined the Astros on July 28th after wrapping up summer school and earning his degree from Georgia Southern University. Hess finished his career at GSU with a 14-12 record and a 4.34 ERA. He allowed less than 100 walks over 71 games and 39 starts while striking out 277 batters. This past season, Hess went 5-6 with four saves and a 3.69 ERA in 13 starts and 23 games.
Well, with the 2023 draft just a few weeks away, we can put a bow on the 2013 draft. Here's how it turned out for the stros: 1st Round: Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford (SR): Traded for Ken Giles, flamed out, retired, unretired, had a cup of coffee in the Phillies bullpen, re-retired. One of the biggest 1-1 busts of all time 2nd Round: Andrew Thurman, RHP, UC-Irvine (JR): Traded for Evan Gattis, flamed out in AA 3rd Round: Kent Emanuel, LHP, North Carolina (JR): reached the majors, got claimed on waivers, got hurt 4th Round: Conrad Gregor, 1B, Vanderbilt (JR): flamed out in AA 5th Round: Tony Kemp, 2B, Vanderbilt (JR): carved out a long career as a fringey everyday 2B/LF, currently struggling with the A's 6th Round: Jake Nottingham, C, Redlands HS, Redlands, CA (committed to Oklahoma): traded for Scott Kazmir; reached the majors but seems to have topped out as a AAAA guy 7th Round: James Ramsay, CF, South Florida (JR): flamed out in AA 8th Round: Jason Martin, CF, Orange Lutheran HS, Orange, CA (committed to Long Beach State): traded for Gerrit Cole; reached the majors but topped out as a AAAA OF, currently playing in Korea 9th Round: Brian Holberton, C, North Carolina (JR): busted in High A 10th Round: Austin Nicely, LHP, Spotswood HS, Grottoes, VA (committed to Virginia): busted in A ball 20th Round: Daniel Pinero, SS, Western Technical-Commercial School, Toronto (committed to Virginia): didn't sign but reached AAA with the Tigers 21st Round: Jon Kemmer, LF, Brewton-Parker College (Georgia): reached AAA 33rd Round: Tyler White, 3B, Western Carolina (SR): reached the majors and has carved out a career as a AAAA bat An extremely poor draft overall for Luhnow & Co. They got MLB value via trade from Appel, Thurman, Nottingham, and Martin, and bench/bp contributors from Emanuel, Kemp and White. I expected a lot more out of Appel, Nottingham, and Nicely.
