Spring will be here very soon, and like last year, I thought I would take a stab at predicting who will end up where when the national anthem sounds for real. I depend completely on secondary sources for this … no insider information. This post deals with middle infielders.
As far as I can tell, there are 24 players under Astros control that can be seen primarily as middle infielders. There were a few guys who floated between 3B and 2B/SS. I included Andrew Simunic and Jose Solano here (and also Ruben Sosa, who played some OF), but Chan Moon and John Hinson under corner infielders. There are probably 15-18 slots on full season clubs.
Lowrie and Altuve seem set for the big club, and I expect Marwin Gonzalez to fill the backup role again (unless his leg problems sideline him). Jake Elmore may also have a shot, but I expect (and hope) that Tyler Greene will be gone.
I expect to see Villar and Martinez at AAA, with Brandon Wikoff as the backup (assuming he is recovered from injury). Andrew Simunic could also be in the mix here, but at 27 he is no longer a prospect. This makes him vulnerable if the organization decides it needs to keep Elmore around, either in Houston or Oklahoma City.
AA is a bit more up in the air. I expect Jiovanni Mier to start at SS, but I am not sure about 2B. Last year Kike Hernandez was jumped past Delino DeShields, but with the numbers DDj put up last year, it may be hard not to start him in CC. I am going to give the nod to Hernandez, though, with Ben Orloff (or maybe Alex Todd) backing up and DDj starting the season in Lancaster.
Whoever loses out for starting 2B in Corpus will probably get that role in Lancaster, with Nolan Fontana joining him at SS. I see Alex Todd (or maybe Ben Orloff) as the backup here. In spite of some good AB’s last year, I do not see either of them as fast-track material. Ruben Sosa may also end up at Lancaster and get some PT at 2B.
Quad Cities could be interesting in terms of the “new future”. Austin Elkins did very well in his pro debut (though he tailed off in August), and I expect him to hold down 2B from opening day. And increasingly I am convinced that the Astros will “rush” Carlos Correa into full season ball to cover the other side of the middle infield. Joe Sciafani and/or Brian Blasik should fill out the roster.
age Name 2012 2013
28 JLowrie Houston Houston - SS
22 JAltuve Houston Houston – 2B
23 MGonzalez Houston Houston
25 JElmore Reno/AZ OKC?/Houston?/cut?
29 TGreene Houston cut
21 JVillar CC Oklahoma City – SS
27 JMartinez CC/OKC Oklahoma City – 2B
24 BWikoff CC Oklahoma City (?)
27 ASimunic CC/OKC OKC? CC? cut?
22 JMier Lancaster Corpus Christi - SS
21 EHernandez Lan/CC ?Corpus Christi – 2B
25 BOrloff Lan/CC CC? Lan?
20 DDeShields Lex/Lan ?Lancaster – 2B
22 NFontana Lexington Lancaster - SS
23 ATodd Lex/Lan Lan? CC?
22 RSosa Lexington Lan? QC? OF?
22 AElkins Tri-City Quad Cities – 2B
18 CCorrea GCL/Gre Quad Cities – SS (?)
23 JScafiani Tri-City Quad Cities
23 BBlasik Greeneville Quad Cities ?
19 JFernandez Lex/Gre SS
21 JSolano GCL SS
18 JSantana GCL SS
19 YSilfa GCL SS
