1 | 1. Forrest Whitley | |
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2 | Position: RHP | Whitley reached Double-A, commanded an impressive four-pitch mix and established himself as the game’s top pitching prospect in his age-19 season. For his encore, he should force a promotion to the majors this summer, but not before serving a 50-game suspension for violating the minor-league drug policy. |
3 | Age on 4/1/18: 20 | |
4 | Likely assignment: 50-game Suspension | |
5 | Overall rank: 10 | |
6 | ||
7 | 2. Kyle Tucker | |
8 | Position: OF | Tucker has been passed on the top 400 by guys like Fernando Tatis, Bo Bichette and Forrest Whitley, who have more upside and a similar floor. I still think he could bat in the top five of the Astros' lineup by 2020. Counting stats, pass 'em. He could hit 30-plus homers, steal 20-plus bases and hit .290, but I doubt he ever does two of those three in the same season. |
9 | Age on 4/1/18: 21 | |
10 | Likely assignment: Double-A Corpus Christi | |
11 | Overall rank: 12 | |
12 | ||
13 | ||
14 | 3. Yordan Alvarez | |
15 | Position: 1B | It will be tough to crack the Astros’ lineup in the coming years, but Alvarez has the offensive ceiling to do so. He has huge raw power and all of the other characteristics one looks for in a high-end fantasy first baseman. His defining trait is his propensity to drive the ball to the opposite field. |
16 | Age on 4/1/18: 20 | |
17 | Likely assignment: High-A Buies Creek | |
18 | Overall rank: 58 | |
19 | ||
20 | 4. Freudis Nova | |
21 | Position: SS/3B | Of prospects who have not made their stateside debuts, Nova trails only Luis Robert as a top target for dynasty leagues. He has five-category upside, although since he only turned 18 in January, it’s unclear how long he will make an impact on the bases. It’s possible he moves off shortstop, but his bat could profile anywhere if he maxes out. |
22 | Age on 4/1/18: 18 | |
23 | Likely assignment: Gulf Coast League | |
24 | Overall rank: 73 | |
25 | ||
26 | ||
27 | 5. Jairo Solis | |
28 | Position: RHP | There are a handful of teenage pitching prospects with legitimate frontline upside, and Solis is probably the least expensive of that crop this offseason. He has prototypical size with the potential for two monster pitches in his fastball and curveball, and already shows feel for a changeup. Now is the time to add him. |
29 | Age on 4/1/18: 18 | |
30 | Likely assignment: Low-A Quad Cities | |
31 | Overall rank: 130 | |
32 | ||
33 | ||
34 | 6. J.B. Bukauskas | |
35 | Position: RHP | Bukauskas has significant upside as a starter or reliever, but he has a long way to go to make the former a reality. At six feet tall, there will always be those who want to project him in the bullpen, so it’s on him to improve his command and his changeup. If he does, he has frontline starter upside. If not, he could be a top-10 closer. |
36 | Age on 4/1/18: 21 | |
37 | Likely assignment: Low-A Quad Cities | |
38 | Overall rank: 217 | |
39 | ||
40 | ||
41 | 7. Joe Perez | |
42 | Position: 3B | Perez underwent Tommy John surgery in June, and will be ready to hit this spring, although he may have to DH while his elbow continues to heal. He has huge raw power, and while some teams prefered him on the mound, the Astros believe in the hit tool enough to develop him as a third baseman. |
43 | Age on 4/1/18: 18 | |
44 | Likely assignment: Appalachian League | |
45 | Overall rank: 236 | |
46 | ||
47 | 8. Carlos Machado | |
48 | Position: OF | Machado has hit at almost every stop, and finally started tapping into some power last year in the Appy League. He has a good body (6-foot-2, 170 pounds), rarely strikes out and hits the ball to all fields. He won't run much and will end up in a corner, so his bat will need to carry him. |
49 | Age on 4/1/18: 19 | |
50 | Likely assignment: Low-A Quad Cities | |
51 | Overall rank: 288 | |
52 | ||
53 | 9. Gilberto Celestino | |
54 | Position: OF | Celestino's center-field defense and speed make him a legitimate prospect, but it's now on his bat to carry his top tools to the show. He has not hit enough stateside to project as an everyday player, but if something clicks at the plate, his prospect profile would start to resemble that of Leody Taveras. |
55 | Age on 4/1/18: 19 | |
56 | Likely assignment: Low-A Quad Cities | |
57 | Overall rank: 290 | |
58 | ||
59 | 10. J.D. Davis | |
60 | Position: 3B/DH | Davis is such a tough prospect to rank, as he could jump 100 spots on the top 400 with a trade to a team where he could get everyday at-bats. As things stand, he will murder left-handed pitching while sitting against most righties. The swing and miss is never going away, and he'd be unlikely to ever hit better than .250 if he played every day, but the raw power is legit. |
61 | Age on 4/1/18: 24 | |
62 | Likely assignment: Triple-A Fresno | |
63 | Overall rank: 293 | |
64 | ||
65 | ||
66 | 11. Hector Perez | |
67 | Position: RHP | Perez falls into the bin of full-season pitching prospects with No. 2 starter upside who are likely to end up in relief, much like Taylor Hearn and Tony Santillan. His command is the No. 1 thing he needs to improve, but one of his breaking balls will also need to emerge as a quality third pitch if he is to stick in the rotation. |
68 | Age on 4/1/18: 21 | |
69 | Likely assignment: High-A Buies Creek | |
70 | Overall rank: 336 | |
71 | ||
72 | 12. David Paulino | |
73 | Position: RHP | Paulino looks like a swingman or long reliever on this team. Even if he were in an organization with less pitching depth, I have my doubts about him being efficient and healthy enough to handle a starter's workload. He'll be worth spot starting in deeper leagues this year if he's set to get a start or two. |
74 | Age on 4/1/18: 24 | |
75 | Likely assignment: Triple-A Fresno | |
76 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
77 | ||
78 | 13. Corbin Martin | |
79 | Position: RHP | Martin received a $1 million bonus at the back of the second round in last year's draft. The Astros are betting that the 6-foot-2 righty's stuff can play as a starter after he was used primarily as a reliever in college. The early returns are promising. He could be a No. 3 starter if he maxes out. |
80 | Age on 4/1/18: 22 | |
81 | Likely assignment: Low-A Quad Cities | |
82 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
83 | ||
84 | 14. Rogelio Armenteros | |
85 | Position: RHP | On a second-division team, Armenteros might log 20 starts in the majors this season. However, he's destined to either spend most of the year at Triple-A, or in the big-league bullpen working as a long man. It's No. 4 or No. 5 starter stuff, but he could be a Chris Devenski type if he sticks in the bullpen. |
86 | Age on 4/1/18: 23 | |
87 | Likely assignment: Triple-A Fresno | |
88 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
89 | ||
90 | 15. Jorge Alcala | |
91 | Position: RHP | Alcala has a triple-digit fastball and 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame. Unfortunately, the rest of the profile screams reliever. His command and secondaries each need to improve significantly, and he's fairly old for a pitcher who has yet to reach Double-A. I wouldn't be surprised if the Astros traded him at this year's deadline. |
92 | Age on 4/1/18: 22 | |
93 | Likely assignment: High-A Buies Creek | |
94 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
95 | ||
96 | ||
97 | 16. Garrett Stubbs | |
98 | Position: C | Injuries limited Stubbs somewhat last season, and his numbers suffered. Even in the worst statistical year of his career, his walk and strikeout rates were excellent. The Astros don't have a lot of catching depth in the minors, so it's possible Stubbs could be in for a big-league role in 2019. Ideally he would hit an empty .280 while getting on base a ton. |
99 | Age on 4/1/18: 24 | |
100 | Likely assignment: Triple-A Fresno | |
101 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
102 | ||
103 | ||
104 | 17. J.J. Matijevic | |
105 | Position: 2B/OF | A college first baseman, Matijevic was announced on draft day as a second baseman, but so far it looks like his home in pro ball will be left field. His bat essentially needs to max out for him to profile there, as he won't contribute with his legs and is unlikely to be a quality outfield defender. |
106 | Age on 4/1/18: 22 | |
107 | Likely assignment: Low-A Quad Cities | |
108 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
109 | ||
110 | 18. Myles Straw | |
111 | Position: OF | Straw's approach is almost too contact oriented, but he gets on base and has impact speed. He doesn't project hit for any power or be a plus defender in center field, so he'll probably end up as a bench outfielder who occasionally chips in 20-plus steals when he stumbles into playing time. |
112 | Age on 4/1/18: 23 | |
113 | Likely assignment: Double-A Corpus Christi | |
114 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
115 | ||
116 | 19. Cionel Perez | |
117 | Position: LHP | Perez will continue to be developed as a starter, particularly due to the fact the Astros have a ton of bullpen depth in the upper levels. It's No. 4 starter stuff with a reliever's body (5-foot-11) and command. He could be a quality setup man in time. His stock would get a bump if he were dealt to a second-division team that could be more patient with him in the rotation. |
118 | Age on 4/1/18: 21 | |
119 | Likely assignment: Double-A Corpus Christi | |
120 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
121 | ||
122 | ||
123 | 20. Framber Valdez | |
124 | Position: LHP | Valdez is undersized (5-foot-11, 170 pounds) and his command and changeup have a ways to go for him to project as a starter. However, he has a plus curveball and low-90s fastball, so if his changeup continues to improve, he could be a No. 4 starter. |
125 | Age on 4/1/18: 24 | |
126 | Likely assignment: Double-A Corpus Christi | |
127 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
128 | ||
129 | 21. Abraham Toro-Hernandez | |
130 | Position: 3B/C | Toro-Hernandez is a natural third baseman, but the Astros tried him as a catcher for a bit of last season. He doesn't have the defensive chops to be a full-time catcher, but there's a slight chance he gets good enough that he could catch once or twice a week while also seeing time at third, where he has the power to profile as a low-end regular. |
131 | Age on 4/1/18: 21 | |
132 | Likely assignment: Low-A Quad Cities | |
133 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
134 | ||
135 | ||
136 | 22. Ronnie Dawson | |
137 | Position: OF | Dawson has big raw power and some speed, but defensively he only profiles in left field. He would greatly benefit from a trade to a team like the Tigers where those tools would be more unique. It's hard to see him ever breaking through with Houston. |
138 | Age on 4/1/18: 22 | |
139 | Likely assignment: High-A Buies Creek | |
140 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
141 | ||
142 | 23. Luis Garcia | |
143 | Position: RHP | Garcia still hasn't made his stateside debut, but he showed a plus fastball and curveball in the DSL last year, and at 6-foot-1, he has a shot to make it as a starter. Hopefully he gets pushed aggressively so we can see him against age-appropriate competition this year or next. |
144 | Age on 4/1/18: 21 | |
145 | Likely assignment: Gulf Coast League | |
146 | Overall rank: Not ranked | |
147 | ||
148 | 24. Patrick Sandoval | |
149 | Position: LHP | A 6-foot-3 southpaw, Sandoval has some appealing physical qualities. Throwing more strikes and further developing his secondaries will be imperative to stave off a full-time move to the bullpen. It seems like the Astros have a never-ending stream of guys who need these qualifications. |
150 | Age on 4/1/18: 21 | |
151 | Likely assignment: High-A Buies Creek | |
152 | Overall rank: Not ranked |