Houston Astros Minor League Players To Watch In 2015
By Jimmy Price
Houston Astros Minor League Players To Watch In 2015
With the Houston Astros season underway and the new found sense of optimism among the team, it is possible the minor league system gets overlooked somewhat this season. While the Astros have graduated some prospects like George Springer and traded others, this minor league system is still very deep and will be fun to watch. In this article I will point out one pitcher and position player from the four, full-season, minor league clubs to watch for this season.
Fresno Grizzlies (AAA)
PITCHER- Jordan Jankowski
Jankowski was drafted in the 34th round out of high school in 2008. He chose to attend college instead of signing, and four years later he was drafted in the 34th round by the Astros. After signing he was assigned to rookie ball where he dominated with ease to the tune of a 2.23 ERA and 53 K in only 32.1 IP.
In 2013 Jankowski found success again pitching between A/A+ with a 3.05 ERA and 21 BB/103 K in 106.1 IP. 2014 proved to be another successful season for Jankowski has he posted a 3.58 ERA, 108.0 IP, 90 H, 26 BB, 120 K. For his minor league career he owns a 10.1 SO/9. Jordan pitched in spring training this year striking out five batters in three innings while allowing five earned runs. While he is older than the typical prospect, he has had success at every stop with great walk to strikeout ratios.
ONE MORE TO WATCH – Brady Rodgers
HITTER – Nolan Fontana
If you are a person that likes walks, then Fontana is the guy for you. Fontana was drafted in the 2nd round out of Florida in 2012. Fontana was also drafted as an advanced hitter with elite plate discipline. In his junior year at Florida he drew 48 BB against only 27 SO. So far in his minor league career he has drawn 228 walks against 220 strikeouts in 219 games. He should be playing shortstop full time with the departure of Gregorio Petit. Hopefully Fontana can cut down on strikeouts and hit for a little higher average this season.
ONE MORE TO WATCH – Max Stassi
Corpus Christi Hooks (AA)
PITCHER – Lance McCullers Jr.
McCullers, son of former big league pitcher by the same name (minus the Jr.), was 41st overall in the 2012 draft. The same year he was drafted he pitched 26 innings with 12 walks and 29 strikeouts. The next season he started in full season ball with the Quad Cities River Bandits. He put together a great season going 6-5 with a 3.18 ERA in 104.2 IP with 39 BB and 117 SO.
In 2014 he was assigned to Lancaster, which most know is a tough place to pitch. He kept up an incredible strikeout rate striking out 115 batters in only 97 innings. Unfortunately this also came with an incline in walks to the tune of 5.2 BB/9. Lance has all the tools to be a frontline starter. Some see him fitting in as a closer but he still has a ton of upside for a starter. This season should tell us a lot about the hard throwing right hander.
ONE MORE TO WATCH – Kent Emanuel
HITTER – Teoscar Hernandez
Hernandez is a right-handed hitting outfielder out of the Dominican Republic. Hernandez was signed as an international free agent in 2011 for $20,000. Teoscar has all the tools to become an above-average major leaguer which includes speed, power, and defense in center field. Hernandez put together a decent season in 2013 when he hit .271 with 25 2B, 9 3B, 23 HR for Class A Quad Cities.
The tools were there for another big season in 2014 and he came through when he hit .294 with 33 2B, 17 HR in Class A+ Lancaster before earning a promotion to AA. He struggled there a bit with strikeouts but still managed to hit .284 with 4 HR in 28 games. The concerns with Hernandez would be the strikeouts and 2015 in AA will be a huge test for him.
ONE MORE TO WATCH – Colin Moran
Lancaster Jethawks (A+)
PITCHER – Michael Feliz
Feliz was originally set to sign with the Athletics for $800,000 but the contract was voided after a positive drug test. This allowed the Astros to sign him for only $400,000. Feliz bounced around rookie ball for three seasons showing off nice strikeout rates but somewhat shaky command. In 2013, Feliz had a breakout season where he dominated the NYPL. Feliz went 4-2 with a 1.96 ERA in 69 IP, 53 H, 13 BB, 78 SO.
Feliz built on this success in his first season in full season baseball. John Sickels noted that Feliz was up to 96 MPH and showing off a nice breaking ball. This past offseason the Astros almost left him vulnerable to be selected in the Rule Five draft but a last minute decision kept Feliz with the Astros. He will now be tested in the tough hitter’s park in Lancaster. After showing off his talents last season, hopefully he can build on it.
ONE MORE TO WATCH – Adrian Houser
HITTER – Danry Vasquez
Vasquez was acquired via the Jose Veras trade in 2013. As a 19-year old in the Midwest League, Vasquez was hitting .283 with 16 2B, 5 3B, 6 HR, 40 RBI prior to the trade. He put together a nice run with Quad Cities en-route to winning the Midwest League Championship. Coming into 2014, Vasquez was thought of as a breakout prospect especially with him playing in Lancaster.
Unfortunately in 2014 the power didn’t show up as expected. He did hit 30 2B but only 5 HR in 114 games while hitting .291. Vasquez played primarily right field for the Jethawks but can also play left field. Vasquez does do a good job of making contact, only striking out 68 times in 114 games. His speed and arm in the outfield are average, meaning a lot will be riding on his bat. He will be 21-years old for the whole 2015 season while repeating Lancaster. This could be his big breakout year.
ONE MORE TO WATCH – A.J. Reed
Quad Cities River Bandits (A)
PITCHER – Joseph Musgrove
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Musgrove was originally drafted in the 1st round by the Blue Jays in 2011. He was traded to the Astros as part of the 10-player deal in 2012. From 2011 to 2013 Musgrove bounced around rookie ball compiling a 4.24 ERA in 74.1 IP, 13 BB, 67 SO.
In 2014 he was assigned to Class A- Tri-City where he faced opponents nearly the same age as him. The 6’5″ right hander dominated. Musgrove went 7-1 with a 2.81 ERA in 77.0 IP, 64 H, 10 BB, 67 SO, good for a 6.70 SO/BB. In his minor league career he owns a 1.4 BB/9 rate. This season Musgrove will start in full season ball and with another solid season he will really start to move up the Astros prospect lists.
ONE MORE TO WATCH – Christopher Lee
HITTER – Jacob Nottingham
Nottingham was drafted 6th round out of high school in the 2013 draft. While he hasn’t played above rookie level, he might have the most upside of any catching prospect in the Houston Astros system. Nottingham is a 6’3″ catcher who hits from the right side. He is noted as an aggressive hitter who could develop more power as he grows. He also has the tools to become an above average backstop. Last season he hit .230 with 10 2B, 5 HR, 28 RBI in 48 games. This will be his first season playing in full-season ball and with a good offensive performance he won’t be under the radar for long.
ONE MORE TO WATCH – Derek Fisher
For the sake of this list I left off guys who have been talked about a bunch this off season like Carlos Correa, Mark Appel, and Brett Phillips. I expect big things from all those guys this season as well. With the MLB club on the rise, don’t forget about the stacked farm system that Houston Astros still have.
Click below for my Minor League Guide for 2015.