Astros MiLB Position Review: Right Field
We continue our position reviews in the Astros system this week, taking a look at the right field position. I will focus on guys who played primarily right field in 2017.
Here are the previous position reviews:
Catcher
First Base
Second Base
Third Base
Shortstop
Left Field
Center Field
TOP PERFORMERS
Carmen Benedetti
Benedetti was the Astros 12th round selection in the 2016 draft. He had a solid college career which saw him hit .326 with 45 BB/29 SO in 54 games during his junior season. He had a solid showing last year hitting .309 with a 121 wRC+ for Tri-City. Benedetti started the season with Quad Cities and really put together a nice run. He played in 69 games for Quad Cities hitting .332 with .446 OBP, 51 BB/47 SO and a 163 wRC+. The walk and strikeout rates are what really stood out, 17.3 BB% and 15.9 K%. He was promoted to Buies Creek and hit .268 in the final 23 games. Overall he had 27 doubles and 5 homers. He doesn’t have a lot of power, though he has good size (6’2, 225 lbs). Next year will be an interesting one for him to see if he can continue the stellar on base numbers.
2017 Stats: 92 G, .316 BA/.421 OBP/.452 SLG, 27 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 41 RBI, 2 SB, 60 BB/68 SO
Preston Tucker
Tucker seems to be the forgotten man after a decent MLB debut in 2015. This was his third year in AAA and while he had 24 HR and 96 RBI, he had the lowest wRC+ (102) of any of his stints. He did start to draw more walks though with a 11.4 BB%. Tucker is pretty much all bat at this point and will probably have to fit in as a DH somewhere. He makes solid left handed hitting depth for the Astros but I have a hard time seeing him getting time over the current outfield and DH options.
2017 Stats: 128 G, .250 BA/.333 OBP/.465 SLG, 20 2B, 7 3B, 24 HR, 96 RBI, 65 BB/102 SO
THE REST OF THE PACK
Stephen Wrenn
Wrenn appeared to be a steal early on (6th round in 2016) but he had a down season in 2017. He is super talented and possesses plus speed, great defense, and solid pop. He started the year with Quad Cities and hit .288 in 42 games (127 wRC+). He was promoted to Buies Creek where he posted a 85 wRC+ in 83 games. He will be just 23 next year and will need a good season to keep up his prospect status.
2017 Stats: 125 G, .258 BA/.332 OBP/.365 SLG, 17 2B, 6 3B, 7 HR, 36 RBI, 18 SB, 50 BB/112 SO
Ramiro Rodriguez
I don’t know much about Rodriguez but his numbers were very good this year. The left hitter and thrower started the season in the Dominican Summer League and hit .341 with 968 OPS in 49 games, though he was a bit older than the league average at 19. He was promoted to GCL where he hit .300 in 9 games.
2017 Stats: 58 G, .335 BA/.440 OBP/.500 SLG, 11 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 8 SB, 30 BB/23 SO
2018 OUTLOOK/CONCLUSION
Some of the guys listed in center field could end up in right field at the MLB level. Benedetti made a name for himself last year and showed great plate discipline and bat to ball skills. Other than that, the depth is a little weak but the excess of outfielders in left field and center field more than makes up for it.
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**Photo Credit: Richard Guill**
