Colton Gordon's final line in Asheville: 5.2 IP, 7 K, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 R. ERA in Asheville down to 2.66. Hopefully he begins next year in Corpus, that level will tell us a lot about him.
How the 2022 draftees/signees fared pitching in A ball this season: 42.2ip 70k (15k/9) 17bb (3.63bb/9, 4.1k/bb) 13er (2.79 era) Blubaugh, DeVos, Guilfoil, Temple, Gillis all showed really well. Very encouraging early returns.
Kenedy Corona (19) and Luis Santana (11, grand slam) homered for Asheville in their 9-1 win in Greenville. Nice little breakout year for Corona, while Santana has put himself back on the map with a solid season of his own. Santana showed that his year was not really a product of the Asheville effect either; he finished the season with a higher road OPS (.855 vs. .839, although he only hit .267 away from Asheville as opposed to .320 at home).
Both Asheville and Fayetteville have finished their seasons. Here’s what I think their 2023 opening day rosters will look like: Fayetteville: CF Gilbert LF Melton RF Whitaker DH Clifford C Price 3B Dezenzo 1B McGowan SS Loftin 2B Kato Bench: Cole, Wrobleski, Garcia, Sacco P: Taylor, Knorr, DeVos, Espinosa, Santos, Santa, Blubaugh, Guilfoil, Gillis, Temple, VanWey, Dombroski, Mancini Notes: Stacked outfield and pitching staff, questionable infield. Some intl guys from this years FCL roster (Lorenzo, Machandy, etc.) would probably see time in Fayetteville fairly early if not opening day. Asheville: CF Cerny RF Sandle LF Corona 1B Loperfido 3B Nova SS Gonzalez DH Williams 2B Santana C Palma Bench: Rodriguez, Borden, Alvarez, Guerrero SP: Bellozo, Ullola, Calderon, Taveras, Tokar, Batista, Kouba, Gordon, Gusto, Henley RP: DeLabio, Coats, Brockhouse Notes: very deep roster. Barber could also repeat here which would add another premium prospect to this team. Gilbert and Melton should reach Asheville early, possibly even opening day.
I love your breakdowns, @Snake Diggit! It will be exciting to watch this year's draft class play their first full year of pro ball next year. Why separate them? Is it so both get adequate reps in CF? If so, you can rotate the two to accomplish that, and we all know the Astros love giving their MiLB outfielders plenty of time at all 3. I also think Clifford may eventually end up at 1B. We have a lot more OF than 1B in the system.
Yes and yes on CF and Clifford. You don’t HAVE to separate them but that would be my preference and my reason to do so. I think the most likely result is Clifford at DH or 1B and Melton in Left Field, but if Melton can play RF and Clifford LF adequately at the big league level that’s a win. If, for no other reason than, extracting maximum trade value out of 2 of the 3, if Tucker were to get extended and they decided to platoon Yordan and Chas in LF (with Yordan DH-ing of course against LHP).
They will rotate positions frequently. Almost always do in the minors. Melton played 1B at Oregon State IIRC, so he may see reps there as well. Personally though I'd put Gilbert and Melton in Asheville. Advanced college bats usually start their first full season ball in A+
I would normally expect at least Gilbert and Melton to start in High A but there are just too many legit prospect who should have a surefire spot in the upper levels: Leon Matijevic Dirden Julks Costes Adolph McKenna Barefoot Hamilton Schreiber Brewer Daniels Barber Sure some of those guys can play other positions and there might be an injury or two but for now I think it’s more likely they start guys lower to accommodate the logjam.
They will prioritize Gilbert & Melton over everyone on that list beyond Barber & Leon. Matijevic doesn't need to play the OF much at all. Leon/Dirden/Julks/Schreiber in AAA Brewer/Hamilton/Barber/Daniels in AA Costes, Barefoot & Adolph are organizational filler. McKenna will need to fit in somewhere, but likely at least one of those other 8 is hurt or with MLB club.
The Dominican Winter League (LIDOM) held their draft tonight and the Gigantes del Cibao picked three Astros players:
