Astros Future’s Minor League Guide For 2015

June 1, 2013; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tarheels starting pitcher Kent Emanuel (41) delivers a pitch against the Towson Tigers during the Chapel Hill Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament at Boshamer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Astros Top Three Left Handed Pitching Prospects

1. Josh Hader (DOB: 04/07/94)

The left-handed pitching Hader was originally drafted by the Orioles in the 19th round of 2012 draft and signed out of high school. In that same season Hader dominated. Between rookie level and A- he compiled 28.2 IP, 14 H, 6 ER, 9 BB, 48 SO, 15.1 SO/9. The next season he started out with Class A Delmarva and pitched pretty well. Hader went 3-6 with a 2.65 ERA, 85 IP, 67 H, 42 BB, 79 SO.

On July 31st, 2013, Hader was traded alongside L.J. Hoes and a comp pick to the Astros for Bud Norris. Hader joined Class A Quad Cities and posted a 3.22 ERA, helping Quad Cities to the Midwest League Championship. Hader started the 2014 season in Class A+, pitching in the hitter-friendly Lancaster, and he dominated! Hader went 9-2 with a 2.71 ERA in 103.0 IP, 76 H, 38 BB, 112 SO, 9.8 SO/9. This granted a promotion to AA where he struggled a bit in 20 innings with a 6.30 ERA, but he did strike out 24. This season was enough for Hader to be the Astros minor league pitcher of the year.

2014 Stats: 10-3, 3.29 ERA, 123.0 IP, 92 H, 54 BB, 136 SO, 10.0 SO/9 (A+ and AA)

2. Kent Emanuel (DOB: 06/04/92)

Emanuel was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2013 draft out of University of North Carolina. The 6’4″ lefty was very successful in college but some saw him as overworked. From freshman to junior season he pitched 104.1 IP, 110.0 IP, 131.2 IP respectively. His sophomore year he was great but his numbers went down a bit in his junior season and some people pointed to over usage.

The same year he was drafted he only pitched 9 innings for the Astros system. In 2014 he started out with Class A Quad Cities and pitched 22 innings with a 2.45 ERA, 4 BB/17 SO, which earned him a promotion to hitter friendly Lancaster. With Lancaster, Emanuel posted a 4.56 ERA in 102 IP, 111 H, 19 BB, 76 SO, 1.7 BB/9, 6.7 SO/9.

Emanuel will most likely start the season in Corpus where he really has a chance to shine. The report on Emanuel is that he has good control of all four of his pitches and great pitchability on the mound.

2014 Stats: 9-7, 4.21 ERA, 124 IP, 131 H, 58 ER, 23 BB, 93 SO, 1.7 BB/9, 6.8 SO/9 (A and A+)

3. Luis Cruz (DOB: 09/10/90)

Luis Cruz has been in the Astros system since 2008 when he was drafted in the 9th round out of Puerto Rico. Cruz has been on a pretty slow track so far but has really started to put up some good numbers the last few seasons. Cruz broke onto the scene as a 19-year old in full season ball. That season Cruz went 8-5 with a 3.61 ERA striking out 88 batters in 99 innings.

Cruz struggled from there as he moved his way up but posted very respectable strikeout and walk numbers including 47 BB/135 SO in 146.2 IP in 2012. In 2013, Cruz started the season pitching for Class A+ Lancaster and he posted a 5.16 ERA in 113.1 IP walking 4o and striking out 129 for a 10.2 SO/9. In 2014, Cruz started out in Corpus Christi putting together a nice season. He went 7-6 with a 3.15 ERA and 92 SO in 100 IP before being promoted to AAA.

2014 Stats: 8-8, 3.69 ERA, 124.1 IP, 51 ER, 38 BB, 118 SO, 2.8 BB/9, 8.5 SO/9 (AA and AAA)

Other notables:

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Thomas Shirley (AAA) – Shirley was drafted by the Astros in 2010 in the 9th round. He has been moving along posting nice numbers at every stop good for a 2.62 career MiLB ERA. In 2014, Shirley dominated the Texas League. He went 7-3 with a 1.88 ERA, 86 IP, 17 BB, 78 SO. He was promoted to AAA where he struggled a bit posting a 4.52 ERA.

Brian Holmes (A+) – Holmes was drafted in 2012 out of Wake Forest University. Holmes is a big guy listed at 6’4″, 210 lbs. As with Shirley, Holmes has posted nice numbers at every stop which included a 2.56 ERA in A- and a 2.49 ERA in Class A. In 2014, Holmes went 5-2 with a 4.55 ERA in 87 IP, 86 H, 23 BB, 82 SO, 8.5 SO/9.

Christopher Lee (A) – Lee was another early Astros draftee taken in the 4th round of the 2011 draft. Lee struggled a bit in rookie ball before putting together a nice season in Quad Cities. Lee went 8-6 with a 3.66 ERA in 113 IP, 120 H, 51 BB, 75 SO last season.