Houston Astros 2020 Draft Picks
Yesterday the Astros had four selections in the 2020 MLB Draft. Below are the selections the Astros made.
Rd 2, #72) Alex Santos, RHP, Mount Saint Michael Academy (H.S.)
With the comp pick for Gerrit Cole signing with the Yankees, the Astros selected Alex Santos, from a New York HS. Santos is listed at 6’3″, 185 lbs. He was rated as the #25 prospect going into the season and #45 going into the draft by Baseball America. MLB had him as the #56 prospect in the draft, so getting him at 72 looks like a steal. Baseball America said that Santos has a mid 90s fastball that flashes plus and two secondary offerings that plenty of potential. It will be nice to get another young, high potential arm in the system.
Rd 3, #101) Ty Brown, RHP, Vanderbilt
Brown is a right handed closer from Vanderbilt University. Brown had a rough freshman season but has been great over the last two seasons. As a sophomore he had a 2.19 ERA with 9 BB/65 K in 49.1 innings. His junior year, which was cut short due to COVID, he had a 2.53 ERA with 14 K in 10.2 innings. He is listed at 6’4″ and 242 lbs. Brown has four pitches and an elite strike throwing ability.
Rd 4, #131) Zach Daniels, OF, Tennessee
Daniels is a toolsy outfielder that will come into the system and be at the top of the “high potential” list. Daniels didn’t hit will his first two season (.161 and .200 respectively in his first two seasons) but he started to have a breakout junior year before COVID hit. In just 17 games, he hit .357 with 1.228 OPS and 8 2B, 4 HR. He has above-average raw power and plus speed in the outfield. Daniels can play all three outfield spots and possesses an average arm in the outfield.
Rd 5, #160) Shay Whitcomb, SS, UC San Diego
With the last pick of the 2020 draft, the Astros selected Shay Whitcomb, a shortstop out of UC San Diego. He has consistently improved his offense numbers over his college career. As a freshman he slashed .310/.432/.437 in 59 games. The next year he slashed .314/.407/.576 with 25 2B, 11 HR in 57 games. He was off to a nice start in his junior season before COVID slashing .333/.440/.568 in just 20 games. He also posted a .976 OPS in 34 games in the Cape Cod League in 2019. Some scouts think he may end up at second base, but if he hits, he will find a spot.
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