I went to the double header games in Oakland last year and Stassi's mother/family sat directly behind me. She sounded super supportive and kind, basically like she was still rooting on her little leaguer.
It will probably reflect poorly on their prospect stock if any of those 3 aren't graduated by the end of 2019, and the 2019 draft isn't exactly going to yield a high pick. After those 3 graduate, the system will likely be middle of the pack due to strong pitching depth, but devoid of high end hitters. Beer might develop to be similar to Alvarez, but Arauz is basically the only position player in full season ball you can squint and think he could be a top 25 prospect. Other than that, you're hoping Nova or another rookie leaguer breaks out.
They will also come out of the restrictions in the international pool after this year. Plus it is likely they will have an extra pick next year and in subsequent years as they lose QO guys like Keuchel and Cole. So they have a chance to keep the pipeline strong. But counting on Top 25 type guys is a tall order.
Hmmm... With all three expect to possibly make the team out of Spring Training. You will probably have Corbin Martin and Seth Beer near or at the top as the best pitcher and hitter in the farm system. I mean... our hope is that the Astros would win back to back championships and anything after that is gravy.
Nah, they traded 250K for the current penalized period. You're not even allowed to trade future pool money. I thought I remember seeing somewhere that they're connected to one kid already, but can't remember where i saw it.
if there is a sleeper as a hitter it can be Alex McKeena. His defense at CF is decent but something about the coaching he's getting in the minors is working. He's hit 5 hrs already in around 100 abs and is only 20.
Wouldn't necessarily call him a sleeper, he was rated #97 overall draft prospect by MLB.com. Somehow he dropped to the 4th round. Probably a left fielder who can hit .280 and 15 homers
In looking at who might be the next Top 100 guys in the system, I would say these are the guys with the ceiling to do it (in order of likelihood): OF Seth Beer RHP Corbin Martin RHP JB Bukauskas SS Jonathan Arauz RHP Jairo Solis SS Freudis Nova RHP Jayson Schroeder 3B Joe Perez RHP Tyler Ivey 3B Abraham Toro OF JJ Matijevic I think Beer, Bukauskas, and Martin will be in the back half of most Top 100 lists this offseason. Arauz, Toro, Ivey, and Matijevic would need a great start in AA next season to break in on the midsesson lists. Nova, Perez, and Schroeder would need to be assigned to full season ball and get off to a good start. Solis would need to open up dominant in High A.
I love Schroeder but he is a few years away from making it close to the majors and a year at least into cracking the top 100 list if he becomes as good as I think he can.
They are certainly the Top 100 candidates. Bukauskas will have to finish strong to make the list, but he does have the pedigree.
J.B. Bukauskas @ Down East: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K J.J. Matijevic and Jonathan Arauz have both homered for Buies Creek. Matijevic's was a solo and he now has 14 in the Carolina League and 17 overall. Arauz hit a two-run blast, his 3rd with Buies Creek and 7th overall.
Nathan Perry hit a 408 ft HR in his NYPL debut. Game story said that he hit another flyball ~100mph for an out in CF.
I am concerned about Joe Perez. Unless he is being converted into a catcher, or back into a pitcher, the only excuse I can see for him not being played since 3 July is injury. But there has been no word on him (that I've seen, anyway). Also, I'm curious as to why it is so difficult to find information on the guys in the complex leagues. Do the writers covering the Astros just not ask?
Guys in the GCL just don’t get much attention unless it’s an extremely high draft pick like Correa. So no reporter is likely to ask about Perez. I agree that he is likely hurt and that it is concerning, but until we know for sure, he’s still one of the highest ceiling guys in the system, especially given that his results when he has played (sss) have been very encouraging.
3 Astros on this weeks fringe five: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-fringe-five-baseballs-most-compelling-fringe-prospects-118/