The Astros took a long time to get going in this draft. They were the last team to select a player; their first was the 111th player selected. They were without first and second round picks thanks to the free-agent signings of Carlos Lee and Woody Williams. Their first round selection was forfeited to the Texas Rangers for Lee. They took RHP Blake Beavan. The San Diego Padres received the Astros second round pick as compensation for Williams and took 2B Eric Sogard. Prior to the draft the Astros added two players. Chris Frye was added as a 5th year senior free agent from NAIA power LSU-Shreveport about a week and a half before the draft. He hit .325 with 16 doubles, 9 triples, and 7 homers. He stole 30 bases and was named first-team All- Conference. He should be assigned to Tri-City. The Astros also signed three 2006 DFE candidates, Andy Launier, Axel Gonzalez, and Rafeal Parks. Launier hit .288 with 11 doubles and 8 homers for Sierra Junior College. Gonzalez hit .353 with 14 doubles and 6 homers at Wabash Valley Junior College. Parks attended Georgia Military Junior College. Oddly they have no baseball program. We are not sure why he went there, but the Astros still wanted him to play baseball and signed him. All three will likely be assigned to Greeneville. They are the Astros last DFE candidates to sign.
As has been discussed in the Bus Ride Discussion Forum last year’s draft was the last that DFE’s are allowed thanks to the agreements in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. As such the approach to this draft was a little different in the later rounds with teams choosing players with intent to sign them rather than encouraging them to go the junior college, JUCO, route and follow their progress. We’ll see how that plays out with signing later round JUCO and high school draftees. The Astros now have until just August 15 to sign players or lose all rights to them.Read More