Just like the stock market, prospects’ stock will go up and down throughout the season. Here is the Astros Prospect Stock Report: Volume 2.
Disclaimer – Being on the stock down part of this list does not necessarily mean the player is a bad prospect. More just noting the rough patch they are experiencing this season.
Previous Stock Reports:
⇑ Stock Up ⇑
Hitter – Seth Beer
I know Beer was just drafted but he fell to the Astros at #28 because scouts worried about him hitting professional pitching and had concerns about him with wood bats. So far so good for Beer who has silenced the critics for the time being. He is hitting .324 this season with 8 2B, 6 HR, 19 RBI in 29 games. He is also striking out just 15.9% of the time while walking 10.5% of the time. He destroyed the NYPL with a 212 wRC+ in 11 games and has a 167 wRC+ in 18 games with Quad Cities. Will be interesting to see where he finishes this season.
2018 Stats: 29 G, .324 BA/.432 OBP/.559 SLG, 8 2B, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 14 BB/21 K, 184 wRC+
Pitcher – Patrick Sandoval
No pitcher in the Astros system has been hotter than Patrick Sandoval over the last couple months. He allowed his first earned run since May 23rd last night. Prior to that earned run, he tossed 42 straight innings without allowing an earned run. He had a rough outing last night, but overall he has been very good this season. Since being promoted to Buies Creek he has 4 BB/22 K in 18 innnings. His stock continues to rise. Oh, and he is a lefty and just 21 years old.
2018 Stats: 18 G, 2.49 ERA, 83.0 IP, 68 H, 23 ER, 14 BB, 93 K, 10.1 K/9, 6.6 K/BB
⇓ Stock Down⇓
Hitter – Ryne Birk
Birk had a solid college career leading the Astros to take him in the 13th round. He put together a good year in 2017 hitting 15 HR with 71 RBI in 118 games including 7 HR in 37 games in AA. Unfortunately the power has disappeared this year as he has yet to hit a HR in 81 games. He is slugging just .315 this season and doesn’t have the tools to make up for the lack of power (speed, bat).
2018 Stats: 81 G, .247 BA/.319 OBP/.315 SLG, 9 2B, 6 3B, 0 HR, 29 RBI, 30 BB/60 K, 72 wRC+
Pitcher – Carson LaRue
LaRue was a 14th round pick by the Astros in the 2016 draft. He put together a nice 2017 season with a 2.86 ERA in 100.2 innings with Quad Cities before making a couple outings for Buies Creek. The Astros started him back in Buies Creek this year and he has yet to be able to find the success he had last year. He has a 5.08 ERA/4.73 FIP in 79.2 innings this season.
2018 Stats: 17 G, 5.08 ERA, 4.73 FIP, 79.2 IP, 85 H, 45 ER, 25 BB, 64 K, .273 BAA
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**Photo Credit: Joe Dwyer**
