Now that we are more than two months into the season, I figured it would be a good time to look at some prospects that are flying under the radar. Below are a few prospects that I believe are underrated. Check it out!
John Garcia
Garcia was a 19th round pick by the Astros in 2022 out of Grambling State University after hitting .406 his final year in college. He struggled some in 2023 but finished the season strong. That strong finished has carried over to 2024. In 43 games for Asheville, the 23-year-old catcher is hitting .291 with 12 doubles, 5 homers, 23 runs batted in and a .845 OPS. In his minor league career he has caught 24% of base stealers and according to the player development account, he is one of the hardest throwing catchers in minor league baseball.
Ethan Pecko
Pecko was drafted last year, and selected at just 20-years-old after just 59.2 innings at Towson. I wrote a piece about how the Astros swung for upside with the selection of Pecko last season. So far in 2024, he is proving them right. The right-hander has appeared in 12 games and has a 2.23 ERA with 57 K in 42.2 innings. He has also held batters to just a .185 BAA. But since May 1st, he has been even better posting a 0.64 ERA over 28 innings allowing just 12 hits, a ridiculous .129 BAA. He is likely due a promotion to High-A.
Zach Cole
Cole is a toolsy outfielder who has an elite combination of speed and pop at the plate. The 10th round pick from 2022 had a big year last season where he posted a .869 OPS with 20 doubles, 8 triples, 19 homers and 37 stolen bases. He has the speed to easily roam center field and projects to stay there. While he has some swing and miss, when he connects he can do damage. He battled an early injury but so far in Double-A he is hitting .298 through 16 games. His status will continue to rise as he performs in Double-A.
Jose Guedez
Guedez is another under the radar international signing for the Astros. Despite not being a huge bonus type pitcher, he has performed at every level. The 22-year-old runs the fastball up to the mid-90s and can rack up strikeouts with a chanegup and slider. So far this season, in a hitter-friendly environment, the right-hander has 53 K in 47.1 innings with a 2.85 ERA. He will probably get a promotion to Double-A soon and if the performance continues, he won’t be overlooked.
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