Over the last decade or more, the Astros haven’t used many draft picks on high school infielders. In fact, the last high school shortstop the Astros selected in the draft, and signed, was Carlos Correa in 2012. In the 2023 draft, the Astros selected shortstop Chase Jaworsky out of Rock Canyon High School in Littleton, Colorado. Jaworsky signed for well over slot at $847,500.
Jaworsky is unlike any prospect we have seen in the system in quite a while. With analytics taking over and people falling in love with exit velocity, Jaworsky doesn’t really fit that mold. Not to say he doesn’t have pop, but he plays the game with grit and uses his speed as a way to disrupt the game for the other team.
“I would say that’s my X-Factor [speed], so I utilize that as much as possible,” Jaworsky said.
He has used that “X-Factor” on the basepaths too totaling 25 stolen bases in 63 games, which is second in the Astros system.
Jaworsky has done a good job this season of being patient, one thing that isn’t always the easiest for young hitters, especially ones that want to come in and prove themselves. He has drawn walks in almost 10% of his plate appearances, which is tied for first on the team for hitters with at least 250 plate appearances.
“Just kind of getting your pitch, being really selective at the plate,” Jaworsky said. “Because if you don’t get your pitch and you can’t put your best swing on it and if you can’t put your best swing on it, odds aren’t in your favor.”
Fortunately for the coaches in the Astros system, this wasn’t something that had to coach Jaworsky to do. Even in high school he focused on pitch selection, being selective and finding ways to get on base.
“So I’d say that’s one of my main things, not striking out,” Jaworsky said. “Obviously nobody really likes to strike out but with pitch selection you can him more home runs if you get pitches right down the middle. Can’t really do a whole lot with the other stuff.”
For a young hitter, Jaworsky has done a really good job of taking care of some of the basics. He has limited the strikeouts, drawn walks and leads the team in hit by pitches. While that maybe isn’t something to brag about, he just finds ways to get on base. He has shown a discipline that sometimes we don’t see from young hitters.
“If I can get on base and I can steal second and third, got a runner on third in scoring position,” Jaworsky said. “So just get on base and everything else will take care of itself.”
The speed is a huge benefit on offense, but it also helps him on defense. As a shortstop, he is expected to have plus range and his speed helps a lot with that.
“It [speed] helps with reaction time and you can get to balls that people usually wouldn’t get to,” Jaworsky said. “And just all around, you can command the field a lot better.”
Consistency and improvement will be important for Jaworsky moving forward. From April to May, he improved on his power numbers, driving in more runs and being more successful in steals.
“I’d say just swinging at the right pitches and it goes back to the pitch selection stuff,” Jaworsky said. “It’s obviously the first year where I’m seeing guys throwing 95-96 [MPH] and crazy breaking stuff every single day. So just really have to focus in keying in on those good pitches.”
While the season is only two months old at this point, Jaworsky has seen some improvements in himself over the first 60+ games of the year.
“I’d say my swing mechanics and being focused,” Jaworsky said. “Taking every rep 100% in practice, being THAT guy.”
Jaworsky is off to a good start in his first professional season. From playing against high schoolers a year ago, to now facing older and advanced pitching, he has taken well to the challenge and with his love for the game and mindset, should continue to improve as the season goes on.
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