Houston Astros Top Three Third Base Prospects For 2018
We continue our look at the top three prospects at each position moving to the third base position this week.
Top Three Prospects By Position:
Catcher
First Base
Second Base
1. J.D. Davis (MLB)
Davis was the Astros 3rd round pick in 2014. He was seen as a third baseman with big power and a big arm and that report has not changed. Davis had a solid 2016 season in AA where he had a 134 wRC+. He started the 2017 season back in AA and showed improvement cutting down on the strikeouts with an increase in ISO. After 87 games in AA he was promoted to AAA Fresno. In 16 games with Fresno he hit 5 HR and drove in 18 earning him a callup to the Astros. Davis posted a 100 wRC+ in 25 MLB games. He also pitched twice out of the pen and was successful in his two stints.
2017 Stats: 103 G, .282 BA/.345 OBP/.527 SLG, 23 2B, 26 HR, 78 RBI, 5 SB, 40 BB/108 SO (minors)
2. Joe Perez (Rookie)
Perez declared as both a pitcher and position player heading into the 2017 draft. Many scouts thought he was much more advanced as a pitcher than a hitter, but the Astros announced him as a third baseman on draft night. He underwent TJS surgery but it shouldn’t put him far behind the normal high school path given his age (17 at the draft). Scouts noted that Perez has huge raw power and athleticism in the field.
2017 Stats: N/A
3. Abraham Toro-Hernandez (A)
Toro-Hernandez was drafted by the Astros with the 5th round pick in the 2016 draft. Toro made his full season debut this year playing third base and a handful of games at catcher. He started the year with Tri-City and hit .292 with 8 2B, 6 HR in 32 games (185 wRC+) before being promoted to QC. There he hit 9 HR in 37 games good for a 120 wRC+ but he also maintained good walk and strikeout rates. Overall he had a 149 wRC+ with 14.0 BB% and 17.8 K%, a very good full season debut. Next year at this time he could see himself on the catcher list if the transition continues.
2017 Stats: 69 G, .246 BA/.364 OBP/.496 SLG, 11 2B, 15 HR, 33 RBI, 3 SB, 40 BB/51 SO
Other Notables:
Josh Rojas (A): Rojas had a surprisingly solid season as a 26th round pick in this year’s draft. The 23 year old was immediately assigned to Quad Cities where he showed some power hitting 10 HR with a .487 SLG in 52 games. He had a short stay with Fresno (4 games) in which he hit .333 with 4 BB/3 SO. Rojas is a lefty hitter and one to watch as he moves up next season.
Randy Cesar (A+): Cesar doesn’t walk much but he has continued to put up solid batting lines. Cesar started the season with Quad Cities hitting .302 with 3 HR in 27 games before being promoted to Buies Creek. There he hit .295 with 15 2B and 4 HR in 83 games finishing with a combined .297 BA and .350 OBP.
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**Photo Credit: Tammy Tucker**
