Houston Astros Top Three First Base Prospects (2016)

Houston Astros Top Three First Base Prospects (2016)

The Astros minor league system has gone through a huge overhaul over the last year and a half. Prospects like Correa, Tucker, and McCullers Jr. have graduated while others like Velasquez, Nottingham, Appel, Phillips, and others have been traded to make the big league club better. Even with all these moves the Astros system is still deep.

Next in line in our series of top prospects for each position is the first base position. The Astros are loaded here with at least three guys that should contribute to the big league club at some point this season. The highest level played will be in parenthesis. Let’s get to the list.

Previous Lists:

Top Three Catching Prospects

1. AJ Reed (AA)

AJ Reed was drafted by the Astros in the second round of the 2014 draft. He left Kentucky after being awarded the Golden Spikes Award, which is bestowed annually to the best amateur baseball player in the United States. Reed got off to a solid start in 2014, hitting .289 with 12 HR in 68 games. 2015 was the season he really broke out. Between A+/AA he hit .340 with 34 HR, 127 RBI in 135 games. Reed has shown power to all fields, the ability to draw walks and hit for average. If he starts hot in AAA, he could be in Houston during the first few months of the season.

2015 Stats: 135 G, .340 BA/.432 OBP/.612 SLG, 113 R, 30 2B, 5 3B, 34 HR, 127 RBI, 86 BB/122 SO

2. Tyler White (AAA)

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White is a guy who has played a lot of third base as well but finished the season in AAA playing 1B/DH. He was drafted in the 33rd round of the 2013 draft and has flown through the system. White had a good 2014 campaign, hitting .290 with 15 HR, 64 RBI in 114 games but really broke out this season. He hit .325 with 14 HR, 99 RBI in 116 games between AA and AAA. This includes a .362 batting average in 57 AAA games.

2015 Stats: 116 G, .325 BA/.442 OBP/.496 SLG, 25 2B, 14 HR, 99 RBI, 84 BB/73 SO

3. Conrad Gregor (AA)

Gregor was drafted in the 4th round of the 2013 draft. He has made steady progress and finished the season playing in Corpus Christi. He really broke on the scene last year where he played in three different levels and combined to hit .311 with 16 HR. This year in AA he hit .239 with 33 2B, 10 HR, 73 RBI, 65 BB/102 SO in 127 games. If the batting average gets back up and some more power comes, he could move his way up to AAA.

2015 Stats: 127 G, .239 BA/.338 OBP/.384 SLG, 29 2B, 10 HR, 73 RBI, 65 BB/102 SO

Other Notables: