Check out the top performers at each position so far during the 2024 season. I will be choosing Astros prospects who played the majority of their games at the given position. See the results below!
CATCHER
John Garcia – Garcia, the Astros 19th round pick in 2022, put together a really strong season in 2024. The 23-year-old hit .293 with 21 doubles, 10 home runs, 9 stolen bases and a .852 OPS in 77 games in High-A. He proved that he is a legit prospects to watch next season.
2024 Stats: 77 G, .293 BA/.372 OBP/.480 SLG, 21 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 39 RBI, 9 SB, 143 wRC+
FIRST BASE
Zach Dezenzo – Dezenzo was hurt early on and only played 52 minor league games, but made the most of it. The 24-year-old hit .300 with 17 doubles, 7 home runs, 31 runs batted in and .877 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A. He also earned a call-up to the Astros where he hit .242 in 19 games.
2024 Stats: 52 G, .300 BA/.385 OBP/.492 SLG, 17 2B, 7 HR, 31 RBI, 5 SB, 131 wRC+
SECOND BASE
Shay Whitcomb – Shay played all over the infield this season, with most of the time at third and shortstop, but with this being the All-Star team, I wanted to find a way to get the best hitters on the squad. In 108 games in Triple-A, Whitcomb hit .293 with 25 home runs, 91 runs batted in and 26 stolen bases. He should get a good chance at a roster spot next season.
2024 Stats: 108 G, .293 BA/.378 OBP/.530 SLG, 19 2B, 2 3B, 25 HR, 91 RBI, 26 SB, 123 wRC+
THIRD BASE
Austin Deming – Deming signed for just $7,500 in 2023, but has clearly outperformed his draft status. The 24-year-old hit .264 in High-A before a promotion to Double-A where he had a .857 OPS to finish off the year. Overall, he hit .262 with 24 doubles, 19 home runs and 63 runs batted in across 113 games in 2024.
2024 Stats: 113 G, .262 BA/.348 OBP/.464 SLG, 24 2B, 19 HR, 63 RBI, 13 SB, 131 wRC+
SHORTSTOP
Brice Matthews – The 2023 first-round pick put together a strong season making his way up to Triple-A. Despite an early back injury, Matthews hit .265 with 15 home runs, 44 runs batted in, 32 stolen bases and a .865 OPS in 79 games. This included 14 games in Triple-A and his first Triple-A home run in the Championship game.
2024 Stats: 79 G, .265 BA/.384 OBP/.481 SLG, 15 2B, 3B, 15 HR, 44 RBI, 32 SB, 142 wRC+
OUTFIELD
Pedro Leon – Leon has been in the Astros system for a while now, but had a strong 2024 season helping Sugar Land to a Triple-A Championship. In 118 games in Triple-A, Leon hit .299 with 24 home runs, 90 runs batted in and 29 stolen bases. He also had a few at-bats at the major league level too.
2024 Stats: 118 G, .299 BA/.372 OBP/.514 SLG, 25 2B, 2 3B, 24 HR, 90 RBI, 29 SB, 119 wRC+
Luis Baez – Baez was a huge signing for the Astros a few years ago and this year was his first breakout season. At 20-years-old he made it up to Double-A and had a strong season hitting .258 with 25 doubles, 21 home runs and 76 runs batted in over 106 games. He figures to make a push for Triple-A next season.
2024 Stats: 106 G, .258 BA/.301 OBP/.462 SLG, 25 2B, 21 HR, 76 RBI, 11 SB, 112 wRC+
Kenni Gomez – Gomez was another international signing for the Astros that has proven to be a nice get. The 19-year-old started the year in Single-A and finished the season in High-A. In 107 games, he hit .267 with 25 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He had a .737 OPS overall.
2024 Stats: 60 G, .267 BA/.333 OBP/.403 SLG, 25 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 20 SB, 116 wRC+
PITCHERS
Ryan Gusto – Gusto put together the best season of his career to this point. He set the Sugar Land record with 141 strikeouts while posting a 3.70 ERA. He was even better from June to the end of the season posting a 2.08 ERA with 98 K in 108 innings for Triple-A Sugar Land.
2024 Stats: 29 G, 3.70 ERA, 148.1 IP, 135 H, 61 ER, 53 BB, 141 K, 8.6 K/9
A.J. Blubaugh – Blubaugh made one start in Double-A this year before earning a promotion to Triple-A and he never looked back. He was a steady starter for the Triple-A champs posting a 3.71 ERA with 133 strikeouts in 128.2 innings this season. He should get a chance to pitch in Houston in 2025.
2024 Stats: 28 G, 3.71 ERA, 128.2 IP, 119 H, 51 ER, 51 BB, 133 K, 9.3 K/9
Miguel Ullola – Ullola is one of the higher potential pitching prospects in the system, and he showed that this season. The right-hander led the Astros systems in strikeouts racking up 171 in just 130.1 innings, including a couple starts in Triple-A. While the ERA and walks were a bit high, he was nearly unhittable allowing just a .162 BAA.
2024 Stats: 28 G, 4.28 ERA, 130.1 IP, 74 H, 62 ER, 77 BB, 171 K, 11.8 K/9
Joey Mancini – Mancini kind of flew under the radar but was one of the best pitchers in the system. He started the year in High-A and posted a 2.73 ERA earning a promotion to Double-A. For the Hooks, the right-hander had a 1.88 ERA giving him a 2.12 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 106.1 innings overall.
2024 Stats: 27 G, 2.12 ERA, 106.1 IP, 73 H, 25 ER, 44 BB, 107 K, .194 BAA
Ethan Pecko – Pecko, the Astros 6th round pick in 2023, was named the Astros pitcher of the year. The right-hander, who just turned 22-years-old, struck out 125 batters in 96 innings while posting a 3.47 ERA. He finished strong too, with a 2.36 ERA and 28 K in 26.2 innings in Double-A.
2024 Stats: 26 G, 3.47 ERA, 96.0 IP, 79 H, 37 ER, 37 BB, 125 K, 11.7 K/9
James Hicks – Hicks was another 2023 draft pick who had a strong 2024 season. The right-hander posted a 3.82 ERA and struck out 115 batters over 106 innings. While just his first full season, he made it up to Double-A and posted one of the better strikeout to walks ratios in the system with 3.97 strikeouts per walk.
2024 Stats: 25 G, 3.82 ERA, 106.0 IP, 115 H, 45 ER, 29 BB, 115 K, 9.8 K/9
Colton Gordon – Gordon followed up a strong 2023 season with an improvement in 2024. The left-hander pitched the full season in Triple-A racking up 124 strikeouts in 123.1 innings with a 3.94 ERA. The 25-year-old was the third of the three headed monster with Gusto and Blubaugh.
2024 Stats: 25 G, 3.94 ERA, 123.1 IP, 112 H, 54 ER, 39 BB, 124 K, 9.0 K/9
Jackson Nezuh – Nezuh was the Astros 14th round pick in 2023 but it’s looking like an absolute steal. The right-hander pitched across two levels this year and racked up 151 strikeouts over 120.1 innings with a 3.89 ERA. This included a 3.05 ERA over his final 21 outings.
2024 Stats: 27 G, 3.89 ERA, 120.1 IP, 95 H, 52 ER, 48 BB, 151 K, 11.3 K/9
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