The Astros “Spring Breakout” game against the Cardinals (top prospects vs. top prospects) just started. There’s a radio stream here, but I’m not sure if there’s video available. The lineup is:
Will Wagner 1B
Kenedy Corona RF
Joey Loperfido LF
Jacob Melton CF
Miguel Palma C
Brice Matthews SS
Colin Barber DH
Alberto Hernandez 2B
Zach Dezenzo 3B
Spencer Arrighetti SP
.
For those who want a closer look at the farm, Spencer Morris (@prospectspencer on twitter) has started a new YouTube channel with clips of in-game action from the most interesting guys in the system. You can check it out here:
Law has Paul Skenes #10.
/ignorehack
PS Skenes looks more like Nolan Ryan each time I see him.
Loperfido takes the #1 spot on this week’s BA Hot Sheet. Well deserved after going 11-for-26 with 6 walks and 5 HR.
He also struck out 10 times, but who’s counting.
The strike outs are concerning, but I think he has a career SO rate <25% in the minors. If Loperfido can get back down to that level while maintaining his current pace, or something similar, watch out.
I still don’t think he’ll be an All Star caliber player in MLB. Just another guy whom the Astros drafted and developed into a useful player for the big league club. And I’d be more than happy with that outcome.
The Astros
Joey Gallo Loperfido
Gallo? I thought you said “Callo”.
TY, @Duman !
Enjoyed reading this article about potential 2024 bench help.
It was a great reminder of when most of our time as Astros fans (b/f the glory years) was spent reading/dreaming about some prospects that might make the Astros great.
My “friend” Nook is reporting
Nehomar Ochoa is pushing very hard to be a 2 way player and working out with the pitchers in his off time.
You’re reading way too much into that
Am I?
What I have read is Ochoa has been lobbying the front office to allow him to pitch since he was drafted.
Now, I’m not saying he ever will be, and truth is that the front office has resisted letting him be, a 2 way player
But there is little doubt thats what he wants.
MLB has updated their top prospects for the Astros. Top five are
Chase Jawarsky jumped from 29 to 13 to claim the biggest jump.
Andrson Brito has climbed to #8. He is also said to have the best slider in the system.
The only other 2024 draftee to appear on the list is RHP Ryan Forcucci who comes in at #12. He is also in discussion for the best control in the system.
Wander Luciano falls from #18 to #29 to be the biggest drop.
BP has released their top 101 prospects for 2025, with Cam Smith at 20 and Brice Matthews at 68.
Matthews is an interesting one. Some really loud tools, but not really sure where he ends up long term. Doesn’t really have the arm for SS or 3B, but 2B is obviously blocked. There’s some chatter about CF, but Melton looks like a better fit there defensively. Also has a ton of swing and miss (108 K’s in 287 AB’s last season).
Really curious to see how he performs this season (he’s already in AAA) and where the organization plays him.
Dezenzo on BP’s “10 who missed” list, saying that the increased swing and miss at the MLB level gave them too many concerns.
He looked overmatched at times at the MLB level last season but I still have hope he can make adjustments. I remember Tuck struggling his first season as well but that seemed to work out ok.
Plenty of reason for hope. He’d had very little time against advanced pitching and made the majors much faster than expected after his injury (thanks mostly to the dire state of the Astros’ roster in late 2024). But he’s been making up the lost at-bats in winter ball and has played well.
I was figuring they didn’t like the sound of balls clanking off his glove, but I looked it up, and that was Whitcomb, not Dizenzo. It takes some real effort to rack up -0.4 WAR in just 20 games and 46 PA. The 5 errors in 30 chances at 3rd didn’t help. Maybe he was nervous and he’ll calm down the second time around.
Dezenzo number of advanced pitching at bats:
63 games / 277 PA at AA in 2023.
16 games/ 75 PA in the Arizona Fall League in 23.
22 games/ 91 PA in AA after the wrist injury in 24
25 games/ 113 PA in AAA in 2024
That is a combined 126 games / 556 PA in AA & AAA level ball - that isn’t alot, but he also had 165 games/735 AB at Ohio State which might be at least A+ level pitching with some AA level pitching.