2014 Astros Minor League Thread

I agree there is depth... But not all those guys are going to make it.

That being said, doesn't mean they can't be traded for an established player before they get promoted and possibly fail.

Obviously knowing who to keep and who to let go is going to require some deep analytics and foresight (along with some luck).

 

Something that continues to amaze me about the current FO and minor league development team is the number of raw IFA's and high school picks that are showing huge strides in development.

Developing Domingo Santana into a player who will almost assuredly make the big leagues and projects to be a big-time contributor from an IFA (thanks Phillies) is an incredible developmental success.

Jandel Gustave is another lottery ticket IFA who throws 100mph from the right side. Three years ago he threw 15.83 BB/9 in the Dominican Summer League. This year in full-season low A ball he's averaging 2.65 BB/9 rate in 37.1 innings. That's simply amazing. It's still not certain whether he'll make it to the big leagues but if he continues to develop at the rate he has over the last three seasons, then he'll make a big impact.

The list of raw IFA's having breakthrough/strong seasons in full season ball is impressive: Gustave, Teoscar Hernandez, Michael Feliz, etc... Then factor in all the high-school pitching signees doing well and it paints an extremely positive impression of the Astros development system.

 

Austin Wates is back, he's gone 5-9. Now hitting .375 on the season.

They need to call him up right now before he can hurt himself again LOL. I can't watch Alex Presley start another game. Or call up Grossman, or give Hoes more starts, just no more Presley, we are giving away AB's

 

Tony Kemp may be my favorite player in the system.

 

Oppo bombs make me happy. Shows true power.

 

Singleton hit #13 today, come on Super 2 deadline, get here quickly

 

He has been amazing so far. I can't wait for guys like him, Teoscar and Rio to get to Corpus where we can get a better gauge on how they can produce in a more normal offensive setting

 

Alex White has quietly made his return to OKC, 3 scoreless innings in 2 appearances.

 

Kevin Chapman:

1IP, 2H, 3BB, & 0R

Don't see that very often.

 

2015 opening day

DH Altuve
OF Fowler
C Castro
OF Springer
1B Singleton
SS Correa
3B Dominguez
OF/LF ????
2B ???? Villar? Fontana?

 

Gonna have to get an absolute stud defensively at 2B to replace Altuve right now... he may have improved more in the field than he has at the plate, and he's been remarkable there as well.

 

LOL some 2 Cubs fans just told me Bryant will be a top 2 prospect next year after Buxton and Bryant is a better prospect than Correa. Not sure if they serious or trolling..

 

Well Bryant is killing AA batting .337 with 14 HR's and a 1.072 OPS. It would not surprise me if he overtakes Correa, though I'm very happy with how Correa is playing.

There is just something less risky about taking college bats over arms. Oh Appel don't let me down.

 

I could not disagree more. His footwork sucks, he's got a Nerf shooter for an arm and his range is well below standard.

 

Bryant's a monster.... hell, Cubs could call him up at some point this season. He did go to college, so he's not a teenager like Buxton/Correa were when they started.

His promotion would take away his "prospect" status, and leave Correa/Buxton to continue to battle it out.

 

Bryant at 1 would have been pretty awesome, not gonna lie. I am not saying that Appel is going to be a bust or anything but our future lineup would have been even more ridiculous.

On another note, I have been weighing the pros/cons of trying to put together a package for Stanton if he really is going to be made available. I think if you are Luhnow you have to consider it, pairing him with Springer would be insane.

 

If you've only watched him through 2013.