MLB Pipeline released its top-30 Houston Astros prospect ranking Monday, ranking top-100 prospect Hunter Brown No. 1 in the system. Following Brown are Yainer Díaz, Drew Gilbert, Jacob Melton and Colin Barber, as five left-handed hitting outfielders broke into the top 10.
Colton Gordon received his highest ranking of the major outlets. The lefty made his Grapefruit League debut Saturday against the Boston Red Sox, allowing one run to cross in an inning of work. Gordon struck out one batter to the two hits and one hit batsman he issued. Gordon joined Team Israel on Monday in preparation for the World Baseball Classic. Following one Major League outing in spring training, he will start either the second of the third game for Team Israel.
Right-handed pitcher Jose Fleury found his name at No. 29, before the start of the 2023 season. In the Dominican Summer League, Fleury struck out 60 batters over 38 innings, posting a 1.42 ERA in his first professional season. The 20 year old impressed in the Florida Instruction League last fall, receiving an invite to minor-league spring training in Florida.
Fleury’s best pitch is hit 60-grade changeup — which sits in the low 80s. Along with Fleury, two other Astros pitching prospects — Jose Guedez and Amilcar Chirinos — made it stateside for minor-league spring training this year. The trio all pitched in the instructional league in 2022.
MLB Pipeline’s Top-30 Astros Prospects:
- RHP Hunter Brown
- C/1B Yainer Díaz
- OF Drew Gilbert
- OF Jacob Melton
- OF Colin Barber
- OF Ryan Clifford
- C Korey Lee
- OF/2B Pedro León
- OF Justin Dirden
- LHP Colton Gordon
- RHP Spencer Arrighetti
- RHP Miguel Ullola
- RHP Misael Tamarez
- INF Will Wagner
- RHP Jaime Melendez
- 3B/OF Joe Perez
- RHP Andrew Taylor
- OF/1B/2B Joey Loperfido
- OF Kenni Gomez
- OF Kenedy Corona
- RHP Forrest Whitley
- OF Logan Cerny
- OF Luis Baez
- OF Quincy Hamilton
- RHP Shawn Dubin
- RHP Edinson Batista
- RHP Michael Knorr
- SS Camilo Diaz
- RHP Jose Fleury
- OF/3B Corey Julks
Best prospect tools in the Astros system, according to MLB Pipeline: pic.twitter.com/4Qwj4PDRiE
— Kenny Van Doren (@thevandalorian) March 6, 2023
Non-Top-30 Astros Prospects to Watch
Baseball America named 10 Astros prospects to watch this season beyond those ranked in the top 30. The list included five right-handed pitchers: Jayden Murray, Jimmy Endersby, Alimber Santa, Edinson Batista and Alex Santos. Two left-handed pitchers — Parker Mushinski and Julio Robaina — also broke into the list. Only three positions players were listed: first baseman and outfielder J.J. Matijevic, outfielder and third baseman Tyler Whitaker and outfielder Luis Baez.
Astros Prospect Villega Voluntarily Retires
Astros right-handed pitching prospect Elvin Villega voluntarily retired. The 20 year old made 10 appearances over the last two seasons, striking out 21 batters in 17.1 innings.
Be sure to subscribe to receive weekly updates on the Astros minor league system. Also be sure to follow on Twitter, @AstrosFuture, and like on Facebook, facebook.com/AstrosFuture.
