MLB.com: Houston Astros Top 30 Prospects
By Yoni Pollak
Jim Callis, Johnathan Mayo, and the rest of the MLB.com staff do an excellent job on top prospects lists and are the only major publication to go 30 deep on each farm system.
A lot of these names on the Houston Astros list are years away and may never even see a Major League diamond but that doesn’t mean the potential isn’t there. We will list MLB.com’s top 30 prospects and give you a sentence or two about each prospect according to the MLB.com evaluators. We encourage you to take a peak for yourself and read up on each prospect’s scouting report by clicking here.
Previous Lists:
FanGraphs Top 10 List
FanGraphs Top 200 List
Keith Law Top 10 List
Chris Crawford Top 15 List
John Sickels Top 20 List
Baseball America Top 10 List
Baseball America Top 100 List
Top 30 List
"Correa combines outstanding tools and athleticism with a preternatural feel for the game. He’s a gifted hitter, capable of hitting for both power and average. He covers the plate well and consistently makes hard contact."
2. Mark Appel
"Appel has a good understanding of pitching and controls his whole arsenal effectively. His all-around package still gives him the chance to become a frontline starter in the big leagues."
"Santana has been young for his league throughout his career. He still has age on his side, giving him plenty of time to make the adjustments necessary to become an everyday player in the big leagues."
"Velasquez has as much upside as any of the Astros’ pitching prospects. More than anything, he simply needs to stay healthy so he can work out the rough edges in his game."
"He mostly works around the zone, but his delivery will need more refinement before he truly commands all of his pitches. If he can make the necessary adjustments, he’ll have all the makings of a frontline starter."
6. Colin Moran
"While Moran’s power will likely determine his impact, few doubt he will become a solid Major Leaguer."
"Phillips’ speed gives him a chance to stick in center field, though some scouts think he’s better suited defensively for right field. His strong arm will profile at either position."
"Hernandez has a strong arm and is a capable center fielder. He is still physically maturing, though, and if he loses a step as he fills out, he could end up in a corner."
9. Josh Hader
"He gets good life on his low-90s fastball, which can get up to 96 mph at times. His secondary stuff remains inconsistent, and he’ll need to improve it to keep missing bats in the upper levels of the Minor Leagues."
10. Lance McCullers Jr.
"While McCullers’ stuff is good, he has struggled with his control throughout his career. His high-effort delivery leads many scouts to believe he is best suited for a role at the back of the bullpen, like his father."
11. Derek Fisher
"While Fisher’s speed allows him to cover ground well in the outfield, his below-average arm strength limits him to left field defensively. That puts more pressure on his bat to carry him through the Minor Leagues, but his tools give him the chance to be an impact hitter."
12. A.J. Reed
"Reed doesn’t run well enough to play a position other than first base, but he has a strong arm and is a capable defender."
13. J.D. Davis
"He’s made progress at his new position and has already shown that he could move quickly in the Minor Leagues, as he reached Class A Quad Cities during his debut."
14. Tony Kemp
"His speed, makeup and versatility should help him as he tries to break through to the Major Leagues in coming years."
15. Preston Tucker
"He’s been primarily an outfielder as a professional and is a serviceable defender, but it’ll be up to his bat to get him to the Major Leagues."
16. Joseph Musgrove
"As Musgrove advances to full-season ball, he’ll try to build on the momentum he built in 2014. He has all the makings of a future workhorse starter."
17. Nolan Fontana
"Fontana may profile more as a utilityman than an everyday player, but scouts don’t doubt that he’ll find a way to make an impact in the Major Leagues."
18. Kyle Smith
"His ceiling doesn’t match that of some of the Astros’ top pitching prospects, but he has all the tools necessary to one day pitch in the big leagues."
19. Max Stassi
"He played more than 100 games for just the second time in his career in 2014. If he’s able to continue to stay healthy, he has could soon be ready for a full-time role in the Major Leagues."
20. Danry Vasquez
"Vasquez is a below-average runner, limiting him defensively. He has improved in left field, but his bat will have to continue to produce as he advances through the Minor Leagues."
21. Francis Martes
"Martes will be 19 years old for all of the 2015 season and remains raw. But his stuff, physical build and makeup give him a promising set of tools to develop as he matriculates."
22. Daniel Mengden
"While some scouts think his delivery will eventually make him a reliever, others see an athletic right-hander who is still learning to pitch and believe he’ll be able to stay in the rotation in the long run."
"Wojciechowski has been a starter throughout his career, but might end up fitting better in the bullpen in the long run. He appeared to be on the cusp of reaching the big leagues before his injury in 2014 and could soon be ready for his shot."
24. James Hoyt
"At 6-foot-5, he is an imposing presence on the mound and could soon reach the big leagues, completing his long journey through professional baseball."
25. Adrian Houser
"He repeats his delivery well and works around the zone most of the time, but his control still has room for improvement."
26. Brady Rodgers
"Rodgers has to be fine to succeed, but he’s been able to do that so far, and his understanding of the craft gives him a chance to reach the Major Leagues."
27. Andrew Aplin
"Despite having just average speed, Aplin is a solid defender in the outfield. He gets good jumps on balls and takes excellent routes. Still, without more power, he may profile best as a fourth outfielder in the Major Leagues."
28. Ronald Torreyes
"Torryes’ best position is second base, but he can play anywhere in the infield and has also seen time in the outfield. He earns praise for his makeup and profiles well as a utility player."
29. Joan Mauricio
"Since signing, Mauricio has added strength and has room for more muscle on his projectable frame. He’s still a long way away, but the Astros are already excited about his potential."
30. Osvaldo Duarte
"The Astros have used Duarte at both shortstop and center field, and his athleticism gives him the potential to play either position. His defensive versatility will be an asset as he advances in the Minor Leagues."
My Thoughts
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- It seems like they still have high hopes for Domingo Santana who struggled last year with the Astros. He’s still very young though.
- We know MLB.com’s Jim Callis likes Brett Phillips enough to call him his #1 sleeper prospect this year. That’s something to get excited about.
- I’m a bit surprised by Asher Wojciechowski’s low ranking. I would have placed him in tthe teens.
- It’s nice to see James Hoyt get a shoutout. He was acquired in the Evan Gattis trade. He’s a 28-year old prospect that started his baseball career late, something you don’t often see on top prospect lists.
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