Astros Future’s Minor League Guide For 2015
By Jimmy Price
Photo Credit: Richard Guill
Houston Astros Top 3 First Base Prospects
1. AJ Reed (DOB: 05/10/93)
Andrew Joseph Reed was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 2nd round of the 2014 draft. Reed was a two-way player at the University of Kentucky playing first base while also being there Friday night starter. In college Reed was known for his light-tower power. In his junior season he hit .336 and led the nation with 23 HRs. After joining the Astros he was assigned to the Tri-City Valleycats where he hit .306 with 5 HR. He earned a promotion Quad Cities where he hit 7 HRs. Reed is thought of as an Astros top 20 prospect and one of the top first base prospects in baseball.
2014 Stats: .289 BA/.375 OBP/.522 SLG, 20 2B, 12 HR, 54 RBI, 30 BB/54 SO
2. Conrad Gregor (DOB: 02/27/92)
Gregor is another advanced college bat selected by the Astros in the 4th round of the 2013 draft. Gregor was thought of as a hitter with good plate discipline but lacked power. He started the season in Quad Cities (A) and hit .298 but with only 1 HR in 44 games. This earned a promotion to Lancaster (A+) where he took off. In 47 games for Lancaster he hit .367 with 12 HR in 45 games earning a promotion to AA. He struggled a bit in AA but maintained a good walk and strikeout rate. Playing three levels in one season is pretty impressive.
2014 Stats: .311 BA/.411 OBP/.509 SLG, 31 2B, 5 3B, 16 HR, 86 RBI, 68 BB/80 SO
3. Tyler White (10/29/90)
Choosing the third best prospect was tough but I decided to go with Tyler White. Tyler was drafted by the Astros in the 33rd round in 2013. White has played both third base and first base but ended the season playing primarily first base for Lancaster. White has hit at every stop so far and this was no different. He started in Quad Cities where he hit .305 with 7 HR and 35 BB/40 SO in 71 games. White was moved to Lancaster where he hit .267 with 8 HR, 28 BB/27 SO in 43 games. In A+ he posted a 15.1 BB% and 14.5 SO%.
2014 Stats: .290 BA/.410 OBP/.501 SLG, 33 2B, 15 HR, 64 RBI, 63 BB/67 SO
Other Notables:
Telvin Nash (AA) – Nash was drafted in the 3rd round straight out of high school in 2009. Nash comes with big power but also some strikeout concerns. As a 23-year old in AA he hit .227 with 22 HR in only 84 games. Unfortunately that came with 112 strikeouts.
Brandon Meredith (AA) – Meredith has played first base, left field, and right field this season with the majority coming at 1B. The 24 year old hit .239 with 15 HR, 44 RBI in 80 games between A+/AA. His OPS went up from .754 to .844 with the move to AA.
Chase McDonald (A+) – McDonald spent most of the season with Quad Cities before being promoted for one regular season game in Lancaster. On the season he hit .279 with 25 2B, 16 HR, 67 RBI.
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