Houston Astros Top Minor League Pitchers Of 2014

Houston Astros Top Minor League Pitchers of 2014

The 2014 minor league season was a good one for the Astros organization. It has brought one a lot of hope and optimism for the future. There were some outstanding pitching performances in the minor leagues this season from top prospects to sleepers.

Click here for the top hitters of 2014

Here are the best pitching performances:

Josh Hader, LHP, A+/AA

Hader really put together a phenomenal season after being acquired in the Bud Norris trade in 2013. Hader started out the season in Lancaster (a notorious hitter’s park) where he went 9-2 with a 2.70 ERA and 112 SO in 103.1 IP. He was then promoted to AA where he struggled a bit though his strikeout rate was still very good. He was also honored as pitcher of the year for the Astros system.

2014 Stats: 10-3, 3.28 ERA, 123.1 IP, 92 H, 45 ER, 54 BB, 136 SO, 1.18 WHIP, 3.9 BB/9, 9.9 SO/9, 2.52 SO/BB

Nick Tropeano, RHP, AAA

Tropeano “Nitro”, was drafted in the 5th round in the 2011 draft. He has worked his way through the minors and put together a great season in AAA this year. His good performance actually got him promoted to the Astros where he has already started two games. Tropeano did a great job of limiting walks while keeping his strikeout rate up.

2014 Stats(AAA): 9-5, 3.03 ERA, 124.2 IP, 90 H, 42 ER, 33 BB, 120 SO, 0.98 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9, 8.7 SO/9, 3.64 SO/BB

Thomas Shirley, LHP, AA/AAA

Shirley got off to a tremendous start in Corpus Christi this season. He has slowly been making his way through the Astros system and posting solid numbers at every stop. In over 86 IP in AA Shirley posted a 1.88 ERA with 4.59 SO/BB. He was then promoted to AAA where he pitched primarily out of the bullpen.

2014 Stats: 7-5, 2.53 ERA, 117.1 IP, 97 H, 33 ER, 32 BB, 100 SO, 1.09 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9, 7.7 SO/9, 3.13 SO/BB

Luis Cruz, LHP, AA/AAA

Cruz seems to be undervalued in the system, most likely due to his size (5’9″), but he put together a very nice season this year. Cruz made it to AAA this season after a solid 100.1 IP in Corpus. Though he struggled in AAA he still showed potential with 9.6 SO/9 rate.

2014 Stats: 8-8, 3.68 ERA, 124.2 IP, 117 H, 51 ER, 38 BB, 118 SO, 1.24 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, 8.5 SO/9, 3.11 SO/BB

Kyle Smith, RHP, A+/AA

Kyle was acquired in the 2012 trade that sent Justin Maxwell to the Royals. Smith dominated Lancaster to start the season earning him a promotion to AA. In Corpus, Smith was able to maintain a reasonable walk rate while still striking out over 9 batters per 9 innings all while only 21-years old.

2014 Stats: 9-5, 3.95 ERA, 123.0 IP, 110 H, 54 ER, 37 BB, 127 SO, 1.19 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, 9.3 SO/9, 3.43 SO/BB

Jordan Jankowski, RHP, AA

Jankowski really was a pleasant surprise this season. After being drafted in 34th round in 2012 he made it to Corpus this season. What really impressed was his strikeout to walk rate of almost five.

2014 Stats: 5-6, 3.58 ERA, 108.0 IP, 90 H, 43 ER, 26 BB, 120 SO, 1.07 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9, 10.0 SO/9, 4.62 SO/BB

Joseph Musgrove, RHP, A-

Musgrove was acquired in the big deal with Toronto back in 2012. While he has moved slow through the system he dominated his competition this season. Musgrove displayed great control only walking 10 batters in over 75 innings. With this season he has put himself back on the pitching prospect radar.

2014 Stats: 7-1, 2.81 ERA, 77.0 IP, 64 H, 24 ER, 10 BB, 67 SO, 0.96 WHIP, 1.2 BB/9, 7.8 SO/9, 6.70 SO/BB

Vincent Velasquez, RHP, A+/Rk

Velasquez was dominant this season when healthy. Unfortunately he battled some injuries and was only able to pitch 64 innings. Though in those innings he looked like a top prospect. He was also able to get raise his strikeout rate this season 12.1 SO/9 up from 10.3 SO/9 last season.

2014 Stats: 7-5, 3.52 ERA, 64.0 IP, 50 H, 25 ER, 25 BB, 91 SO, 1.17 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9, 12.8 SO/9, 3.64 SO/BB

These were only a few of the great pitching performances this season. It was difficult to narrow it down to these few. There are still many prospects like Lance McCullers and Michael Feliz that didn’t even make this list.

Stick with House Of Houston for more coverage of the minor league system and Astros off season.

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