Just like the stock market, prospects’ stock will go up and down throughout the season. Below are a few players hitter who have seen their stock rise. Here is the Astros Prospect Stock Report 2024: Volume 1.
⇑ Stock Up ⇑
Hitter – Jeron Williams
Williams was the Astros 9th round pick last year after a really good career at Toledo, including a junior season which saw him hit .403 with 49 stolen bases. The speedy Williams played in 18 games last year following the draft hitting .211. He was assigned to Asheville this season and has been really good. Through 26 games, he is hitting .340 with 9 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers and 10 stolen bases. He also has only struck out 18 times. He has quickly made his name known and is deserving of top 30 status come mid-season.
2024 Stats: 26 G, .340 BA/.394 OBP/.598 SLG, 9 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 10 SB
Hitter – Shay Whitcomb
Despite having a monster year in 2023, in which he led all of minor league baseball in homers, Whitcomb has still improved his stock this season. He improved his walk rate from 6.1% to 11.8% this season. He has also cut down his strikeouts from 31.1% last year to just 21.8% this year. He has been driving the ball to all fields while playing all over the infield. So far this year, he has 10 doubles, 2 triples, 8 homers and has driven in 36 runs. He has a chance to make his debut this year, maybe in a role similar to Kessinger last season.
2024 Stats: 39 G, .306 BA/.385 OBP/.565 SLG, 10 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 36 RBI, 5 SB
Pitcher – Jake Bloss
Bloss was drafted by the Astros in the third round of last year’s draft. He played three years at Lafayette before transferring to Georgetown to pursue his Master’s Degree. The right-hander made huge strides that year at Georgetown seeing his fastball up to 97 MPH. After the draft, he had a 2.76 ERA with 20 K in 16.1 innings. This year he has started out at Asheville and posted a 2.08 ERA with 25 K in 17.1 innings, including hitting 98 MPH. He was promoted to Double-A where he has a 1.06 ERA with 14 K in 17 innings. He was quickly moved up to one of the top pitching prospects in the system.
2024 Stats: 7 G, 1.57 ERA, 34.1 IP, 17 H, 6 ER, 11 BB, 39 K, 10.2 K/9
Pitcher – James Hicks
Hicks was drafted by the Astros in the 13th round out of the University of South Carolina after posting a 3.48 ERA in 67.1 innings. Following the draft, he spent time in the Florida Complex League and struck out 6 over 5.2 innings with a 1.59 ERA. This year he started off in Fayetteville and had a 0.50 ERA with 25 K in 18 innings. He earned a quick promotion to Asheville where he has continued to pitched well. In High-A he has a 1.93 ERA with 1 BB/16 K in 14 innings.
2024 Stats: 7 G, 1.13 ERA, 32.0 IP, 20 H, 4 ER, 8 BB, 41 K, 11.5 K/9
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