So, with Springer and Singleton here now, and with about a third of the season in the books, as we head into Thursday's draft, how would you all rank the Astros current top 10 Prospects?? I would go like this 1) Correa - This one is easy 2) McCullers - Yes, he might end up as a closer, but sometimes we undervalue the importance of a great closer on great teams. I remember back to the Wagner/Lidge/Dotel year, get it to the 7th inning and game over. He seems to have dominant stuff 3) Appel - It's a very small sample size this year, and can't dismiss the surgery heading into Spring. Appel will be fine. Maybe an ace, maybe a 2 or high level 3, but I still have few doubts he will get here 4) Velasquez - Tough environment for pitchers no problem for Vince. Hope he is back on the mound soon 5) Hader - Like Velasquez Lancaster isn't effecting this guy at all. His numbers are just sick 6) Santana - Next in line for a contract? Here after super 2? I'm ready to remove him from this list like Springer and Singleton 7) Feliz - Just another guy who flirts with triple digits on the fastball. Seems to be ok after the PED stuff 8) T Hernandez - Will be nice to see what kind of numbers he puts up outside of the Cali League. Sure looks to have a nice high ceiling though 9) Rio Ruiz - For a guy who missed his senior year in high school he seems to have finally caught up to where he "should" be. Another guy I can't wait to see at Corpus 10) Kyle Smith - First two starts after promotion to CC were not good, but he has been dominant there since. 21 yrs old and dominating at AA, not bad for a guy barely in the top 20 to begin the year
1.Correa - Inarguable at this point 2.Appel - Bad, bad start, but he still has the best MLB stuff, too early to panic 3.Folty - I guess you forgot him, since going to a more MLB like rotation he has been a beast, dominant reliever at worst. 4.Velasquez - I like him more than McCullers, seems to have better stuff for a starter, and hasn't demonstrated the control issues. 5.Santana- Performing at AAA right now at a very young age 6.McCullers- Hasn't show the repertoire to go with his great heater, and is walking a lot of people. Still great potential though. 7.Hader- Numbers seems to be greater than his stuff, but his numbers are sick in a hitters haven, and he's young, hard to argue with results. 8.Fontana- I think he is going to be a rock solid MLB IF, he gets on base. Not a lot of upside but i feel confident he will be productive player. 9.Ruiz- Seems like he can hit, given age and steady improvement I like his direction, I would be higher on him if I thought he could stay at 3B. 10.Tucker- Very Luke Scottish, i think he will be able to hit. Hon Mention Feliz- Has been working reliever innings most of the year, has had inconsistent results, and he isn't really that young. Still like him as a prospect, we're just wicked deep right now. Kyle Smith- Tough call between him, Feliz and Tucker, and Tucker just seemed most likely to succeed, again still like him as a prospect, we're just wicked deep right now. Kemp/Hernandez - can't buy it until it leaves California DeShields- not having a great year, getting a 4th OF vibe
Wow, yea totally left Foltynewicz off my list somehow. He would slot 4th for me. Other guy I considered was Kemp, who I really like what he is doing so far. I would guess he would be top 10 in a great majority of systems
1) Correa 2) Velasquez 3) Santana 4) Folty 5) Appel 6) McCullers 7) Hader 8) DeShields 9) Tucker 10) Stassi
1. Correa 2. Folty 3. Santana 4. Appel 5. Velasquez 6. McCullers 7. Hader 8. DeShields Jr 9. Ruiz 10. Tucker I think whoever we take #1 on Thursday will be the #2 or 3 prospect. It would be nice to add a blue chip power bat to the mix but not sure that is in the cards for this draft.
