Astros 2021 MiLB All-Star Team
Just having minor league baseball back this year was awesome, but in the Astros system there were some really good performances. Here are the top performers at each position for the Astros 2021 MiLB All-Star Team. See the results below.
CATCHER
Luke Berryhill – Berryhill, originally drafted by the Reds and traded to the Astros last off-season, put up a big season. He started the year in Low-A and crushed slashing .305/.429/.636 with 10 HR, 32 RBI in 35 games. He was promoted to High-A where he hit .277 with 5 HR, 19 RBI in 29 games earning another promotion to Double-A where he hit .313 in 9 games. Overall, Berryhill had a .974 OPS and 159 wRC+. Read more on him here.
2021 Stats: 73 G, .295 BA/.413 OBP/.561 SLG, 20 2B, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 159 wRC+
Honorable Mention: Scott Manea
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 then got promoted to Double-A where he put up a .796 OPS with 8 2B, 7 HR in 39 games. Overall he had a .881 OPS with a 131 wRC+ in 80 games.
2021 Stats: 80 G, .293 BA/.355 OBP/.527 SLG, 15 2B, 2 3B, 17 HR, 57 RBI, 131 wRC+
Honorable Mention: J.J. Matijevic
SECOND BASE
Enmanuel Valdez – Valdez had a mini breakout season in 2021. He started the year in High-A and hit .254 but had 21 HR and 72 RBI in 75 games. He was promoted to Double-A and hit .256 with a .880 OPS and another 5 HR. Overall he had 26 HR, 90 RBI this season which led the Astros minor league system.
2021 Stats: 98 G, .255 BA/.326 OBP/.534 SLG, 22 2B, 26 HR, 90 RBI, 122 wRC+
Honorable Mention: C.J. Hinojosa
THIRD BASE
Joe Perez – Perez was drafted by the Astros in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft. He started in Low-A and had a 149 wRC+ before a promotion to High A where he had a 8 HR, 27 RBI and a 195 wRC+ in 25 games. He was then promoted to Double-A where he hit .267 with 19 2B, 8 HR in 69 games.
2021 Stats: 106 G, .291 BA/.354 OBP/.495 SLG, 34 2B, 18 HR, 61 RBI, 125 wRC+
SHORTSTOP
Shay Whitcomb – Whitcomb was a 5th round pick by the Astros in 2020 and had a breakout 2021 season. He started the year in Low-A and slashed .282/.369/.429 in 41 games earning a promotion to High-A. There his numbers got even better hitting .300 with a .959 OPS. He finished the season with 23 HR and 30 SB overall.
2021 Stats: 99 G, .293 BA/.363 OBP/.530 SLG, 25 2B, 23 HR, 78 RBI, 30 SB, 137 wRC+
Honorable Mention: J.C. Correa
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 in AAA. He hit .343 with a 1.006 OPS and 16 HR in 68 games before earning a promotion to the Astros. You can read my interview with him here.
2021 Stats: 68 G, .343 BA/.408 OBP/.598 SLG, 17 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 51 RBI, 10 SB, 147 wRC+
Justin Dirden – Dirden was another undrafted free agent following the 2020 draft but put together a great season slashing .274/.397/.537 with 15 HR in 83 games. The outfielder showed a nice combination of power and patience with a 14.9 BB% and a .263 ISO. Overall. he had a 149 wRC+ in 83 games.
2021 Stats: 83 G, .274 BA/.397 OBP/.537 SLG, 18 2B, 6 3B, 15 HR, 58 RBI, 10 SB, 149 wRC+
Jose Siri – Siri put together the best season of his career slashing .318/.369/.552 in 94 games. He also showed power and speed with the 29 2B, 16 HR and 24 SB. Jose was eventually called up to the Astros where he showed off some of his talent crushing a few homers and landing on the Astros ALDS roster.
2021 Stats: 94 G, .318 BA/.369 OBP/.552 SLG, 29 2B, 4 3B, 16 HR, 72 RBI, 24 SB, 125 wRC+
Honorable Mention: Marty Costes, Corey Julks
STARTING PITCHER
Jonathan Bermudez – Bermudez was a 23rd round pick by the Astros in 2018. He started the season in Double-A and struck out 102 in 78.2 innings while posting a 3.36 ERA. The lefty was then promoted to AAA where he got even better posting a 3.06 ERA with 40 K in 32.1 innings. Overall on the season he 3.24 ERA with 146 K in 111 innings. He finished the season with a 3.15 FIP, 31.9 K% and 24.5 K-BB%. Read more on him here.
2021 Stats: 20 G, 3.24 ERA, 3.15 FIP, 111.0 IP, 93 H, 40 ER, 34 BB, 146 K, 11.8 K/9
J.P. France – France had a breakout season as he led the Astros system in innings and strikeouts. The 14th round pick from 2018 started the year in Double-A and had a 4.28 ERA with 50 K in 33.2 innings. He earned a promotion to AAA where his numbers got even better striking out 107 in 80.1 innings with a 3.59 ERA. Overall this year had a 3.79 ERA and 157 K in 114 innings. That was good for 12.4 K/9 and a 33.2 K%. Check out my interview with him here.
2021 Stats: 25 G, 3.79 ERA, 114.0 IP, 95 H, 48 ER, 52 BB, 157 K, 12.4 K/9
Hunter Brown – Brown was drafted by the Astros in the 5th round in 2019. In 2021, he experienced his best season as a pro. He started the year in Double-A and 4.20 ERA while striking out 76 in 49.1 innings. He was promoted to Triple-A where he had a 3.88 ERA with 55 K in 51 innings. The 22 year old racked up 131 strikeouts total for the season. He had a 4.04 ERA overall, but a 3.33 ERA over his final 17 games between AA and AAA. Read more on him here.
2021 Stats: 24 G, 4.04 ERA, 100.1 IP, 92 H, 45 ER, 50 BB, 131 K, 11.8 K/9
Misael Tamarez – Tamarez had a breakout 2021 season pitching between Low-A and High-A. He started in Low-A and had a 3.98 ERA with 64 K in 43 innings. He got promoted to High-A and the numbers got even better posting a 3.48 ERA with 39 K in 33.2 innings. He finished strong with a 2.51 ERA and 65 K in 46.2 innings over his last 10 outings. Overall, the 21 year old had 12.1 K/9 and a 31.7 K% in 76.2 innings.
2021 Stats: 19 G, 3.76 ERA, 76.2 IP, 58 H, 32 ER, 38 BB, 103 K, 12.1 K/9
Honorable Mention: Jimmy Endersby
RELIEF PITCHER
Ronel Blanco – Blanco had his best season as a pro as the primary closer for the Skeeters this year. He finished with a 3.40 ERA picking up 2 saves and striking out 57 in 45 innings. He held batters to just a .157 BAA.
2021 Stats: 42 G, 3.40 ERA, 22 SV, 45.0 IP, 29 H, 17 ER, 16 BB, 57 K, 11.4 K/9
Nick Hernandez – Hernandez was drafted by the Astros in 2016 and put together a great season with a 1.61 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A and striking out 69 in 51 innings. He also held hitters to just a .145 BAA.
2021 Stats: 33 G, 1.61 ERA, 6 SV, 56.0 IP, 28 H, 10 ER, 31 BB, 69 K, 11.1 K/9
Jonathan Sprinkle – Sprinkle was an undrafted free agent signed in 2020 but had a phenomenal first pro season striking out 79 in just 44 innings. He was pretty much unhittable allowing just a .154 BAA.
2021 Stats: 31 G, 3.48 ERA, 44.0 IP, 24 H, 17 ER, 27 BB, 79 K, 16.2 K/9
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**Photo Credit: Joe Dwyer/Tammy Tucker**
