Ralph Henriquez

[VirtualBob]

I mentioned this in passing on another thread, but I expect it has gotten lost. 

There was a recent reference here to "the Henriquez trade", implying an actual fact.  I seem to recall sometime in the last month some speculation about a trade (to the Mets maybe?) involving a "Houston catching prospect" being Henriquez.  I have scoured all the "usual suspects" when it comes to minor league transaction news, and also searched this discussion forum, but have been unable to come up with any confirmation.

Does anyone actually *know* whether (and to whom and for whom) Ralphie has been traded?

Thanks.

[ranger0251]

josh appel   24yo Lhp pitched in Brooklyn last year for the Mets

[VirtualBob]

josh appel   24yo Lhp pitched in Brooklyn last year for the Mets

Thanks.  Doesn't look like very much calue in return if all the stros got was a 24yo short season pitcher.  I guess that says something pretty loudly about Ralphie.

[Duman]

I got confirmation from a source that Ralphie was indeed traded but haven't been able to confirm the other side of the trade.  Henriquez for Appell was reported by a paper linked in the original thread.

I would assume since I got the confirmation on the Raphie side, the other side is right too.

[VirtualBob]

I got confirmation from a source that Ralphie was indeed traded but haven't been able to confirm the other side of the trade.  Henriquez for Appell was reported by a paper linked in the original thread.

That's the thread I was looking for ... It did not show up in my searches.  Oh well.  Thanks for posting.

[ranger0251]

I do not think it says about Ralphies talent, but the talent evaluators of the Astros. A second and first round pick on young catchers who between the 2 of them only Sapp has had a flash of talent. Thank God they revamped the scouting department. Lets just hope Sapp repeating Lexington kickstarts his talent.

[farmstros]

Brad Ausmus will like this... According to the Baseball Cube, Appell is a Penn(Ivy League) guy.

[Duman]

I do not think it says about Ralphies talent, but the talent evaluators of the Astros. A second and first round pick on young catchers who between the 2 of them only Sapp has had a flash of talent. Thank God they revamped the scouting department. Lets just hope Sapp repeating Lexington kickstarts his talent.

I am not sure if it is scouting or development of hitters.  Very few hitters have come out of the Astros system as of late.  Pence being a hitter that most say shouldn't be able to do what he is doing, so I don't think you can give development people praise for that.  Let's see how the new folks do and that might help us clue in if it is a scouting or a development thing.  That debate is what makes watching prospects fun and frustrating at the same time.

[BUWebguy]

The most recent Ask BA answers a question on the deal (bottom of the page):
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/265478.html

[Froback]

WOW!  Talk about looking for addition by subtraction.  They got a virtual nothing for a 2nd round pick.  Granted he might have been nothing himself in the end, but still...

[Duman]

This is the most significant part to me:

Astros say Ralph Jr. was unwilling to make adjustments without his dad signing off on them.

[Froback]

This is the most significant part to me:

I totally agree.  Which would explain why he has (based on his draft spot) been such a bust so far.

But still if you are trading for a guy who went undrafted but was signed in the same year as the guy you are giving up who was drafted in the 2nd round... That says alot, especially when you are just 3 seasons removed from when you drafted him.

Given he was taken out of HS, that isn't really THAT long.  He is still around 21, and catchers often take longer to develop than any other position... I think it says a TON about what the organization thought of him, beyond baseball skills, IMO.

[Duman]

According to this site, Raphie had the WORST OPS in the Sally League last year.  OUCH.