Houston Astros Minor League All-Star Team
Since there are no All-Star teams this year in the minor leagues, I figured I would put together an Astros minor league all-star team. We are a little past the half way point of the season and there have been some great performances so far. I also included links to some of my interviews with these prospects.
Here is my All-Star roster!
CATCHER
Korey Lee – The Astros first round pick in 2019 has put up a great season between A+ and AA. This season he has a .902 OPS and 144 wRC+ while only striking out 14.2% of the time. He has also thrown out 17 of 39 base stealers good for a caught stealing rate of 44%. A great season for him and a top 100 ranking should be following.
2021 Stats: 57 G, .316 BA/.383 OBP/.519 SLG, 8 2B, 11 HR, 35 RBI, 144 wRC+
Honorable Mention: Luke Berryhill
FIRST BASE
Scott Schreiber – Schreiber was a 9th round pick in 2018 but he has came into his own in 2021. He started at High-A and had a 157 wRC+. He got promoted to AA where he has a 123 wRC+ in 11 games. He has a .245 ISO with a respectable 22.5 K%. Also, his first HR in AA came on a walk-off grand slam.
2021 Stats: 52 G, .311 BA/.376 OBP/.556 SLG, 11 2B, 11 HR, 38 RBI, 150 wRC+
SECOND BASE
Enmanuel Valdez – The second base position, meaning players who have played most of their games at 2B this season, has been a little rough. Valdez is only hitting .226 but has 16 HR and a .502 SLG.
2021 Stats: 56 G, .226 BA/.284 OBP/.502 SLG, 10 2B, 16 HR, 57 RBI, 106 wRC+
THIRD BASE
Joe Perez – Another breakout prospect this year, Perez is showing why he was a 2nd round pick a few years ago. He started in Low-A and had a 149 wRC+ before a promotion to High A where he had a 195 wRC+. He has since been promoted to AA. Great season so far for the 21 year old.
2021 Stats: 54 G, .288 BA/.361 OBP/.524 SLG, 17 2B, 11 HR, 38 RBI, 137 wRC+
SHORTSTOP
J.C. Correa – Correa has put up a great season and has shown he is a legit prospect in his own right. After a slow May, he has been on fire over the last two months. Overall he has a 139 wRC+ and a 11.0 BB% and 11.8 K%. He just got promoted to High-A. Leon and Whitcomb have had good season too.
2021 Stats: 56 G, .306 BA/.392 OBP/.477 SLG, 19 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 7 SB, 139 wRC+
Honorable Mention: Pedro Leon – Shay Whitcomb
OUTFIELD
Jake Meyers – Meyers has had a true breakout season. He has always been solid defensively and has continued to improve, but the bat took off in 2021. He is hitting .336 with 16 HR (tied for lead in Astros minor league system) with a 143 wRC+. He is a legit prospect and should be on an MLB roster soon. You can read my interview with him here.
2021 Stats: 56 G, .338 BA/.401 OBP/.608 SLG, 15 2B, 16 HR, 45 RBI, 9 SB, 143 wRC+
Matthew Barefoot – Another breakout guy, Barefoot has made adjustments to his swing and they have paid off. He started the season in Fayetteville and after hitting .344 in 16 games he was promoted to High-A where he has hit .312 with .990 OPS and 14 HR. Overall he has 16 HR and a 164 wRC+ this season.
2021 Stats: 55 G, .321 BA/.370 OBP/.575 SLG, 152B, 16 HR, 48 RBI, 17 SB, 164 wRC+
Alex McKenna – After struggling with some injuries, McKenna has put together a great 2021. McKenna started the year in Asheville and slashed .305/.389/.616 with 13 HR earning a promotion to AA. He has a double and HR in 6 games but suffered an injury that has sidelined him a bit, but a good season so far for him.
2021 Stats: 47 G, .296 BA/.382 OBP/.603 SLG, 9 2B, 2 3B, 14 HR, 32 RBI, 7SB, 161 wRC+
Honorable Mention: Norel Gonzalez, Bryan De La Cruz, Jose Siri
STARTING PITCHER
Jonathan Bermudez – Bermudez was a 23rd round pick in 2018 and is showing his worth this season. While he has a 3.68 ERA, he has a 2.27 FIP and an insane 13 BB/85 K in 58.2 IP. He leads the Astros system in strikeouts (85) and has a 29.4 K-BB%. He talked about his mindset with me here.
2021 Stats: 3-4, 3.68 ERA, 2.27 FIP, 58.2 IP, 54 H, 24 ER, 13 BB, 85 K, 13.0 K/9
Jaime Melendez – Melendez came out of nowhere this year to put up some gaudy numbers with Fayetteville posting a 0.49 ERA with 5 BB/38 K in 18.1 innings. He has since been promoted to High-A where he has 18 K in 15.1 innings. Overall he has a 29.6 K-BB%.
2021 Stats: 4-3, 1.87 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 33.2 IP, 19 H, 7 ER, 16 BB, 56 K, 15.0 K/9
J.P. France – France has a 3.54 ERA this year, but a 3.34 FIP. The most impressive number is his strikeouts though. He has 84 K in just 56 innings, good for 13.5 K/9 and a 34.3 K%. He started the year in AA and promoted to AAA where he has a 2.42 ERA. You can read my interview with J.P. here.
2021 Stats: 5-2, 3.54 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 56.0 IP, 44 H, 22 ER, 32 BB, 84 K, 13.5 K/9
RELIEF PITCHER
Nick Hernandez – Hernandez was drafted by the Astros in 2016 and after some injuries, he’s back and putting together a good year in 2021 posting a 2.15 ERA with 41 K in 29.1 innings.
2021 Stats: 19 G, 2.15 ERA, 3 SV, 29.1 IP, 19 H, 7 ER, 11 BB, 41 K, 12.6 K/9
Felipe Tejada – Tejada has had a good year in relief striking out 45 in 31 innings this season between A+ and AA. He is looking like an actual bullpen prospect.
2021 Stats: 20 G, 3.19 ERA, 31.0 IP, 28 H, 11 ER, 11 BB, 45 K, 13.1 K/9
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: Tammy Tucker**
