Now that the season is about two months in, we have seen a lot of changes. Promotions, graduations from prospect status, and guys who deserved to be moved up. Here I will list my updated top 30 prospects. For the notes, I will keep them semi brief and tied to their performance this season.
30. Enoli Paredes, RHP
Current Level: A+
ETA: 2021
DOB: 09/28/95
Paredes has been in the system since 2016 and possesses an electric arm. He is smaller in stature but has a mid 90s fastball that can blow guys away. He was very good last year with a 1.43 ERA and 90 K in 69 innings. This year has been more of the same with 46 K in 34 innings and a 1.85 ERA.
2019 Stats: 8 G, 1.85 ERA, 34 IP, 18 H, 19 BB, 46 K
29. Parker Mushinski, LHP
Current Level: A+
ETA: 2022
DOB: 09/06/97
Mushinski was a 7th round pick in 2017. He had solid strikeout numbers in college and they continued in the pros, though he struggled with his command. He has improved mightily this year walking just 8 in 30.2 innings while striking out 43. Overall he has a 2.64 ERA, though he was recently placed on the 7-day injured list.
2019 Stats: 7 G, 2.64 ERA, 30.2 IP, 26 H, 8 BB, 43 K
28. Jonathan Arauz, SS
Current Level: A+
ETA: 2022
DOB: 08/03/98
Arauz was acquired in the deal that also netted Ken Giles. He has always been young for his league, though it hasn’t translated to success. He started 2018 well but tapered off. After a slow start to 2019, Arauz has been raking of late. He is hitting .301 in May and .259 overall with 20 BB/30 K in 44 games.
2019 Stats: 44 G, .259 BA/.350 OBP/.418 SLG, 13 2B, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 3 SB
27. Alex McKenna, OF
Current Level: A
ETA: 2022
DOB: 09/06/97
McKenna was a 3rd round pick in 2018 and hit well following the draft slashing .311/.394/.512. He started this year with Quad Cities but for some reason, he keeps getting hurt and they have led to nagging injuries. He has only played in 5 games this year but is hitting .294. He has a lot of tools, just needs to stay healthy.
2019 Stats: 5 G, .294 BA/.400 OBP/.353 SLG, 2B, 3 RBI
26. Brandon Bailey, RHP
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2020
DOB: 10/19/94
Bailey was acquired in the trade that sent Laureano to Oakland. He is a smaller guy but can really rack up the strikeouts. He started this year in AA and has struggled a bit posting a 4.84 ERA with 34 K in 35.1 innings. He fits the mold of the high rotation curveball and can spin it for strikeouts.
2019 Stats: 9 G, 4.84 ERA, 35.1 IP, 34 H, 18 BB, 34 K
25. Cristian Javier, RHP
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2021
DOB: 03/26/97
Javier has posted great numbers during his minor league career, and has done so with solid but not great stuff. After a 2.70 ERA last year between A/A+, he has made it up to AA this season. Overall in 2019 he has a 1.60 ERA with 50 K in 39.1 innings. While the stuff he possesses isn’t elite, he has consistently put up good numbers. If he finishes this way in AA this season, he will continue to rise.
2019 Stats: 10 G, 1.60 ERA, 39.1 IP, 21 H, 24 BB, 50 K
24. J.J. Matijevic, OF/1B
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2020
DOB: 11/14/95
Matijevic was drafted by the Astros in the 2nd round in 2017. He had a very good 2018 season slashing .277/.350/.538 with 22 HR in 101 games. He started the year in AA and struggled hitting just .240 with 2 HR in 19 games. Unfortunately, he was suspended 50 games for drug abuse violation.
2019 Stats: 19 G, .240 BA/.293 OBP/.387 SLG, 5 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI
23. Jairo Solis, RHP
Current Level: A
ETA: 2022
DOB: 12/22/99
I want to have him higher but he will be recovering from TJS and will miss all of this season. He pitched in Quad Cities last year as an 18 year old and struck out 55 in 50.2 innings. He will only be 20 when he makes his return.
2019 Stats: N/A
22. Enmanuel Valdez, 2B/3B
Current Level: A+
ETA: 2022
DOB: 12/28/98
Valdez has been a favorite of mine for a few years and its nice to see him having a breakout season in 2019. He started the year with Quad Cities and had a .816 OPS in 33 games before earning a promotion to High-A. Overall he is hitting .279 with .822 OPS this season. He has draws some walks, doesn’t strikeout a ton, and has some power for a smaller guy.
2019 Stats: 41 G, .279 BA/.373 OBP/.449 SLG, 11 2B, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 18 BB/25 K, 4 SB
21. Rogelio Armenteros, RHP
Current Level: AAA
ETA: 2019
DOB: 06/30/94
Armenteros really broke onto the scene in 2017 when he dominated across AA and AAA posting a 2.04 ERA with 146 K in 123.2 innings. Armenteros spent the entire 2018 season in AAA and struck out 10.2 per 9 innings but had a 3.74 ERA. He has struggled in 2019, like some other pitchers in AAA, posting a 5.73 ERA with 37 K in 33 innings.
2019 Stats: 9 G, 5.73 ERA, 33.0 IP, 40 H, 13 BB, 37 K
20. Garrett Stubbs, C
Current Level: MLB
ETA: 2019
DOB: 05/26/93
Stubbs has worked his was through the system after being drafted in 2015. He is an athletic catcher with a strong arm. His offensive profile is intriguing too. He has a little pop but doesn’t strikeout at all. He has struck out just 183 times in 333 games. He was recently called up to the Astros to back up Chirinos.
2019 Stats: 29 G, .250 BA/.370 OBP/.440 SLG, 4 2B, 4 HR, 7 RBI (AAA)
19. Luis Santana, 2B
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2022
DOB: 07/20/99
The 19 year old infielder was signed by the Mets as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2016 as one of their more expensive signings and traded to Houston this off-season. Santana was ranked among the Mets’ top 30 prospects at the time of the trade. In his short time in pro ball thus far, he has posted the following slash line: .329/426/.465 with a 64BB/52K ratio. He was assigned to AA recently, but it appears to be a temporary assignment.
2019 Stats: 1 G, 0-for-3
18. Ronnie Dawson, OF
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2021
DOB: 05/19/95
Dawson was the Astros 2nd round pick in 2016 and he has all the tools to be a big league player. For him, it’s just putting them together on the field. After a solid season in 2018, he started this year back in AA. It hasn’t gone as expected as he is hitting just .224 with 16 XBH in 42 games. He is 24 years old but a power/speed combo from the left side will keep him around a while.
2019 Stats: 42 G, .224 BA/.319 OBP/.394 SLG, 10 2B, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 6 SB
17. Jeremy Pena, SS
Current Level: A
ETA: 2022
DOB: 09/22/97
I’ll be honest, I didn’t imagine Pena moving up this quickly but his performance can’t be ignored. After being drafted by the Astros in the 3rd round last year, he hit .250 in 36 games. His calling card was his glove at shortstop, but he has hit very well this year. In 44 games he has 4 HR, 28 RBI, 14 SB while hitting .293 with .830 OPS (139 wRC+). This also while the River Bandits were basically forced to be a road team for the first month and a half of the season. Elite defense and this offensive performance has him flying up the list.
2019 Stats: 44 G, .293 BA/.381 OBP/.449 SLG, 6 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 30 RBI, 14 SB
16. Joshua Rojas, 2B
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2020
DOB: 06/30/94
Rojas was a 26th round pick by the Astros in 2017, but he hasn’t played like it. He put together a good 2017 season hitting .263 with 38 SB in 130 games. He started back in AA this season and after a slow start, he has really turned things up. He is now hitting .317 with 13 2B, 7 HR, 29 RBI in 43 games. He has the versatility to play all over the infield, which could be very valuable down the line.
2019 Stats: 43 G, .317 BA/.400 OBP/.545 SLG, 13 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 13 SB
15. Peter Solomon, RHP
Current Level: A+
ETA: 2021
DOB: 11/14/99
Solomon was another high upside pick in 2017. A guy who had electric stuff but control issues. In 2018 he had a 2.32 ERA with a 2.40 FIP and 114 K in 100.2 innings. He quickly moved up the rankings thanks to this performance. He pitched in two games this year in High-A striking out 14 in 7.2 innings before landing on the 7-day injured list. I haven’t heard an update yet, but hopefully it’s not serious.
2019 Stats: 2 G, 2.35 ERA, 7.2 IP, 7 H, 4 BB, 14 K
14. Jayson Schroeder, RHP
Current Level: A
ETA: 2022
DOB: 11/14/99
Schroeder is 6’2” and 200 lbs and was drafted by the Astros in the 2nd round of the 2018 draft. Schroeder joined McCullers, Nicely, and Whitley as the only high school arms to be drafted and signed in the top 10 rounds in Luhnow’s tenure as GM. He pitched in 18 innings following the draft but was recently assigned to full-season all with the River Bandits. He has the size and stuff to become a top pitching prospect in the system.
2019 Stats: 1 G, 9.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K
13. Abraham Toro, 3B
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2021
DOB: 12/20/96
Toro was drafted by the Astros in the 5th round of the 2016 draft. He made his full season debut in 2017 and made it up to AA in 2018. Toro has a very strong arm and good power, while being a switch hitter. He has put together a phenomenal season in 2018 hitting .337 with 9 HR, 42 RBI in 46 games for the Hooks (170 wRC+). He has already moved up a bunch but could see his stock sore even higher if he continues this pace.
2019 Stats: 46 G, .337 BA/.434 OBP/.564 SLG, 8 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 42 RBI, 29 BB/35 K
12. Brandon Bielak, RHP
Current Level: AAA
ETA: 2019
DOB: 04/02/96
Bielak was drafted out of Notre Dame in the 11th round following a really rough junior season. The Astros were aggressive with his minor league placement and it paid off as he had a 2.23 ERA with a 2.94 FIP across A+/AA last season. Bielak started back in AA this season posting a 3.75 ERA with 33 K in 36 innings. This earned him a promotion to AAA recently. So from an 11th round pick in 2017, to AAA just a couple months into the 2019 season.
2019 Stats: 9 G, 3.86 ERA, 42.0 IP, 35 H, 17 BB, 38 K
11. Tyler Ivey, RHP
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2021
DOB: 05/12/96
Ivey was a high upside selection in the 2017 draft. He initially attended Texas A&M before transferring to Grayson Community College. In 2018, Ivey had a 2.07 ERA with 135 K in 112 innings. He started the year in AA and pitched well early on posting a 0.72 ERA with 9 BB/37 K in 25 innings. Ivey was recently placed on the 7-day injured list. Hopefully its nothing serious as he was having a great year.
2019 Stats: 6 G, 0.72 ERA, 25.0 IP, 12 H, 9 BB, 37 K
10. Cionel Perez, LHP
Current Level: AAA
ETA: 2018
DOB: 04/21/96
Perez broke out in 2018 striking out 89 over 73.2 innings with a 2.08 ERA. He even saw a little time in Houston and struck out 12 in 11.1 innings. Perez has pitched the 2019 season and AAA and has yet to replicate his success from 2018. So far this season he has a 6.19 ERA with 20 BB/29 K in 32 innings. The good news is he is only 23 years old and still a lefty. He has gone down a few spots for me, but still has a few months to rebuild that stock.
2019 Stats: 9 G, 6.19 ERA, 32.0 IP, 37 H, 20 BB, 29 K
9. Myles Straw, OF
Current Level: AAA
ETA: 2018
DOB: 10/17/94
Straw has steadily made his way through the system after being a 12th round pick in 2015. He hits for average, draws walks, and steals bases. Overall in 2018 he hit .291 with 70 SB in 131 games. So far in 2019 he has done the same hitting .294 with a .379 OBP and 16 SB in 43 games. Straw should be back in the MLB at some point this year. He has a skillset that should translate well if he has to be a bench player thanks to the elite speed and solid defense. He has also been playing shortstop, which makes his profile even more intriguing.
2019 Stats: 41 G, .296 BA/.376 OBP/.360 SLG, 5 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 16 SB
8. Bryan Abreu, RHP
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2020
DOB: 04/22/97
Abreu has been a bit of a late bloomer as he was signed in 2013 but really broke onto the scene in 2018. In 2018, between two levels, Abreu had a 1.49 ERA and an absurd 90 K in 54.1 innings. Abreu started the 2019 season at High-A but only pitched in 14.2 innings as he struck out 25. He was promoted to AA where he has a 4.03 ERA, but has a 1.65 ERA and 22 K in 16.1 innings of his last 4 outings.
2019 Stats: 9 G, 3.89 ERA, 37.0 IP, 21 H, 20 BB, 54 K, 13.1 K/9
7. Freudis Nova, SS
Current Level: A
ETA: 2022
DOB: 01/12/00
Nova is one of the highest potential guys in the Astros system. He was signed for $1.2 million in 2016 and made his stateside debut during the 2018 season. He played in 41 games and hit .308 with 6 HR and 9 SB. Overall he had a 120 wRC+ at just 18 years old. Nova really has all the tools to succeed. Quick feet, strong arm, plus speed, and the ability to hit for both average and power. He was recently assigned to Quad Cities and made his full-season debut at 19 years old.
2019 Stats: 2 G, .250 (2-for-8), HR, RBI
6. J.B. Bukauskas, RHP
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2020
DOB: 10/11/96
Bukauskas was the Astros first round pick in 2017. Bukauskas was involved in a car accident in spring training which pushed him timeline back a bit. He pitched a couple times in April before going back on the DL. Overall in 2018 he had a 2.14 ERA with 71 K in 59 innings. This year he started back in AA and after a rough beginning to the season, he has posted a 3.71 ERA with 33 K in 26.2 innings over his last 6 games. Bukauskas has a great fastball/slider combo and hopefully he continues to progress and becomes one of the better pitching prospects in the MLB.
2018 Stats: 9 G, 7.27 ERA, 34.2 IP, 35 H, 26 BB, 40 K, 10.4 K/9
5. Seth Beer, OF/1B
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2020
DOB: 09/18/96
Beer was the Astros first round pick in 2018 after dominating college baseball at Clemson. Scouts wondered how his bat would translate to wood and he showed well hitting .304 with 12 HR following the draft. He started the 2019 season in High-A but made quick work of the Carolina League hitting .328 with 9 HR, 34 RBI in 35 games. He was promoted to AA where he has hit .395 with 2 HR, 11 RBI in 10 games. There are questions about his defense, and rightfully so, but if he continues to hit like this, he can find a spot as a LF/1B/DH at this MLB level.
2019 Stats: 45 G, .343 BA/.434 OBP/.608 SLG, 11 2B, 11 HR, 45 RBI
4. Corbin Martin, RHP
Current Level: MLB
ETA: 2019
DOB: 12/28/95
Martin was a 2nd round pick by the Astros in 2017. He made quick work of the minors making it to AAA in only his second season. This year for Round Rock he pitched in 5 games and had a 1.48 ERA with 28 K in 24.1 innings. This was good enough for him to earn a promotion to the Astros, less than two years after being drafted. He has started 3 games with Houston and has a 4.97 ERA with 12 K in 12.2 innings. He has shown his stuff and will hopefully carve out a spot in the rotation for the foreseeable future.
2019 Stats: 3 G, 4.97 ERA, 12.2 IP, 14 H, 6 BB, 12 K
3. Yordan Alvarez, LF
Current Level: AAA
ETA: 2019
DOB: 06/27/97
This may be the ranking that “shocks” people with a lot of people wanting him as the #1 prospect. Alvarez has had an incredible season to this point. Him not being #1 is more telling of the guys above him. Alvarez had a good April hitting .354 with 12 HR, 30 RBI in 21 games. He followed that up hitting .384 with 8 HR, 33 RBI so far in 24 games in May. While he may be restricted to LF/1B/DH, the bat is why he will get promoted and paid. Luhnow mentioned recently they want to make sure he is ready defensively but the bat appears ready and he should get a chance soon.
2019 Stats: 47 G, .371 BA/.454 OBP/.798 SLG, 16 2B, 20 HR, 63 RBI, 27 BB/36 SO
2. Kyle Tucker, OF
Current Level: AAA
ETA: 2018
DOB: 01/17/97
Tucker came into the 2018 season as one of the best prospects in baseball, and he did nothing to dispute that ranking. He got a short promotion to the MLB where he had just 9-for-64. Tucker started the 2019 season slow going 4-for-42 in his first 12 games. Since then, he has hit .320 with 1.177 OPS and 15 HR in 34 games (177 wRC+). At some point he will get another chance in the pros this season, and hopefully he makes the most of it. He still has all the tools to be an impact player at the major league level.
2019 Stats: 47 G, .264 BA/.347 OBP/.621 SLG, 10 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 36 RBI, 9 SB, 20 BB/43 SO
1. Forrest Whitley, RHP
Current Level: AAA
ETA: 2019
DOB: 09/15/97
Whitley really broke onto the scene with a dominant 2017. He missed time last year with injury and suspension but still showed his abilities. This year the Astros started him in AAA, an aggressive promotion. Unfortunately the number haven’t been very good as he has posted a 12.21 ERA (5.42 xFIP). The only positive really is the 29 K in 24.1 innings. Luhnow has mentioned recently that his stuff is still very good, its more about him refining his command. Also, the PCL and all of AAA has seen a huge uptick in offensive performance. He is still just 21 years old.
2019 Stats: 8 G, 12.21 ERA, 24.1 IP, 35 H, 15 BB, 29 K, 10.7 K/9
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