Fangraphs Astros Top 10 Prospects

[mrpink]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2014-top-10-prospects-houston-astros/

1. Carlos Correa
2. George Springer
3. Mark Appel
4. Jonathan Singleton
5. Mike Foltynewicz
6. Vincent Velasquez
7. Lance McCullers Jr.
8. Domingo Santana
9. Rio Ruiz
10. Josh Hader

Next Five
Michael Feliz, Max Stassi, Delino DeShields Jr., Andrew Thurman, Kyle Smith

[astrosfan76]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2014-top-10-prospects-houston-astros/

1. Carlos Correa
2. George Springer
3. Mark Appel
4. Jonathan Singleton
5. Mike Foltynewicz
6. Vincent Velasquez
7. Lance McCullers Jr.
8. Domingo Santana
9. Rio Ruiz
10. Josh Hader

Next Five
Michael Feliz, Max Stassi, Delino DeShields Jr., Andrew Thurman, Kyle Smith

Couple of observations:

1. Lots of talk about ground balls with the pitchers. This jives with a Chronicle article from yesterday talking about the organization's emphasis on grounders (see Qualls, Albers, Feldman), even affecting their analysis of amateurs.

The overall philosophy extends to the Astros' draft. The team has play-by-play data even at the college level that pinpoints exactly where the grounders are going, and the analytics department puts it to use.

"Obviously, we like guys that are getting hitters out no matter how they do it," amateur director scouting director Mike Elias said. "The most predictable way to get hitters out and continue to get them out is to swing and miss. … The second most reliable way of having resilient success from your amateur to your pro years is to generate a lot of ground balls."f

You see this on the list with recent draftees like Appel, McCullers, and Velasquez (though he and Feliz were brought in under the previous regime).

2. There's a good Q & A with Appel linked on the site. It's not a surprise that he's intelligent and well-spoken, but he has a really good grasp of his craft. I would like to see a mound visit between him and Castro.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/qa-mark-appel-houston-astros-pitching-prospect/
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Staying-grounded-keys-Astros-defensive-shift-5085103.php?t=7963723791d87bd7f9

[Nate in IA]

I'm just kind of stunned that we had half that list at the Quad Cities last year.  I think most of them will be promoted so we'll get a new batch to watch grow but it sure was fun watching that group play together this year.   I don't think it would be the worst thing for them to make it up to the big club in a couple years.

[Nate Colbert]

Singleton was named #1 first base prospect in all of baseball by MLBPipeline (that's Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo).

Upcoming of note, MLBPipeline will announce their top 100 prospects list next Thursday and on Monday Baseball America will announce their Astros top 10 prospects list.

[Uncle Charlie]

Singleton was named #1 first base prospect in all of baseball by MLBPipeline (that's Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo).

Upcoming of note, MLBPipeline will announce their top 100 prospects list next Thursday and on Monday Baseball America will announce their Astros top 10 prospects list.

Correa was #3 for SS
Appel was #6 for RHP
Expect Springer to be near the top of the OF, which comes out next week.

[Reuben]

Correa was #3 for SS
Appel was #6 for RHP
Expect Springer to be near the top of the OF, which comes out next week.

And Stassi was their equivalent of Honorable Mention for C. Kind of surprised he didn't make the Top 10 considering the year he had at AA, and his rep as a good defender.

I wonder if they'll put DDS with the 2B or the OF.

[juliogotay]

And Stassi was their equivalent of Honorable Mention for C. Kind of surprised he didn't make the Top 10 considering the year he had at AA, and his rep as a good defender.

I wonder if they'll put DDS with the 2B or the OF.

THat surprises me about Stassi, too. Catching must be very deep now in the minors.

[astrosfan76]

Correa was #3 for SS
Appel was #6 for RHP
Expect Springer to be near the top of the OF, which comes out next week.

Possibly #3. I imagine Buxton and Oscar Taveras will be 1 and 2, possibly overall. Maybe we'll see Springer after that (on the OF list, not overall).

[juliogotay]

Singleton was named #1 first base prospect in all of baseball by MLBPipeline (that's Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo).

Upcoming of note, MLBPipeline will announce their top 100 prospects list next Thursday and on Monday Baseball America will announce their Astros top 10 prospects list.

Here is the BA list. http://www.astroscounty.com/