I went to HS with Cosart, I really hope he makes it to the Majors. He's got a lot of potential and he's a hometown kid. Would be awesome to root for a guy like that.
Well, as promised, here is my preseason top 30. Don't feel like composing a post that'll take up 3/4 of the page, so I'll break it down. First up... ...and you know, with everything that's happening to this system, there's about 45-50 different guys I could've put on this list. But here are prospects 30-26. 30. Teoscar Hernandez, OF Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'2" Weight: 180 Born: 10/15/1992 (20 years old) in Cotui, Dominican Republic Signed: Unknown, presumably 2010 or 2011 from the Dominican Republic 2012 team: GCL Projection for 2013: Greeneville I like putting wildcards in the #30 spot. These guys are almost always years off from amounting to anything and they have the highest probability of fizzling out with no chance of ever making it to the majors. Teoscar Hernandez definitely fits the bill. Hernandez was named MVP of the Dominican Summer League club in 2011, where he flashed legitimate five-tool potential. Sure, it might have been the lowest level of minor league baseball, but he certainly got some attention with his performance. In Hernandez's first foray into America, there was a bit of a drop in his numbers, but that's to be expected from a first-timer in the states. Hernandez led the GCL with 12 outfield assists, which leads me to believe that he might have one of the strongest arms in the system. His speed could make him a capable center fielder, but I think the Astros will give Brett Phillips first priority at that position in the lower minors. Offensively, he tied for the team lead in homers (4), stolen bases (10), and... strikeouts (54). The power-speed combo that he possesses is tantalizing, although he'll probably strike out quite a bit as well. He should team up with Brett Phillips once again in Greeneville. 29. Chia-Jen Lo, RHP Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 5'11" Weight: 185 Born: 4/7/1986 (26 years old) in Pingtung County, Taiwan Signed: Taiwan, 2008 2012 teams: GCL and Lancaster Projection for 2013: Corpus or OKC The first Taiwanese player ever signed by the Astros, Lo was issued a clean bill of health in 2012. Great news, as his career was threatened by Tommy John surgery and some subsequent setbacks in his rehab. Before that, Lo was ready to rocket through the system and was being thought of as a future closer. After getting back up to speed in the GCL, he was sent to Lancaster in July, where he was a key bullpen piece in the Jethawks' championship run. A strong showing in the Arizona Fall League definitely boosted his stock. Considering his injury history, he is strictly a reliever. Lo will begin the 2013 season in the minors, either in Corpus or OKC, and he could find himself in Houston by September. According to Kenny Long, Lo's fastball is apparently in the 100s. 28. Joe Musgrove, RHP Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'5" Weight: 230 Born: 12/4/1992 (20 years old) in El Cajon, California Drafted: Grossmont HS (El Cajon, CA), 1st round supplemental (46th overall), 2011 2012 teams: Bluefield and Greeneville Projection for 2013: Tri-City Musgrove was acquired from the Blue Jays in the mega-trade in July alongside Asher Wojciechowski, Carlos Perez, Kevin Comer, David Rollins, and some over-the-hill guy. A big, physical righty, he appeared sparingly, as it looks like he might have battled some injuries. Two words: power pitcher. He was clocked as high as 98 with his fastball. Curve and slider show potential as well. It's debatable as to whether he or Kevin Comer has the higher upside. Because of his lack of innings, he'll probably stay behind in extended spring training and then head to Tri-City, where he and Comer should form 2/5 of a potent rotation. 27. Brett Phillips, CF Bats: Left Throws: Right Height: 6' Weight: 175 Born: 5/30/1994 (18 years old) Drafted: Seminole HS (Seminole, FL), 6th round, 2012 2012 team: GCL Projection for 2013: Greeneville Phillips spurned an offer to play at North Carolina State to sign for $300,000. He's a plus athlete who could turn into a plus defender in center field in time, and he certainly showed that potential, racking up 7 outfield assists, good for 3rd in the GCL. Using his excellent speed, Phillips legged out 6 triples and stole 7 bases. His technique on the bases may need some refinement, as he was caught 5 times. He also led the GCL club in walks with 28. He doesn't have much in the way of power at this time, but that is certainly a possibility as he fills out his frame. Phillips is years away, but he could turn out to be an outstanding center fielder and possibly the Astros' leadoff hitter of the future. He's ready for Greeneville. 26. Kenny Long, LHP Bats: Left Throws: Left Height: 6'1" Weight: 155 Born: 1/23/1989 (23 years old) in Fox River Grove, Illlinois Drafted: Illinois State, 22nd round, 2012 2012 teams: Tri-City and Lancaster Projection for 2013: Corpus Christi The oldest member of the Astros' 2012 draft class, Long was virtually unhittable in his debut, vaulting straight to Lancaster and serving as another vital piece in the bullpen for the Jethawks. According to the above interview (see Lo), he throws 4 pitches from two different arm slots. Not a hard thrower, but he is so effective because he's got so much movement and deception. It'll be interesting to see what he can do in a full season and to see if he's more than just a LOOGY. Long could start in Lancaster, but should spend the majority of the 2013 season in Corpus. Also considered: R.J. Alaniz, Jean Carlos Batista, Brian Blasik, Jose Cisnero, Kevin Comer, Chris Devenski, Michael Feliz, Nathan Freiman, Enrique Hernandez, Jose Martinez, Dan Minor, Jobduan Morales, Telvin Nash, Francis Ramirez, Juan Santana, Jason Stoffel
I'm very interested to see where you will put Tropeano, to me he has a chance to be one of those guys who ends up much better than he was initially thought to be. A guy like Lo could make a big impact by 14 also, can never have too many great bp arms
Top 30 Prospects pt. 2: 25-21 25. Josh Fields, RHP Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6' Weight: 185 Born: 8/9/1985 (27 years old) in Hull, Georgia Drafted: Georgia, 1st round (20th overall), 2008 by Mariners 2012 teams: Portland and Pawtucket Rule 5 draftee: Must remain with Houston, or he must be offered back to the Red Sox The #1 overall pick in the Rule 5 draft, Fields brings an excellent fastball to the Astros bullpen. He knows how to strike guys out, but a lack of control has always held him back. After stalling in the Mariners system, he seemed to be revitalized in the Red Sox organization. 2012 was by far his best season, as he slashed his walks per 9 rate to 2.8 (2011: 6.7) while his strikeouts per 9 number jumped to 12 (2011: 10.9). Fields is a much more proven commodity than 2011 Rule 5 reliever Rhiner Cruz, and he should have more staying power as well. He'll most likely serve as a setup option out of the Houston bullpen. 24. Brady Rodgers, RHP Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'2" Weight: 187 Born: 9/17/1990 (22 years old) in Richmond, Texas Drafted: Arizona State, 3rd round, 2012 2012 team: Tri-City Projection for 2013: Lancaster A local product, Rodgers had a stellar career at Arizona State. He quickly signed for $495,200 (slot value for the 96th pick) and was a part of an excellent Tri-City rotation. Rodgers doesn't have the greatest stuff, but he knows how to pitch efficiently and effectively. Rodgers has excellent control, barely issuing 1 walk per 9 innings (36 in 286 IP) at ASU. With Tri-City, he had 4 starts without a walk and the most he allowed in a start was 3. Along with Aaron West and Brian Holmes, Rodgers is a candidate to skip a level. He was touted as being a fast-track candidate, and has the upside of a #3 or #4 starter. 23. Tyler Heineman, C Bats: Switch Throws: Right Height: 5'11" Weight: 205 Born: 6/19/1991 (21 years old) in Pacific Palisades, California Drafted: UCLA, 8th round, 2012 2012 team: Tri-City Projection for 2013: Lancaster Drafted in the 8th round, Heineman came on board after the College World Series and immediately made his mark on the ValleyCats with excellent offense, defense, and on-base skills. His .358 average won him the New York-Penn League batting title and he threw out 41% of would-be basestealers behind the plate. He also stole 6 bases too. He makes great contact with the ball, but his power is next to nonexistent. Arguably the top catcher in the system, Heineman has put himself on the fast track with his debut, and he should start off in Lancaster. 22. Jio Mier, SS/3B Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'2" Weight: 180 Born: 8/26/1990 (22 years old) in Pomona, California Drafted: Bonita HS (La Verne, CA), 1st round (21st overall), 2009 2012 team: Lancaster (rehab in GCL) Projection for 2013: Corpus Christi After a dazzling debut in the Appalachian League, Mier's career came to a grinding halt before the 2012 season. He was well on his way to a (re-)breakout when he tore his hamstring in May and missed about 2 months. He made up for lost time with a solid performance in the Arizona Fall League. Mier's best attribute at the plate is his discipline. He doesn't have too much power, as 10-12 homers is probably as good as it gets. He has become a steady, reliable defender at shortstop. Mier's abbreviated 2012 was probably good enough for him to start 2013 as Corpus Christi's everyday shortstop. 21. Robbie Grossman, OF Bats: Switch Throws: Right Height: 6' Weight: 205 Born: 9/16/1989 (23 years old) in San Diego, California Drafted: Cy-Fair HS (Cypress, TX), 6th round, 2008 by Pirates 2012 teams: Altoona and Corpus Christi Projection for 2013: Oklahoma City; Houston by September Another local, Grossman was acquired in the Wandy Rodriguez deadline deal alongside Rudy Owens and Colton Cain. After 2 blah seasons, Grossman broke out in 2011, becoming the first minor league player since Nick Swisher in 2004 to walk 100 times and score 100 runs in a season. He had a great showing in the Arizona Fall League that year, but he fractured the hamate bone in his right hand, which most likely explains his rather subpar 2012. He stole 13 bases but was caught 11 times, but he's a better baserunner than that. Grossman's speed and arm gives him the ability to play capably in center or right field. There are still questions as to whether his 2011 was a fluke. In the outfield totem pole in the system, Grossman is firmly in the 2nd tier behind George Springer and Domingo Santana. He could be a .280 hitter with 15 homers once he's recovered fully from his hand injury. He should compete for a spot with the Astros in the spring and will be on standby in Oklahoma City should anyone in the Astros outfield falter. Omissions from the "Also considered" section: Bobby Borchering, Colton Cain, Matt Duffy, Brian Holmes, Terrell Joyce, Marc Krauss, Brett Oberholtzer, Rudy Owens, Juri Perez, Carlos Quevedo, Austin Wates
Top 30 pt. 3: Prospects 20-16 20. Preston Tucker, OF/DH Bats: Left Throws: Left Height: 6' Weight: 217 Born: 7/6/1990 (22 years old) in Tampa, Florida Drafted: Florida, 7th round, 2012 2012 team: Tri-City Projection for 2013: Lancaster After a tremendous career at Florida in which he rewrote much of the record book, Tucker hit a team-high 8 home runs after joining Tri-City in July. At the plate, he's got good power and a good eye at the plate. Defensively, his 3 outfield assists suggests that he has a decent arm, but he might be relegated to left field down the line. He could put up big numbers at Lancaster in 2013 and could emerge as an in-house DH option in the long run. 19. Aaron West, RHP Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'1" Weight: 195 Born: 6/1/1990 (22 years old) in Snohomish, Washington Drafted: Washington, 17th round, 2012 2012 team: Tri-City Projection for 2013: Lancaster Short-season stats for pitchers aren't necessarily the best barometers for future success. See Jonas Dufek and Kyle Hallock. West, however, might buck that trend. After an inconsistent career at Washington, he showed improved stuff in his professional debut and dominated the New York-Penn League, holding a sub-1 ERA for a good portion of the season. West could be a mid-rotation starter and could advance straight to Lancaster. 18. Vince Velasquez, RHP Bats: Switch Throws: Right Height: 6'3" Weight: 185 Born: 6/7/1992 (20 years old) in Pomona, California Drafted: Garey HS (Pomona, CA), 2nd round (58th overall), 2010 2012 team: Tri-City Projection for 2013: Quad Cities Velasquez dazzled in the New York-Penn League despite being a year removed from Tommy John surgery. He showed improved velocity in his return, though the walks (3.4 per 9 innings) are a little too high, which should be expected from a pitcher returning from Tommy John. Velasquez looks like he has made a full recovery and now that he's healthy, he'll get his first exposure to full-season ball in the Quad Cities. The plethora of starters in the lower minors will allow the Astros to ease him into full-season baseball. 17. Carlos Perez, C Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6' Weight: 195 Born: 10/27/1990 (22 years old) in Valencia, Venezuela Signed: Dominican Republic, 2008 by Blue Jays 2012 teams: Lansing and Lancaster Projection for 2013: Corpus Christi When he entered the Astros system in July, Carlos Perez probably assumed the mantle of top catcher. He probably needed a change of scenery, as he was stuck behind Travis d'Arnaud and was passed up by A.J. Jimenez in the Toronto system. Perez was repeating low-A at the time of the trade, and was promoted to Lancaster once he arrived. Perez is a solid defensive catcher and has shown signs of becoming a productive offensive catcher. The Astros took a risk leaving him vulnerable to the Rule 5 draft, but they breathed a sigh of relief when he was not selected. He should spend next season in Corpus Christi. 16. Andrew Aplin, OF Bats: Left Throws: Left Height: 6' Weight: 190 Born: 3/21/1991 (21 years old) in Suisun, California Drafted: Arizona State, 5th round, 2012 2012 teams: Tri-City and Lancaster Projection for 2013: Lancaster, with the possibility of promotion to Corpus Christi Aplin blitzed the NYPL on his way to a playoff run with Lancaster. He was thought of as having 4th-outfielder upside; he might have changed a few opinions with his debut. Offensively, he's patient and has a bit of power and a lot of speed. Defensively, he is excellent. Speed, reads, jumps, range, all plus. He should spend the majority of the season in Lancaster, with a late-season promotion to Corpus a possibility.
Top 30 pt. 4: Prospects 15-11 15. Asher Wojciechowski Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'4" Weight: 235 Born: 12/21/1988 (24 years old) in Charleston, South Carolina Drafted: The Citadel, 1st round supplemental (41st overall), 2010 by Blue Jays 2012 teams: Dunedin and Corpus Christi Projection for 2013: Corpus, but OKC is also a likely destination Wojciechowski was the most advanced prospect that the Astros received from the Blue Jays. He handled his promotion to Corpus Christi very well after the trade and finished very strong, allowing only 1 run in his final 3 starts. Wojo is a power pitcher whose off-speed offerings are coming along well, given the improvement in his numbers across the board. He'll be a good #3/solid #2 in the long run, and will likely start in Oklahoma City. He should be in contention for a rotation spot in Houston for 2014. 14. Adrian Houser Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'4" Weight: 205 Born: 2/2/1993 (19 years old) in Locust Grove, Oklahoma Drafted: Locust Grove HS (Locust Grove, OK), 2nd round (69th overall), 2011 2012 team: Greeneville Projection for 2013: Quad Cities, Tri-City more likely Houser made his return to Greeneville and he did very well before fading towards the end of the season. He forced plenty of groundballs, kept the ball in the park (1 home run allowed in 58 innings) and had a nice strikeout rate. The walks are pretty much expected from a young power pitcher. Houser has the frame to become a durable starter as well. Quad Cities is a possibility, but with the logjam of pitchers, he may face a battle to earn a rotation spot there. 13. Nolan Fontana Bats: Left Throws: Right Height: 5'11" Weight: 190 Born: 6/6/1991 (21 years old) in Winter Gardens, Florida Drafted: Florida, 2nd round (61st overall), 2012 2012 team: Lexington Projection for 2013: Lancaster, with a promotion to Corpus Christi possible Fontana was touted as a fast mover because of his excellent defense and plate discipline. After agreeing to an above-slot $875,000 bonus, he was immediately put on the fast track with an assignment to Lexington and proceeded to walk his way into top prospect status. He drew 65 walks in 222 plate appearances, but he also struck out 44 times, which was a rate of almost 20%. Fontana has a great eye at the plate, but it seems that he can become too selective at times. Defensively, he might be the best infielder in the system. How he performs at the plate will determine his ultimate upside, though. Hopefully Lancaster's nature as a hitters' park can help him spark up his bat. 12. Ariel Ovando Bats: Left Throws: Left Height: 6'4" Weight: 190 Born: 9/15/1993 (19 years old) in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic Signed: Dominican Republic, 2010 2012 team: Greeneville Projection for 2013: Quad Cities, Tri-City more likely After a debut that was marred by injury, Ovando returned to the Appalachian League at age 18 and his numbers showed substantial improvement across the board. He still has a bit of maturing to do as well, but this was a giant step in the right direction for Ovando, whose $2.6 million bonus is a record for a foreign amateur. It would not be surprising to see him challenged by sending him to the Quad Cities, but the Astros could send him to Tri-City to be conservative. Plus, there are quite a few outfielders ahead of him. 11. Jonathan Villar Bats: Switch Throws: Right Height: 6'1" Weight: 195 Born: 5/5/1991 (21 years old) in La Vega, Dominican Republic Signed: Dominican Republic, 2008 by Phillies 2012 team: Corpus Christi Projection for 2013: OKC, possible September call-up Villar was acquired along with J.A. Happ in the Roy Oswalt trade. Aside from Carlos Correa, he might have the highest upside out of all the Astros shortstops. He gets praise for his defensive tools, and has made progress at the plate as well. Villar is lightning-fast, and he has made significant strides on the bases. However, his decision to prematurely end his season by punching a door does raise questions about his maturity. For now, he's still the shortstop of the future and could very well force Carlos Correa to change positions, but he's got Nolan Fontana coming up behind him, and Jio Mier has re-emerged as well.
Top 30 pt. 5: Prospects 10-6 10. Rio Ruiz, 3B Bats: Left Throws: Right Height: 6'1" Weight: 180 Born: 5/22/1994 (18 years old) in Covina, California Drafted: Bishop Amat High School (La Puente, CA), 4th round, 2012 2012 teams: GCL and Greeneville Projection for 2013: Extended spring, then Quad Cities Ruiz signed for $1,850,000 to spurn USC. He is the top 3B prospect in the system, although he is at least 3-4 years away. Entering the draft, his health was a hot topic, as a blood clot wiped out his senior season, and he also suffered a knee injury during football season. His defense is pretty good for a high schooler. Ruiz should develop some power as he matures, and he already has a pretty good eye at the plate. The River should be the everyday 3B in the Quad Cities. 9. Nick Tropeano, RHP Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'4" Weight: 205 Born: 8/27/1990 (22 years old) in West Islip, New York Drafted: Stony Brook, 5th round, 2011 2012 teams: Lexington and Lancaster Projection for 2013: Corpus Christi, with a promotion to OKC possible Tropeano had a stellar debut in Tri-City, and then his stuff got better. He already had a devastating changeup, but then his fastball picked up some velocity. He struck out 10 in 5 innings of relief (his lone relief outing) in his first appearance of the season in Lexington, then excelled once he was moved into the rotation. A midseason promotion to Lancaster did not faze Tropeano; he simply picked up right where he left off. This has been discussed ad nauseam, but Lancaster is not exactly Petco Park. And to top it all off, he had an excellent Arizona Fall League as a reliever. Tropeano jumped on the fast track and should be a fixture in the Corpus rotation in 2013. 8. Domingo Santana, RF Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'5" Weight: 228 Born: 8/5/1992 (20 years old) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Signed: Dominican Republic, 2009 by Phillies 2012 team: Lancaster Projection for 2013: Corpus Christi Santana was one of the California League's youngest regulars, but he exceeded all expectations in 2012. He racked up 12 outfield assists, though he still needs some refinement in the other facets of fielding. Offensively, his power is the real deal. His home/road splits were nearly identical. He'll probably rack up the strikeouts too. Santana's first big challenge will be in Corpus, where he's expected to team up with George Springer once more. 7. Mike Foltynewicz, RHP Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'4" Weight: 200 Born: 10/7/1991 (21 years old) in Minooka, Illinois Drafted: Minooka HS (same town), 1st round (19th overall), 2010 2012 team: Lexington Projection for 2013: Corpus, if they decide to protect him from the Lancaster effect Foltynewicz enjoyed a breakout year (albeit in a repeat year) after a tough 2011. He did show a few signs of wearing down a bit, but he does have the frame to throw plenty of innings. A power pitcher, his fastball sits in the mid-90s. Foltynewicz was hittable at times. With time, he'll learn to dominate hitters. There is talk of sending him to Corpus. 6. Jarred Cosart, RHP Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'3" Weight: 180 Born: 5/25/1990 (22 years old) in League City Drafted: Clear Creek HS, 38th round, 2008 by Phillies 2012 teams: Corpus and OKC Projection for 2013: OKC; midseason callup When he was on the field, Cosart was effective, but left us wanting more. A pitcher with the stuff that he possesses should be mowing down the opposition. Cosart is not missing many bats, but he is inducing groundballs, which is something that he's done well throughout his career. He missed some time due to finger blisters, and was suspended once for insubordination. He's also very expressive on Twitter. He fared better in his return to Corpus and held his own in OKC towards the end of the season. Cosart will continue to start, and he should be the ace of the OKC rotation.
Top 30 pt. 6: Prospects 5-1 5. Delino DeShields, 2B Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 5'9" Weight: 210 Born: 8/16/1992 (20 years old) in Gaston, Georgia Drafted: Woodward Academy (College Park, Georgia), 1st round (8th overall), 2010 2012 teams: Lexington and Lancaster Projection for 2013: Lancaster; Corpus is also a possibility If it wasn't for Billy Hamilton, DeShields might have been the biggest story in minor league baseball in 2012. In 2011, he made the transition from center field to 2B. He was also sent straight to Lexington, and looked in over his head too often. But in his return to the South Atlantic League, he absolutely took the league by storm. Virtually all of his numbers improved. DeShields, despite his struggles in 2011, maintained a pretty good walk rate, and this trend continued in 2012. Even in games in which he went hitless, he was still able to impact the game with his tremendous speed. After leaving a trail of destruction behind, he was promoted to Lancaster, where he played an integral role in the Jethawks' California League championship run. He'll open spring with Corpus, but a return to Lancaster isn't out of the question, depending on how he performs in camp. 4. Lance McCullers, RHP Bats: Left Throws: Right Height: 6'1" Weight: 190 Born: 10/2/1993 (19 years old) in Tampa, Florida Drafted: Jesuit HS (Tampa), 1st round supplemental (41st overall), 2012 2012 teams: GCL and Greeneville Projection for 2013: Quad Cities; Tri-City is a possibility McCullers was considered a surefire top 10 choice. However, signability and concerns about his delivery dropped him to the 41st selection. After signing, he was placed on a 4 inning cap. He then moved up to Greeneville to finish out the season. McCullers has #1 starter written all over him, but he's got the stuff to become a shutdown closer as well. The best news is that his shoulder held up very well. He'll continue to advance as a starter, and it will be interesting to see where he starts off, given the depth of starters in the low minors. 3. George Springer, CF Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'3" Weight: 200 Born: 9/19/1989 (23 years old) in New Britain, Connecticut Drafted: Connecticut, 1st round (11th overall), 2011 2012 teams: Lancaster and Corpus Christi Projection for 2013: Corpus, with an August promotion to OKC possible Probably the toolsiest player in the system, Springer showcased all 5 of his tools in Lancaster. Power. check. 4 home runs in a double-header. .526 slugging percentage. Average: check. .302 between Lancaster and Corpus. Speed: check. 32 steals, 80% success rate. Defense: spectacular. Arm: check. 7 outfield assists. The knock on Springer is his strikeouts, as he racked up 156 in 581 plate appearances between Lancaster and Corpus, a 26.8% rate. And we all know that strikeouts have curtailed many a career. He did cut his strikeout rate between his sophomore and junior seasons of college, so he definitely has the ability to curtail the Ks. Springer really impressed during his stint in the Arizona Fall League. He is a non-roster invite to Spring Training, but he'd have to obliterate everything to make it onto the Opening Day roster, and even then, he probably wouldn't make it, given that Ed Wade is not the GM. Corpus will be his big test in 2013. 2. Jonathan Singleton, 1B/OF Bats: Left Throws: Left Height: 6'2" Weight: 235 Born: 9/18/1991 (21 years old) in Harbor City, California Drafted: Robert A. Millikan HS (Long Beach), 8th round, 2009 by Phillies 2012 team: Corpus Projection for 2013: OKC; suspension all but eliminates his chances for a midseason promotion Other years, and in (some cases) other systems, the season that Singleton had would cement his status as the #1 prospect, especially considering that it was his age 20 season. But then, a week ago, some not-so-good news broke. It was announced that he would be suspended for the first 50 games of the 2013 season due to a positive mar1juana test. It was actually his 2nd offense; the first one was swept under the rug. Singleton's game is legit; he didn't test positive for some steroid. He could be a .290-.300 hitter with 30+ homers annually. Unfortunately, his suspension probably nixed his chances of seeing Houston in June if Brett Wallace falters and/or Nate Freiman gets sent back to San Diego. Singleton should contend for the 1B job starting in 2014. 1. Carlos Correa, SS Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 6'4" Weight: 190 Born: 9/22/1994 (18 years old) in Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico Drafted: Puerto Rico Baseball Academy & High School (Gurabo, Puerto Rico), 1st round (1st overall), 2012 2012 teams: GCL and Greeneville Projection for 2013: Quad Cities Carlos Javier Correa will be counted on to become the face of the New Astros. Ever since he signed that contract, he has earned rave reviews for pretty much everything he's done. Jeff Luhnow has compared him to A-Rod and Cal Ripken Jr. That should be an indicator of the expectations that have been heaped onto him and the player that he could become. He was also the valedictorian of his high school class. He might be big for a shortstop, but he's got the athleticism to stick. His bat came to life in Greeneville after his adjustment period in the GCL. The 11 doubles he hit there might be a sign of things to come. Everything about Correa just screams superstar, from his bat, to his defense, to his outstanding makeup. He will most likely start his first full season in the Quad Cities.
How do you have a season like DDJ has last year, and then get jumped by 6 other prospects? In Mayo's 2012 rankings DDJ was #2.
Well, according to this article Mayo had DDJ ranked as #6 last year. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130125&content_id=41168206&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb However, on the actual prospect watch. Select sort by 2nd base, DDJ ranked 2nd. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2012/index.jsp?tcid=mm_mlb_players Only explanation is Mayo is full of ****.
Billy Hamilton is seen as an elite prospect now, but every metric available shows that Deshields is performing slightly better relative to their ages. I think Deshields should be a top 75 guy overall,so where that would put him among 2nd basemen, I don't know.
John Sickels has the Houston Astros ranked 11th on his 2013 Farm System Rankings. I think he's pretty spot on. What an improvement over the ranking of 25 last offseason! Top 5 next year! http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/1/28/3925786/2013-baseball-farm-system-rankings
He's spot on as usual. The front office may just have to sign a big free agent ace because it's entirely possible that none emerge from the current group. Carlos Rodon will be a big addition to the farm next year on the hitting side, the only position without an impact prospect is catcher. Third base is still weak with r io Ruiz so far away. another impact outfield bat behind Springer and Santana would be nice but a pure luxury.
