Baseball America released its 2023 top-100 prospect ranking Wednesday, slating two Houston Astros — Hunter Brown and Yainer Díaz — at No. 28 and No. 82.
Brown was the highest-ranked Astros farmhand but won’t be on the list for long, as the right-handed pitcher will graduate from prospect status early in the 2023 Major League Baseball season. The outlet graded Brown’s fastball at 70, his curveball at 55, his slider at 55, his change up at 45 and his control at 50. While likely a starting pitcher in the near future, Brown still possesses “high-octane stuff” to continue in a high-leverage relief role.
There’s no guarantee Díaz will start the season on the 26-man roster, but the catcher is battling for a dugout seat with fellow top-10 Astros prospect Korey Lee. Baseball America questioned Díaz’s future at catcher but noted his bat is good enough to deploy him at other positions. The outlet graded Díaz’s hit tool at 50, his power at 60, his run at 30, his field at 50 and his arm at 60.
Best tools in the #Astros system via Baseball America. pic.twitter.com/gVTyvn0MoN
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) January 18, 2023
Quick Hits
- Forrest Whitley was the fifth high school pitching prospect since 2006 to reach Double-A in the season following his draft year. The right-handed hurler threw to former Double-A Corpus Christi bullpen catcher and assistant coach Edgar Martinez on Tuesday.
- Martinez is in discussion with other organizations regarding position openings, but he plans to return to college in pursuit of a bachelors in kinesiology.
- Former Astros prospect Yeremi Cabellos hasn’t heard from organizations, since he elected free agency in November. The lefty made two appearances at the Florida Complex League in the summer, rehabbing his way back from Tommy John surgery. Cabellos is touching 95-96 mph on his fastball.
