Houston Astros Top Three Right Handed Pitching Prospects

Houston Astros Top Three Right Handed Pitching Prospects (2016)

Next up on the top prospect lists in right handed pitchers. While it seems the Astros rotation is deep, injuries are inevitable and guys need to be ready to step up. Last year McCullers pitched 125+ innings for the Astros despite even pitching in AA the year before. Thirteen different pitchers started a game for the Astros last season so it is reasonable to expect one of these guys to get a chance in 2016.

Lets get to the list!

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Houston Astros Top 3 First Base Prospects
Houston Astros Top 3 Second Base Prospects
Houston Astros Top 3 Third Base Prospects
Houston Astros Top 3 Shortstop Prospects
Houston Astros Top 3 Left Field Prospects
Houston Astros Top 3 Center Field Prospects
Houston Astros Top 3 Right Field Prospects

1. Francis Martes

Martes was acquired from the Marlins in the Cosart trade in 2014. At the time, the Astros were getting a young, raw right arm who had a lot of upside but only threw 33 innings stateside. Martes came into 2015 and dominated moving his way through the system. As a 19-year old he started in full-season QC (class A) and ended the season in AA, 5.4 years younger than the average player.

Martes has a mid-to-high 90s fastball with a great power curve. His command and control took huge steps forward in 2015. He will most likely start the season in AA but it’s possible he pitches with the Astros at some point in 2016.

2015 Stats: 8-3, 2.04 ERA, 101.2 IP, 83 H, 23 ER, 28 BB, 98 SO, 2.5 BB/9, 8.7 SO/9 (A, A+, AA)

2. Joe Musgrove

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Another guy acquired in trade, Musgrove came to Houston from Toronto in the big 10-player deal in 2012. He bounced around rookie ball for a bit and put together a nice showing in Tri-City last season. In 2015 he started the season with Quad Cities. He made quick work of QC posting a 0.70 ERA with 1 BB/23 K in 25.2 innings. He was promoted to Lancaster where he continued to dominate posting a 2.40 ERA with 1 BB/43 K in 30 innings. This earned him a promotion to AA where he finished the season with a 2.20 ERA. Musgrove has great command of his pitches and his fastball sits 90-94 MPH. He is another guy who could help Houston in 2016.

2015 Stats: 12-1, 1.88 ERA, 100.2 IP, 85 H, 21 ER, 8 BB, 99 SO, 0.7 BB/9, 8.7 SO/9 (A, A+, AA)

3. Michael Feliz, RHP

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 is a guy that seems to have some prospect fatigue, meaning he has been with the Astros since 2010 and had his first breakout season in 2013. In that 2013 season Feliz pitched with Tri-City posting a 1.96 ERA 13 BB/78 SO in 69 innings.

He pitched all of 2014 in Quad Cities as a 21 year old posting a 4.03 ERA but a good strikeout rate of 9.7 SO/9. He started the 2015 season in Lancaster pitching in only 33.2 innings before moving to Corpus. In CC Feliz has a 2.17 ERA with 20 BB/70 SO in 78.2 IP. He earned a promotion to the Astros where he pitched in just 8 innings. I want to rank him higher but the Astros system is still so deep.

2015 Stats: 7-4, 2.83 ERA, 111.1 IP, 82 H, 35 ER, 32 BB, 103 SO, 2.6 BB/9, 8.3 SO/9 (A+, AA)

One more…… David Paulino, RHP

I feel like I am repeating myself but Paulino is another guy acquired in a trade. The Astros received Paulino as a PTBNL in the Jose Veras deal from 2013. Paulino is a very big right handed pitcher, listed at 6’7″. He missed all of 2014 due to Tommy John surgery but was known as a guy with a big time fastball.

He started with Tri-City in 2015 making only two starts before being promoted to QC. In QC he made five starts with a 1.57 ERA, 28.2 IP, 32 K. He finished in Lancaster with a higher ERA but maintained a great strikeout rate. Paulino could start in Corpus this season. With another good year he could really move up the top 100 rankings.

2015 Stats: 5-3, 2.81 ERA, 67.1 IP, 49 H, 21 ER, 19 BB, 72 SO, 2.5 BB/9, 9.6 SO/9 (A-, A, A+)

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