MLB Pipeline Releases Astros’ Top 30 Prospects
With Spring Training underway, and the MLB season right around the corner, the prospect sites continue to release their lists. Yesterday, MLB Pipeline (MLB.com) released their Astros top 30 prospects.
The top two on the list, as expected, are Francis Martes and Kyle Tucker. MLB Pipeline noted the following on Martes:
Martes’ stuff is similar to what Lance McCullers Jr. showed in the Minors. He can work at 93-96 mph and reach 98 with his fastball, and while it doesn’t feature a ton of life, he does show some feel for moving it around the strike zone. His curveball gives him a second well above-average pitch, combining power and depth.
Kyle Tucker continues to receive praise from scouts and prospect sites. Here is one note on him from MLB Pipeline:
Some scouts considered him the top hitter in the 2015 prep class, and he has done nothing to dispel that notion. A product of the same Plant HS (Tampa, Fla.) program that spawned Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, Tucker has a smooth left-handed swing, quick hands, advanced pitch recognition and a patient approach. He has good leverage in his swing and likes to pull the ball, so he should grow into at least 20-homer power as he gets stronger.
David Paulino came in at #3 and Derek Fisher ranked #4. This might be the most generous ranking on Fisher as he comes in ahead of Forrest Whitley and Franklin Perez. Jumping up the ranks was Ramon Laureano who went from unranked pre-2016 to #8 on this list. Jim Callis answered questions on Twitter and had some very high praise for Laureano.
I’d put Laureano’s ceiling at .300 AVG/.400 OBP w/15 HR & 30 SB. Pretty impressive ceiling for a 16th-rder. @astros https://t.co/ZXXev7alki
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) February 24, 2017
Daz Cameron (9) and Miguelangel Sierra (10) rounded out the top 10. Garrett Stubbs, following a phenomenal 2016 season, jumped all the way up to #11. The middle of the list was loaded with international talent with Celestino (12), Yordan Alvarez (14), Freudis Nova (15), Cionel Perez (16) and Anibal Sierra (17).
Moran had the biggest fall dropping from #6 pre-2016 to #25 this season. Some other notables were Brady Rodgers at 21, Jason Martin at 27, Stephen Wrenn at 28 and Framber Valdez at 30. You can find a full list here.
As stated a bit earlier, here are some questions Jim Callis answered on Twitter:
The two guys it pained me the most to leave off @Astros #Top30Prospects were RHPs Dean Deetz & Hector Perez. https://t.co/Oi8a50Wcq0
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) February 24, 2017
Straw led minors w/.358 AVG using extreme oppo approach. Will it work at higher levels? Not much pop but 70 run & good CF. @Astros https://t.co/T2IOjxBxad
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) February 24, 2017
30 HR would be Fisher’s power ceiling, not sure he’ll hit enough/make enough contact to get quite all the way there. @Astros https://t.co/5FDli1wN42
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) February 24, 2017
Good stuff, good build, good control — Alcala is a SP all the way for me. @astros https://t.co/kWoc8uc8sP
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) February 24, 2017
What do y’all think of the list? Who is too high, too low?
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**Photo Credit: Kiel Maddox/Fresno Grizzlies**
