Just like the stock market, prospects’ stock will go up and down throughout the season. Here is the Astros Prospect Stock Report: Volume 3.
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 – Josh Rojas
Rojas has been great since being a 26th round pick in 2017. After a solid year in 2018, he has put up a very good 2019 season so far. He started the year in AA and slashed .322/.405/.561 in 44 games. He was promoted to AAA where he is hitting .298 with .992 OPS in 23 games. Overall he has 23 2B, 13 HR, 21 SB in 67 games this season. This is good for a 153 wRC+ this season. Great numbers for a guy who plays multiple positions and could be a utility man in the near future.
2019 Stats: 67 G, .313 BA/.398 OBP/.577 SLG, 23 2B, 4 3B, 13 HR, 49 RBI, 21 SB, 35 BB/43 K, 153 wRC+
Pitcher – Brett Conine
Conine has been absolutely dominant this season. Conine was drafted by the Astros in the 11th round of the 2018 draft. Following the draft he had a 1.99 ERA in 31.2 innings for Tri-City. This season he started out in Quad Cities but made quick work of the Midwest League posting a 1.91 ERA with 6 BB/40 K in 33 innings. He was promoted to Fayetteville and has been even better posting a 1.44 ERA with 4 BB/43 K in 31.1 innings. He is only 22 years old and should finish the year in AA. Another great find by the Astros.
2019 Stats: 13 G, 1.68 ERA, 64.1 IP, 41 H, 12 ER, 10 BB, 83 K, 11.6 K/9
⇓ Stock Down⇓
Hitter – Anibal Sierra
Sierra was signed by the Astros in 2016 for $3.5 million. I don’t know what has gone wrong from there but he has failed to hit over his minor league career. After making it to AA last year, he started this season back in AA. The numbers actually got worse though. His BA is down to .194, and he has only a .259 SLG. He has only 5 XBH in 42 games. Overall he has just a 55 wRC+ and is a career .200 hitter in 110 AA games. He did get a short stint in AAA due to some injuries but has since been brought back to AA. Hard to see him rebounding from this as he is already 25 years old.
2019 Stats: 57 G, .209 BA/.298 OBP/.282 SLG, 5 2B, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 19 BB/62 K
Pitcher – Chad Donato
Donato was an 11th round pick in 2016. He was solid in 2017 but had a very good year in 2018 when he posted a 1.62 ERA over 77.2 innings between Tri-City and Quad Cities. Unfortunately, this season hasn’t gone as well. In 61 innings for Fayetteville this season he has a 5.46 ERA. He has also allowed 68 hits and 23 walks in those 61 innings. Now there are some signs that point to bad luck like the .368 BABIP and 3.82 xFIP. So while his stock may be down a bit, he still has time to rebound.
2019 Stats: 13 G, 5.46 ERA, 61.0 IP, 68 H, 37 ER, 23 BB, 61 K
Be sure to subscribe to receive weekly updates on the Astros minor league system. Also be sure to follow on Twitter,@AstrosFuture, and like my Facebook page,facebook.com/AstrosFuture.
**Photo Credit: Joe Dwyer**
