Houston Astros 2017 Draft: Where Are They Now?
This week I am moving on to the 2017 draft. This will be the last of the draft reviews since the next couple drafts haven’t had the time to make an impact. It’s still a little early to review this one, but with no baseball being played, I figured we could give it a go. Here are the top 10 picks and other notables.
Previous Draft Reviews:
Round 1, Pick 15 – J.B. Bukauskas, RHP
Bukauskas was an interesting prospect coming out of college. He had a good junior year posting a 2.53 ERA with 116 K in 92.2 innings but some saw him as a potential reliever due to his fastball/slider combo and lack of size. The Astros used him as a starter and he had a good showing in 2018 posting a 2.14 ERA with 71 K in 59 innings. He struggled in 2019 though with a 5.25 ERA in 85.2 innings in AA before being traded to Arizona in part of the Zack Greinke deal. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB.
Round 2, Pick 53 – Joe Perez, 3B
Perez was a wildcard pick, mainly because most teams saw him as a pitcher coming out of high school. The Astros announced him as a third baseman but knew he needed Tommy John surgery. He struggled to stay in the field in 2018 too as he played in just 4 games (.362 BA). He finally played consistently in 2019 and while he hit just .188, he did had 7 HR, 27 RBI in 50 games in Tri-City as a 19 year old. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB.
Round 2, Pick 56 – Corbin Martin, RHP
This pick was the first pick of compensation following the hacking scandal. The Astros selected Martin out of A&M and seemed to get a steal, as some thought he had first round talent. He balled out immediately posting a 2.51 ERA with 122 K in 122 innings in 2018. In 2019 he started in AA and had a 3.13 ERA before being promoted to Houston. Martin underwent TJ surgery in July but was also part of the package for Greinke. Career WAR: -0.2
Round 2, Pick 75 – J.J. Matijevic, OF
Matijevic was the second pick awarded to the Astros. He was drafted following a monster junior season at Arizona where he hit .383 with 30 doubles. He came into the Astros system and was quickly moved to outfield and first base. Matijevic had a solid 2018 season posting a .887 OPS with 22 HR in 101 games. He was suspended 50 games in 2019 due to a violation of the minor league drug program but finished .761 OPS in 78 games. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB.
Round 3, Pick 91 – Tyler Ivey, RHP
Ivey was one of my favorites from the 2017 draft and has had a solid MiLB career to this point. In 2018 he pitched between A and A+ and posted a 2.97 ERA with 29 BB/135 K in 112.0 innings. He struggled with some minor injuries in 2019 which limited him to just 52.0 innings but he did strike out 68 and had a 1.38 ERA. He appears to be a guy who is on the verge of being a major league player. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB.
Round 4, Pick 121 – Peter Solomon, RHP
Solomon was an intriguing prospect coming out of Notre Dame but has some control issues. The Astros worked with him and he turned in a great 2018 where he had a 2.32 ERA with 114 K in 100.2 innings. He made two starts in 2019 (2.35 ERA) before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB.
Round 5, Pick 151 – Nathan Perry, C
Perry was a high potential catcher drafted out of high school. He is a lefty with big power and finally started to show. He started slow in 2018 but in 2019 Perry slashed .244/.354/.462 with 12 HR, 35 RBI in 67 games as a 19 year old in Tri-City. He could be a breakout prospect in 2020. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB.
Round 6, Pick 181 – Jake Adams, 1B
Adams was a slugger in college (29 HR in junior year) and he continued to do the same in the minor leagues. In 2019, Adams played in 118 games across A+ and AA and finished with 22 HR, 87 RBI and a .757 OPS. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB
Round 7, Pick 211 – Parker Mushinski, LHP
Mushinski has success as a reliever in college but the Astros moved him to starter in the minors. He was really good in 2018 when he struck out 114 in 89 innings with a 2.33 ERA. Mushinski started 2019 well with a 3.76 ERA in 52.2 innings before dealing with some injuries. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB
Round 8, Pick 241 – Corey Julks, OF
Julks is a local product from Clear Brook HS and attended the University of Houston. He has been consistent in his minor league career hitting .270 with 30 2B, 10 HR, 30 SB in 2018. In 2019, Julks played in A+ and AA and finished with 25 2B, 4 HR, 10 SB and a .725 OPS in 107 games. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB
Round 9, Pick 271 – Michael Papierski, C
Papierski followed in line with the previous Astros catcher selections getting a guy who can control a young staff and is solid behind the plate. He posted a .674 OPS in 108 games in High-A in 2019. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB
Round 10, Pick 301 – Kyle Serrano, RHP
Serrano was a true roll of the dice after some poor seasons in college. He has struggled in the minors too posting an overall 8.55 ERA in 20 minor league innings, while walking 37. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB
NOTABLES:
Round 11, Pick 331– Brandon Bielak, RHP
Bielak has been a diamond in the rough for the Astros. He struggled at Notre Dame but has been really good in the Astros’ system. After a dominant showing following the draft (0.80 ERA, 5 BB/42 K in 33.2 innings), he posted a 2.23 ERA with 131 K in 117 innings in 2018. In 2019, Bielak pitched between AA and AAA and finished with a 4.22 ERA and 119 K in 121.2 innings. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB
Round 21, Pick 631 – Chas McCormick, OF
McCormick has been another solid find for the Astros. His best season came in 2019 when he slashed .269/.386/.432 with 14 HR, 66 RBI, 16 SB in 110 games between AA and AAA. Career WAR: Has not reached MLB.
Round 26, Pick 781 – Josh Rojas, INF
Rojas was an older prospect coming out of college but he turned himself into a legit prospect in the minors. He posted a .760 OPS with 34 2B and 38 SB in 2018. Rojas was even better in 2019 slashing .332/.418/.606 with 33 2B, 23 HR, 83 RBI, 33 SB before being traded as part of the Greinke deal. He debuted with Arizona and hit .217 in 44 games. Career WAR: -0.1
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**Photo Credit: Tammy Tucker**
