Keith Law of The Athletic released his top-20 Houston Astros prospect ranking Saturday. Outfielders dominated Law’s list, while four 2022 draftees — Drew Gilbert, Jacob Melton, Ryan Clifford and Trey Dombroski — ranked among the best in the organization.
Outfielder and second baseman Pedro León ranked lower compared to other evaluators. Scrapping shortstop from his versatility this season, the 2021 international signee took innings at second base for Triple-A Sugar Land but appeared less fluid at the position. León committed four errors in 168 innings, marking the most at second base for the Space Cowboys.
Utility players Will Wagner and Luis Santana received praise from Law, too. While he listed Wagner as an outfielder, the Astros see a future at third base for Wagner, after he recorded top velocity on his throws across the diamond. For Santana, he found a larger role down the stretch in High-A last year with his ability to play three infield positions and the outfield.
Dominican Summer League outfielder Luis Baez cracked the list at No. 20, after slashing.305/.351/.552 with 19 doubles and nine home runs in 58 games. Baez and Kenni Gomez took rookie ball by storm, as both outfielders posted an OPS better than .900 in their first professional seasons.
The Athletic’s Top-20 Astros Prospects:
- RHP Hunter Brown
- C/1B Yainer Díaz
- OF Drew Gilbert
- OF Colin Barber
- OF Jacob Melton
- C Korey Lee
- RHP Forrest Whitley
- OF/2B Pedro León
- OF Justin Dirden
- OF Logan Cerny
- UTIL Will Wagner
- RHP Miguel Ullola
- 1B/3B Joe Perez
- UTIL Luis Santana
- RHP Spencer Arrighetti
- OF Zach Daniels
- OF Ryan Clifford
- RHP Misael Tamarez
- LHP Trey Dombroski
- OF Luis Baez
Quick Hits
- Right-handed pitcher José Fleury signed with MDR Sports Management. He appeared in 10 games in the Dominican Summer League, sporting a 1.42 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 38 innings and making it stateside last year.
- Francys Romero reported Friday the Astros spent the entirety of their bonus pool for the current international signing period.
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