Who is the Astros MiLB pitcher of the year?
With the season now over, we can start to look at the overall performances of the prospects. There were some really good pitching performances this year so to make it a little more fun, I will list the performances and give the reader the opportunity to vote. Below are the best pitching numbers in the Astros system for 2021. Be sure to VOTE!
Jonathan Bermudez
Bermudez, a 23rd round pick in the 2018 draft. put together a dominant season in 2021. 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: 25 G, 3.24 ERA, 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 he went 9-3 with 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 showed off his power stuff racking 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
Jimmy Endersby
Endersby was signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2020 and put up a solid year in his first full season in the minors. He started the year in High-A and had a 4.85 ERA (3.50 FIP) but had 43 K in 29.2 innings. He got promoted to Double-A and posted a 3.48 ERA with 67 K in 67.1 innings. He finished the season with 110 K in 97 innings, giving him the 6th most strikeouts in the Astros system in 2021.
2021 Stats: 24 G, 3.90 ERA, 97.0 IP, 85 H, 42 ER, 53 BB, 110 K, 10.2 K/9
**Photo Credit: Ken Valliere/Josh Hill/Tammy Tucker**
