Hot sheet

[pots]

Correa made last weeks list

12. Carlos Correa, ss, Astros
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .345/.441/.655 (10-for-29), 6 R, 6 2B, 1 HR, 10 RBIs, 4 BB, 6 SO, 1 HBP, 1-for-1 SB

The Scoop: A modern marvel, Correa has shown no ill effects from the season-ending broken leg he suffered last June at high Class A Lancaster. By hitting .326 with two home runs in 20 games this spring, he was the toast of big league camp, but what’s really impressive is how he has rapidly adjusted to life at Double-A after missing the entire second half of 2014 and also winter ball. He leads the Texas League with six doubles and 10 RBIs, and just two minor league players have collected more extra-base hits than his seven thus far.

This week there were 2 astros

8. Brett Phillips, of, Astros
Team: high Class A Lancaster (California)
Age: 20
Why He’s Here: .484/.515/.742 (15-for-31), 9 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 7 SO, 1-for-3 SB

The Scoop: Phillips, who skyrocketed up the Astros’ list to No. 6 entering the season after a fantastic season at low and high Class A in 2014, is only adding to his resume this season in what should be a brief repeat of the California League. His over-the-fence power might be his only question mark, but he rates as a solid-average hitter with good bat control. He plays an aggressive game and has three triples already this season.

10. J.D. Davis, 3b, Astros

Team: high Class A Lancaster (California)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .419/.444/.710 (13-for-31), 7 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs, 3 BB, 8 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: The Astros’ third-rounder out of Cal-State Fullerton, the 6-foot-3 righthanded hitter has slid in adeptly at third base, the position Houston scouted him at Fullerton when Matt Chapman, the A’s first-rounder last June, was injured. A two-way player for the Titans, the Astros liked what they saw after moving him to third.  They were already impressed was his above-average raw power, which he has carried into 2015. The Astros are loaded at first base and DH at the major league level, so the move to third base could speed his ascension. The mature Davis could be in Double-A by midseason if he continues to have success.

[Mr. Happy]

This is great news! I really feel that Correa is ready. I think that they're doing their best to hold him back, but he's having little to do with that.

[NeilT]

I just hope Correa doesn't jump to AAA before I'm in Corpus in June.  I've already got my tickets.

[juliogotay]

I just hope Correa doesn't jump to AAA before I'm in Corpus in June.  I've already got my tickets.

I don't like your odds of him still being there. I saw him last night in Frisco. IT is hard to believe he is 20 the way he carries himself.

[Lefty]

I just hope Correa doesn't jump to AAA before I'm in Corpus in June.  I've already got my tickets.

I've already changed my plans to mid-May for that exact reason.

[Nate in IA]

I don't like your odds of him still being there. I saw him last night in Frisco. IT is hard to believe he is 20 the way he carries himself.

A man amongst boys... even when he was 18

[MusicMan]

Correa, Tucker, McCullers, and Phillips ALL on the Hot Sheet this week.

[pots]

Correa, Tucker, McCullers, and Phillips ALL on the Hot Sheet this week.

Holy Heck that is a lot of 2012 Astros draftees

[Nate Colbert]

In the "prequel" to this week's hot sheet, QC's Jacob Nottingham is in the "Helium Watch" section:

...but he opened eyes this spring by swinging a lively stick, and he has carried that over in his first shot at full-season ball at low Class A Quad Cities. He ranks third in the Midwest League with four home runs and has hit .246/.333/.464 through 20 games, with seven extra-base hits among 17 hits.

He has gunned down five of nine (56 percent) basestealers to test him this year, improving his career rate to 37 percent. Nottingham has played seven games at first base this season because of a catching surplus at Quad Cities that includes 2008 international signee Alfredo Gonzalez—whom the organization is excited about defensively—as well 2014 13th-round pick Jamie Ritchie from Belmont.

Unless someone gets moved down from Lancaster, that surplus at catcher got thinned out with today's promotion of Gonzalez to the JetHawks.

Teoscar Hernandez showed up in the Not So Hot section.

[pots]

3 bus riders on the list this week.  #6 Reed, #8 Correa, and #9 McCullers

[Nate Colbert]

In need of some editing, but here's a Prospect Heat Check article from Jeff Passan that (in addition to Correa and McCullers) has Daniel Mengden on it.

[Nate Colbert]

Michael Feliz #18 on this week's Hot Sheet.

[pots]

Michael Feliz #18 on this week's Hot Sheet.

Interesting to see Nola being so dominate.  He was my dark horse candidate for #1 last year. 

[roadrunner]

Interesting to see Nola being so dominate.  He was my dark horse candidate for #1 last year.

I saw somewhere that he would be the leading #1 overall candidate in this year's draft.

[roadrunner]

I saw somewhere that he would have been the leading #1 overall candidate in this year's draft.

[Nate Colbert]

I saw somewhere that he would be the leading #1 overall candidate in this year's draft.

Jim Callis @jimcallisMLB  ·   23 hours ago
The more I look at this @MLBDraft, the more I think Aaron Nola would have gone 1-1 if he were in this year's crop and not last year's.

[Nate Colbert]

I suppose you could call it their equivalent of the "Hot Sheet" but MLB Pipeline's Prospect Team of the Week included Domingo Santana noting:

7 G, .478/.647/.739, 9 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 11 BB, 4 SO
No Minor League hitter was more patient last week than Santana, who led them all in OBP and tied Vogelbach for the most walks. He also did a lot of damage when he swung the bat and is hitting .314/.424/.620 with eight homers in 35 Triple-A games, placing third in on-base and slugging percentage in the Pacific Coast League.

[Reuben]

That is certainly nice to see. Domingo started the year off in a bit of a funk IIRC, and he has really caught fire. With the Astros needing a RHB OF to platoon with Rasmus, perhaps he could find himself with another chance soon. If he's not traded.

[astrosfan76]

This week's edition with another dose of Astros:

#13 - Correa - 367/.355/.667 (11-for-30) 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 0 BB, 5 SO, 1-for-2 SB
#17 - Santana - 417/.533/.833 (10-for-24), 7 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 5 BIs, 6 BB, 7 SO, 0-for-1 SB
#18 - Vasquez - 536/.618/.857 (15-for-28), 7 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, 6 BB, 3 SO, 2-for-5 SB

The comments for Correa and Santana were about what you would expect; Astros in first, Correa should join them this year, Santana strikes out a lot, etc.  Vasquez's were a little more insightful, though nothing groundbreaking: 

The usual Lancaster caveat applies here—that’s where he hit both homers—but Vasquez isn’t strictly a product of the ballpark’s friendly winds. Batting .320/.370/.480 through 36 games, he is a hit-first, power-second corner outfielder who’s always had a knack for squaring up the ball. Still, Vasquez has physical projection remaining in his frame, and it’s easier to teach a good hitter to add power than it is to instruct a slugger how to hit. Vasquez will require patience, and perhaps the power never comes around, but he’s an everyday player if he can grow into average raw power.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-may-22-zimmer-zooms-1/

[Nate Colbert]

BA puts Appel on their "Not So Hot" list, noting (among other things) that hitters are batting .379/.413/.530 against him when pitching with runners on base.

[Mr. Happy]

BA puts Appel on their "Not So Hot" list, noting (among other things) that hitters are batting .379/.413/.530 against him when pitching with runners on base.

That suggests a mechanics problem.

[astrosfan76]

Brett Phillips is the lone rep this week, coming in at #11.  BA had this to say about him:

Being a position prospect in Lancaster is a double-edged sword. The high altitude, low humidity and strong winds tend to make hitters’ numbers look great, so there’s always skepticism around whether their performance is just full of air. With Phillips, it’s more than just a Lancaster fluke. He’s a legitimate, exciting prospect with good bat speed, barrel control and a sense for the strike zone. He also owns above-average speed and a double-plus arm. With a chance to hit 10-15 home runs, Phillips, who turns 21 tomorrow, is one of the game’s more well-rounded prospects.

Oh, and here's his line from the week:  381/.480/.714 (8-for-21), 6 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 4 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-1 SB

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-may-29-seager-swings-way-top/

[pots]

Even with all the callups they still land two

5. Domingo Santana, rf, Astros

Team: Triple-A Fresno (Pacific Coast)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .500/.667/.929 (7-for-14), 5 R, 3 B, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 6 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: Santana always has had a long swing that leads to lots of strikeouts, but he has evolved as a hitter to show more patience at the plate in recent years. He set a career high with 64 walks in 120 games last year at Triple-A, and he’s taking even more walks this year, which has boosted his on-base percentage to .433. Power never has been in question for Santana, and while he always will have a high strikeout rate, being able to offset those empty at-bats with more walks to go with his power would make him a much more viable player at the next level.

16. Brett Phillips, cf, Astros

Team: high Class A Lancaster (California)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .382/.400/.735 (13-for-34), 9 R, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBIs, 1 BB, 7 SO

The Scoop: Here’s the one guy the Astros won’t call up this year . . . maybe. With the callups of top prospects Carlos Correa, Lance McCullers Jr., Vince Velasquez and Michael Feliz (briefly), Phillips (or possibly Houston’s dual 2015 first-rounders) suddenly has a chance to become the No. 1 prospect in the organization this offseason. But such has been the rise of the Florida prep star who passed on North Carolina State to sign for $300,000 in 2012. His combo of athleticism, feel for hitting and power the past two seasons have made scouts second-guess their doubts about his ability to be an everyday center fielder.

[MusicMan]

This week: Tony Kemp at 11

[pots]

This week: Tony Kemp at 11

And AJ Reed came in at 6

[MusicMan]

Dogs and cats, living together, and Appel on the hot sheet!

[Nate Colbert]

Hader at #15 this week with this comment:

He deceives batters with a low three-quarters delivery and a little hitch, and he slings a fastball from that low slot that hums up to 94 mph. Repeating that funky delivery, however, remains a struggle.

[OregonStrosFan]

Francis Martes and A.J. Reed at 4 and 5 respectively in the Hot Sheet this week.

[Nate Colbert]

Francis Martes and A.J. Reed at 4 and 5 respectively in the Hot Sheet this week.

From the article:

...has two well above-average big league pitches with a 93-95 mph fastball he can locate and manipulate and also a mid-80s slider that has depth and break.

From the chat:

George (Gulf Coast): J.J., thanks for the chat. What is the MLB ceiling for the Astros pitching prospect Francis Martes?

J.J. Cooper: Middle-of-the-rotation starter. Have talked to evaluators who think he could hold his own in Double-A right now thanks to two plus offerings.

[juliogotay]

What do you have to do (Martes) to be considered a TOR starter?

[pots]

Couple of Stros on the hot sheet

10. Colin Moran, 3b, Astros

HoustonAstros

Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .478/.519/.783 (11-for-23), 7 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Moran’s season has been dogged by injuries, including a broken jaw when he took a throw in the infield off the face. When he returned in June, his timing was slow to come back, but he’s been outstanding in July, compiling an 1.021 OPS, although the over-the-fence power some scouts project has yet to show.

14. A.J. Reed, 1b, Astros
HoustonAstros

Team: Double-A Corpus Christi
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .381/.516/.714 (8-for-21), 6 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 8 BB, 4 SO

The Scoop: Reed should become the next in a long line of prospects who went from Baseball America College Player of the Year to eventual MLB standout. A standout at the plate and on the mound last year at Kentucky, Reed slipped to the second round, where the Astros got a steal. One of the draft’s elite college performers has had no trouble handling minor league pitching so far, and while much of his success this year has come at high Class A Lancaster, he’s no ballpark fluke. In his first 10 games since getting promoted to Double-A, Reed is batting .333/.455/.576 with nine walks and seven strikeouts. He’s 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, limited to first base and may not have the prettiest build, but he’s a potential plus bat, plus power combo who understands the strike zone and can get on base at a high clip. He’s not going to help them in Houston this year, but he should be their everyday first baseman very soon.

[pots]

Missed it last week

2. Joe Musgrove, rhp, Astros
HoustonAstros
Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 2 G, 1 GS, 11 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 11 SO

The Scoop: Musgrove gave up two hits over seven innings as Double-A Corpus Christi blanked Midland, 4-0, on Thursday and got a save prior to that with four shutout innings in Houston’s tandem system. Finally healthy, the physical, 6-foot-5, 255-pounder can touch 95 mph and combines that with a slider and change.

20. A.J. Reed, of, Astros
HoustonAstros

Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .276/.344/.690 (8-for-29), 6 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 9 RBIs, 3 BB, 13 SO

The Scoop: New level, same results. The arguable minor league player of the year to this point, Reed was moved from the hitter-happy California League to the more challenging Texas League, and he’s kept right on mashing. He’s socked five home runs in his first 59 at-bats with Corpus Christi and now he leads all of minor league baseball with 28 longballs. He’s struggled early against lefties at his new level, however, something that didn’t plague him in Lancaster.

[pots]

This week has a bunch

13. Colin Moran, 3b, Astros

HoustonAstrosTeam: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .414/.485/.724 (12-for-29), 5 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 4 BB, 1 SO

The Scoop: Does Moran have the power to be an everyday third baseman? That’s one of the main questions for the 2013 first-rounder, who missed nearly a month in May with a fractured jaw and 10 days in June with a right ankle injury. After failing to homer once in 32 games in the first half of the season, Moran has popped five home runs in 38 games since then, batting .347/.418/.540 since the Texas League all-star break.

15. Michael Feliz, rhp, Astros

HoustonAstrosTeam: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 SO

The Scoop: Feliz hasn’t missed as many bats at Double-A as he did at lower levels, but he has smoothed control issues and is walking 2.1 batters per nine innings through eight appearances, which is his best mark since 2013.

16. J.D. Davis, 3b, Astros
HoustonAstros
Team: high Class A Lancaster (California)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .435/.519/1.043 (10-for-23), 9 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 BB, 4 SO, 0-for-1 SB

The Scoop: Davis took advantage of a recent home series in the hitter’s haven of Lancaster, popping home runs in each of his last three games. He has legitimately above-average power, though Lancaster helps inflate every power hitter’s numbers. Davis’ penchant for swinging through breaking balls remains a concern, for he has racked up 130 strikeouts in 100 games. Improving his pitch recognition to make more frequent contact will be key for Davis when the 2014 third-rounder makes a big jump to Double-A next season.

19. Francis Martes, rhp, Astros
HoustonAstros
Team: high Class A Lancaster (California)
Age: 19
Why He’s Here: 1-0, 2.84, 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 10 SO

The Scoop: A lot of pitchers traded at this year’s deadline have made positive first impressions with their new organizations. Martes is one of the best pickups from the 2014 deadline. A then-Rookie-level pitcher with a great arm, he has turned into one of the better pitchers in the Midwest League this year. Martes has had a little rougher introduction to the California League following a late-July promotion, but his plus fastball and plus breaking ball worked well this week as he tied his career high with 10 strikeouts.

[Uncle Charlie]

13. Colin Moran, 3b, Astros
19. Francis Martes, rhp, Astros

Good to see two pieces of the Cosart trade on the list this week.

[pots]

Astros getting multiple players again

11. Kyle Tucker, rf, Astros

Team: Rookie-level Greeneville (Appalachian)
Age: 18
Why He’s Here: .333/.355/.600 (10-for-30), 4 R, 5 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 1 BB, 5 SO, 3-for-3 SB

The Scoop: The fifth overall pick this year, when he claimed the High School Player of the Year award, Tucker has enjoyed success in the same organization in which his older brother Preston has risen to the majors. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound Kyle has similar tools as Preston, including feel to hit, average power and solid contact skills. The junior Tucker, though, is taller, leaner and more projectable.

19. Michael Feliz, rhp, Astros

Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 SO

Feliz hasn’t given up a run in his last three outings. The last time he did allow a run was on July 24, when he allowed three over five innings at Frisco. That was preceded by a stretch of five starts in which he allowed either one or zero runs. He’s simply been outstanding since reaching Double-A at the end of May, posting a 2.37 ERA with a 50-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 61 innings, with a power fastball and control that continues to trend in the right direction.

[jwhudson]

"The junior Tucker, though, is taller, leaner and more projectable."  What does more projectable even mean?  Historically does his height and weight mean he is going to be the next Richie Sexton?

[NeilT]

"The junior Tucker, though, is taller, leaner and more projectable."  What does more projectable even mean?  Historically does his height and weight mean he is going to be the next Richie Sexton?

If you fired him from a canon, he'd go further.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

What does more projectable even mean? 

Because upside had become so overused they invented a new word, projectable. It's means they think  can exceed his brother's level of success because they see a physicality and a skill set that should develop beyond that of Preston's hitablity, runablity, catchablity and throwablity. And also, because he can blast so far out of a circus canon, he may even be an outlier.

[moriartp]

"The junior Tucker, though, is taller, leaner and more projectable."  What does more projectable even mean?  Historically does his height and weight mean he is going to be the next Richie Sexton?

The way I see it used, it seems to be more or less interchangeable with "hasn't filled out yet." In theory, it means the player should be able to add power/velocity in the future.

[VirtualBob]

Because upside had become so overused they invented a new word, projectable. It's means they think  can exceed his brother's level of success because they see a physicality and a skill set that should develop beyond that of Preston's hitablity, runablity, catchablity and throwablity. And also, because he can blast so far out of a circus canon, he may even be an outlier.

You just gave my Funk & Wagnals a short circuit.

[Mike S.]

And also, because he can blast so far out of a circus canon, he may even be an outlier.

Just curious, approximately how many Altuves would that be?

[astrosfan76]

Bus Riders with one final strong showing on the Hot Sheet:

2. Danry Vasquez, lf, Astros

Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 21
Why He’s Here: .536/.552/.821, 9 R, 6 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBIs, 1 BB, 3 SO, 1-for-1 SB

5. J.D. Davis, 3b, Astros

Team: high Class A Lancaster (California)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .385/.448/.923 (10-for-26), 9 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBIs, 3 BB, 7 SO

8. A.J. Reed, 1b, Astros

Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Age: 22
Why He’s Here: .377/.455/.889 (10-for-27), 9 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBIs, 5 BB, 5 SO

With Reed's performance, he sits atop the minor leagues in HR (34) and RBI (124) and top 5 in BA (.344).  As a 1B with limited defensive value, he won't be ranked among the "elite" of the elite prospects, but after winning the Golden Spikes and several other major collegiate awards last year, then the likely BA player of the year this year, he continues showing how special a bat he is.  I don't know that he'll break camp on the 25-man next year, but he is proving to be a valuable piece for the near future.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-sept-4-end-line/ 

[moriartp]

Bus Riders with one final strong showing on the Hot Sheet:

With Reed's performance, he sits atop the minor leagues in HR (34) and RBI (124) and top 5 in BA (.344).  As a 1B with limited defensive value, he won't be ranked among the "elite" of the elite prospects, but after winning the Golden Spikes and several other major collegiate awards last year, then the likely BA player of the year this year, he continues showing how special a bat he is.  I don't know that he'll break camp on the 25-man next year, but he is proving to be a valuable piece for the near future.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-sept-4-end-line/

He'll probably head to Fresno for a couple weeks out of ST to work on his defense.

[jbm]

Hasn't he been working on that all year?

[juliogotay]

Hasn't he been working on that all year?

and he's going to the AFL.

[astrosfan76]

He'll probably head to Fresno for a couple weeks out of ST to work on his defense.

Nice.

[Reuben]

He'll probably head to Fresno for a couple weeks out of ST to work on his defense.

I assume this is a Kris Bryant reference?