Astros Prospect Stock Report 2019: Volume 4
Just like the stock market, prospects’ stock will go up and down throughout the season. Here is the Astros Prospect Stock Report: Volume 4.
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 – Abraham Toro
I predicted Toro would be a breakout prospect in 2018, and in a way he did posting a .779 OPS with 35 2B, 16 HR between A+/AA. He started this year back in AA and has been even better. With the Hooks he hit .306 with .906 OPS in 98 games. This earned him a promotion recently to AAA where he has been red hot. In 14 AAA games he is hitting .424 with 8 2B, 9 RBI and 7 BB/5 K. Overall on the season he has a .926 OPS and 153 wRC+ at just 22 years old. He has established himself firmly in the Astros top 10 and probably top 3 hitter in the system.
2019 Stats: 111 G, .322 BA/.407 OBP/.520 SLG, 30 2B, 4 3B, 16 HR, 79 RBI, 4 SB, 55 BB/82 K, 153 wRC+
Pitcher – Valente Bellozo
Bellozo was really an unknown prospect coming into the season. He was signed out of Mexico by the Astros in 2017 for an undisclosed amount (but less than $300,000). He pitched well in the DSL last year before making his stateside debut this year. He has dominated in 2019 posting a 1.39 ERA with 58 K in 45.1 innings in the GCL. He was promoted to Quad Cities where in his first outing he tossed 4 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts. His stock is way up.
2019 Stats: 12 G, 1.28 ERA, 49.1 IP, 27 H, 7 ER, 10 BB, 63 K, 11.5 K/9
⇓ Stock Down⇓
Hitter – Ronnie Dawson
Dawson was a 2nd round pick by the Astros in 2016 but he has yet to live up to expectations. After a strong finish in AA last year (.859 OPS in 22 games), he looked ready to take the next step and put himself in the upper echelon of hitting prospects in the system. Unfortunately, this season has been mostly down for him with a few hot stretches. He is hitting just .214 with 139 K in 102 games (30.5 K%). The last 20 games have been ever worse though seeing him hit .159 with 28 K and no homers. He is still only 24, so hopefully he can figure it out.
2019 Stats: 102 G, .214 BA/.323 OBP/.407 SLG, 20 2B, 2 3B, 17 HR, 49 RBI, 13 SB, 47 BB/139 K
Pitcher – Jayson Schroeder
Schroeder was another 2nd round pick by the Astros, this time in 2018. After a decent showing in rookie ball, I really expected him to build on that this year. He has really struggled though pitching between GCL, Tri-City and Quad Cities. Overall he has a 7.61 ERA with 36 BB/25 K in 23.2 innings. His last couple outings have been better, but a really tough year for the former second round pick. But he is also just 19 years old, so still plenty of time to rebound and rebuild his stock.
2019 Stats: 11 G, 11.61 ERA, 61.0 IP, 68 H, 37 ER, 23 BB, 61 K
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**Photo Credit: Tammy Tucker**
