Dana Brown’s background is scouting. He better be good at this drafting thing.
The Athletic’s top 20 Astros Prospects-
Brice Matthews
Ethan Pecko (if not for missing two months - he would be #1)
Xavier Neyens
Ethan Frey - (Sleeper - Frey might be one of the steals of the 2025 draft. He also might hit his way to the majors before I even get to put him on the top 100, given how aggressive the Astros can be with college guys.)
Joseph Sullivan
Walker Janek
AJ Blubaugh
Bryce Mayer (Slider gets a Yesavage comp)
Alonzo Tredwell
Jackson Nezuh
Miguel Ullola
Lucas Spence
Kevin Alvarez
Ryan Forcucci
Cole Hertzler
Alimber Santa (let the pun begin - “Santa delivers sliders, more than fastballs, as it turns out, and if he could find the correct chimney every now and then, he’d be a competent big-league reliever.”)
Anthony Huezo
Nick Monistere
Jase Mitchell
Will Bush
Bolded names are specifically mentioned as having possible MLB impact this year.
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Thanks for report Duman. You have to figure Ullola’s time as a SP is close to coming to an end. Hope he figures it out otherwise he’ll be making a move to the pen, NTTAWWT.
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Baseball America has their “not top 100” list up, with the prospects with at least AAA experience but not on any top 100 list, who could make an impact this year.
Matthews, Cole, and Ullola all make the list, and they seem especially bullish on Cole.
I would really like to see Cole get some run this season. If Dana stands pat and can’t find a trade partner for either Paredes or Walker to find that left-handed OF bat I think it will happen. Right now it feels like a time share will occur early on between Smith, Cole & Meyers based on matchups apart from the occasional games they decide to throw Yordan out in LF. But…maybe the acquisition of Loperfido muddies those waters a bit. I’m assuming one of Loperfido or Cole will start the year in AAA.
I wonder how much Yordan saying aloud in spring training, “I’ve never once been hurt playing LF” will impact his playing time there this year. He clearly wants to play out there. He covers good ground and his arm is quite good.
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He’s a significantly better hitter when in LF too (~half the PAs as at DH)
.330 .415 .631 1.046
vs
.281 .375 .544 .919
Of course, some of that would have to be due him being limited to DH because of his playing through some nagging injury
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I recall nagging injuries, however, I don’t recall him playing through any.
There’s also a proven “penalty” to hitters moving from the field to DH, not just Yordan.
Im not that bullish on Cole. He struck out more than 35% in AA and MLB last year. Thats pretty on par for his career. Trying to think of anyone aside from Joey Gallo a few seasons who succeeded with that K rate.
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Yeah, but that was last year, right?
Their take is that his swing decisions in and out of zone are good enough that the contact will come
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Chronicle piece from the other day on the adjustments Cole worked on this offseason with OC Dan Hennigan:
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Leadoff walk today to start the game. Promptly sole 2B.
I have created a list of all of the top prospect list thus far. I hope to go back and add their assignments once spring training breaks but no promises:
The consensus top 10 are:
Neyens
Frey
Matthews
Pecko
Alvarez
Janek
Blubaugh
Mayer
Sullivan
Forcucci
I have reasonably high hopes for him in a year or 2.
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Thanks! Typing too fast
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