Prospects I hope/expect graduate this season (meaning either get 200+ pa in Houston or are traded for meaningful value): Salazar Dezenzo Whitcomb Leon Melton Corona, Matthews, Palma, Hamilton, Bastidas, and Sacco should all start in AAA and so will be in position to get called up pretty soon if they play well and there’s an opening. But I don’t expect that to happen whether due to needing more time (Matthews) or not being good enough (all the others). Smith is the only position player I think will start the season in AA and have a chance to get meaningful time in the big leagues.
I'm really rooting for Leon. He has so many tools. Just needs to do better at the plate. Talk about AAAA+ skills.
Leon, Matthews, Melton, Whitcomb, Dezenzo, Bastidas, and Corona all have 20/20 potential with their power and speed combos. Just a matter of hit tool and plate discipline.
I still haven't seen anything with Melton's bat that has shown me that he is close to being ready. Leon just needs better plate discipline and health. I'm rooting for him. If he doesn't make it this season, I think he's a lost cause.
I do not expect to see Leon in any additional Spring training games this season. He is injured and unlikely to recover till after the season begins.
If things go the way Brown wants them to go - both Matthews and Smith will be on the Astros starting by the end of the season.
The Astros think Melton can steal 60-80 bases in the big leagues if his hit tool comes around. I rolled my eyes internally when I heard that - then he went out and stole like 50 bases in under 100 games in the minors and seldom was caught... which just goes to show how good the scouts and player development people are. Matthews is another guy they think can steal 50 or more bases a year if he proves good enough to start 150 games. Supposedly a lot of potential on the base paths not tapped yet.
Well if that all pans out Houston’s lineup will be dope: 2B Matthews LF Altuve DH Alvarez 1B Walker 3B Paredes C Diaz RF Smith SS Pena CF Melton/Meyers Let’s hope his plan comes together.
How much of that is pie in the sky? I don't know..... but I will say IF (and a big if), Matthews and Smith and Melton hit well enough, the line up has a chance to be straight nasty from a power perspective and on the base path.
And not a hit tool in sight. Sigh. That's not really true I guess, but I wish I had more confidence in the hit total of most of these guys. I like the hit tool on Smith from what I've heard. I've only seen 3 AB's but walk and 2 HR's.
I don’t think there’s much question about the viability of Smith’s bat. He is going to hit and he’s going to hit for power and he’s going to be able to play the field on defense. The question is to what degree in each of those areas. There’s the question of how his body will mature and how he’ll maintain his athleticism that will dictate his defensive and baserunning value. And there’s the question of his swing and how ideal his plate coverage and launch angles will be that will dictate how much average and power he actually hits for. Is he gonna be a plodding 1B who only hits line drives and doesn’t cover the plate well so he strikes out 25% of the time (value on par with somebody like Andrew Vaughn or Jake Burger) or is he going to be an NFL outside LB playing fine defense and mashing at the plate (value on par with somebody like Manny Machado or Pete Alonso or Austin Riley or 2022-2024 Christian Walker).
I’ll be honest.. fellas, it was sounding great. But.. I could’ve used a little more hit tool. So.. let’s take it again.
In order for Matthews to make it he's going to have to cut down the strike outs. He's striking out in 30% of his AB. That's against minor league pitching.
