Drops in at #29 on the MLB list…
Updated some of the “unknowns”.
ETA - I apparently do not understand he way the numbered list works.
The “unknown” part obviously had nothing to do with where these players were currently. I was trying to identify reasons as to why a couple of months performance caused these guy to fall off BA’s list. Other than the fact other players arguably may have surpassed them there really were no obvious reasons as to why they dropped off (particularly for someone like say Shay Whitcomb).
Sorry. I will go back to my hole.
No stay out of that damn hole.
1 Like
With Ulloa not being signed, BA amended their list to drop him and guys in the 17-30 slots were all moved up accordingly. CC Hooks pitcher Michael Horrell (30th round, 2019) was then added at #30. Horrell has been used exclusively as a reliever since joining the org and has a career 1.58 WHIP.
Joe Perez came in at #3 on the BA Hot Sheet this week after going .393/.393/.857 for the Hooks with 7 of his 11 hits during the week being XBH (4 doubles, 3 homers).
1 Like
He (Perez) is the “real deal” if he can stay healthy!
I think Perez ultimately winds up at 1B or in LF, but man has he been impressive this year. Arguably the best Astros minor league performance in 2021.
Why, he can’t handle third, or because of the places that would be available to him on the Astros?
Zero questions about the arm but some doubts about his range from what I’ve read.
How much range does a 3B need?
You’re better suited to answer that question than I am. My take was based on what I’ve read from folks like Spencer Morris at AstrosFuture who follows the minor league affiliates far closer than I do and have seen Perez in person. As Walt mentioned, no questions about the arm (it’s a cannon). But in 65 games this season he’s committed 15 errors.
A hell of a lot more than they used to
1 Like
MLB Pipeline out with their midseason update to the Astros Top 30 list in case you haven’t seen it yet…
Draftees OF Tyler Whitaker (#6) and RHP Chayce McDermott (#17) among the additions as is trade acquisition C Yainer Diaz (#14). SS Christian Gonzalez (#15) also enters–he started the year with the FCL club before being bumped to Fayetteville.
I guess that is correct if they have to be in the SS position in the shift.
1 Like
A guy who didn’t make any of the midseason prospect lists is OF Justin Dirden but he probably is putting up one the most impressive offensive seasons of anyone in the system. Currently .277/.407/.545 in time split between the two 'villes. That .952 OPS compares favorably to some of the other notable offensive performers in the likes of JC Correa (.879), Joe Perez (.872), Matthew Barefoot (.883) and Scott Manea (.867). Among players with more than 60 games played, only Luke Berryhill (.989) and before his promotion Jake Meyers (1.006) have better numbers.
While some of the guys noted above are putting up their numbers at higher levels, what’s impressive about Dirden (as well as Correa) is that this is his first exposure to pro ball. Recap on him is that he started his college career at East Carolina in '16, went juco in '17, and then on to Southeast Missouri St. (SEMO) for the '18, '19 and '20 seasons. Played just 2 games in '19 due to injury and just 17 games in '20 due to the pandemic. Zero games as a professional ofc last season after being signed by the Astros as a NDFA.
Some interesting quotes from the SEMO head coach after his signing…
“He was hitting (.414) for us when we shut down,” Sawyers said, “so he has the hit tool and he has above-average power.” Dirden was certainly productive this season. He led the Ohio Valley Conference in hits (29), home runs (nine), RBI (26), and total bases (63). His nine home runs ranked second in the country, but Sawyers said Dirden has other assets that perhaps scouts notice, but fans might not. “He’s 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds,” Sawyers said, “but he also runs pretty well.” Dirden was leading the OVC in stolen bases (9 for 9) when the season ended. “He can hit,” Sawyers said. “He can hit for power. He can run and he can really defend in right field.” Dirden led the OVC in outfield assists.
“So you have an above-average (at the MLB level) defensive outfielder,” Sawyers said, “with above-average power, who can run, that is a pretty good physical piece. He’s a pretty impressive physical specimen.” Sawyers said the key for Dirden moving forward will be how he handles the consistent velocity that he’ll see from professional pitchers. The OVC doesn’t have arms that hit upwards of 96 m.p.h. every outing. “I haven’t seen him do that,” Sawyers said of the adjustment. “It’s not that he can’t do it, but we don’t see that kind of velocity in the OVC. That is not a knock on him, that would just be a question mark.”
Like most of their OF prospects, the Astros have played him in all 3 spots thus far but he has gotten the majority of his playing time in RF. And he is 10-3 in steal attempts. Even though he’s already 24, might be an underrated guy in the system particularly if he can demonstrate the ability to play CF/RF. His K rate at Fayetteville was a shade under 30% which is not good but he has brought that down to 24% since the promotion to Asheville (but that’s in a limited sample of just 13 games).
Hansen was #20 on Keith Law’s Astros top prospect list for The Athletic and #22 on the Fangraphs list…