Post by joshsbix on Sept 25, 2023 8:25:35 GMT -5
When the calendar flipped, the Astros had the #20 minor league system in the league. During an offseason that saw Houston cash in many young players for older or old veterans the Astros have been able to maintain their ranking, and have started the regular season with the #18 minor league system and have announced a 10 year plan to build their minor league prospects into the future core of the team. This segment will be dedicated to watch their growth through the minors, and for many, through high school to graduation day.
ML
Billy Butler is still of the prospect variety and received a strikeout talent bump to brilliant during the first sim. Hopefully this is a sign of good things coming for the farm system and the OOTP gods don't take it back and make me pay to keep it, next sim.
AAA
Right now AAA is sharply focused on developing a core group of pitchers that could make up the future bullpen for the Astros. Some fans hope that some of them can be converted into starting pitchers but no move made by the organization at this time gives any indication that this could be the plan.
Dontrelle Willis is developed an available to be called up in an emergency situation. He is off to a 1-0 start with a 3.10 ERA. He is a fringe starter, at best, but management is hoping a few tweaks could make him a dominant force.
Zach Kroenke has given up 14 runs in his first 3 outings, sporting an ERA north of 7. While he is growing into his new HR talent, the team expects to see his numbers stabilize over the next few sims. Christmas can't come fast enough for this prospect.
Matt Capps is the most MLB ready reliever in the group. It looks like the team will keep him in AAA for the season but it is likely he will be called up next year. His first 7 innings of the year have been relatively solid as he settles in to a new team and new surroundings.
Tony Barnette's numbers are off the chart bad to start the AAA season. He will be closely watched to see if AAA was too big of a step too quickly. However, with his age and talent ability, he should be able to make the transition to AAA.
Will Harris is another one that is struggling to adjust to live in AAA. While his numbers aren't as bad as Barnette's he still needs to get things figured out as teams are hitting .333 off of him over his first 3 appearances and he has a 2.60 WHIP, yikes.
Zach Britton has been dominant in his first AAA sim. He has 3 saves and a win in 4 games, without giving up a single earned run. Of all our MR prospects in AAA, it appears he has made the easiest transition to the highest level of minor league ball.
AA
Not surprisingly, 16 Julio Teheran struggled in his first AA appearances. There isn't any panic in Houston however, there is no doubt that over the next decade, Julio will develop into the ace that the team drafted him to be.
CL Mark Melancon got one more opportunity to close at the AA level as he didn't make the jump to AAA with the other relievers from the draft class. It looks like he should be getting a call to AAA before too long.
C Rupp, SS Arcia, LF Garcia, CF Perez, all joined 2B Carlos Herandez as the children of tomorrow played their first games together. Notably, Garcia has started out of the gate hot hitting over .300 while Carlos Hernandez is hitting like he got a talent bump in hits instead of homeruns during the off season, hitting .397 over his first 58 at bats of the young season. Since the launch of the Points for the Children campaign none of the AA prospects have received boosts, but from the clackity clack coming from this keyboard, that is likely to change in the near future.
A
Nothing Notable
Astros Top 10 Prospects
# Name Age Pos Hits Homeruns Walks Speed Range Level AVG HR RBI
2 Billy Butler 21 LF Good Good Good E C Majors .167 0 2
4 Jason Heyward 17 RF Good Good Good E B AA .231 1 8
8 Jesus Flores 25 C Good Average Average D E AAA .319 1 5
Pitchers
# Name Age Role Hits Homers Walks K's Level Rec ERA IP HA BB K
1 Zach Kroenke 22 SP Good Good Brilliant Fair AAA 0-2 7.27 17.1 24 4 4
3 Julio Teheran 16 SP Good Good Good Good AA 0-2 12.91 7.2 13 10 5
5 Dontrelle Willis 25 SP Good Good Good Good AAA 0-1 3.10 20.1 15 8 35
6 Zack Britton 19 CL Brilliant Brilliant Average Brilliant AAA 1-0 0.00 4.2 4 3 4
7 Mark Melancon 22 CL Good Brilliant Good Good AA 0-0 0.00 0.2 0 0 0
9 Tony Barnette 23 MR Brilliant Good Good Brilliant AAA 0-0 12.79 6.1 12 7 5
10 Matt Capps 23 MR Good Good Brilliant Brilliant AAA 1-0 2.45 7.1 6 4 7
ML
Billy Butler is still of the prospect variety and received a strikeout talent bump to brilliant during the first sim. Hopefully this is a sign of good things coming for the farm system and the OOTP gods don't take it back and make me pay to keep it, next sim.
AAA
Right now AAA is sharply focused on developing a core group of pitchers that could make up the future bullpen for the Astros. Some fans hope that some of them can be converted into starting pitchers but no move made by the organization at this time gives any indication that this could be the plan.
Dontrelle Willis is developed an available to be called up in an emergency situation. He is off to a 1-0 start with a 3.10 ERA. He is a fringe starter, at best, but management is hoping a few tweaks could make him a dominant force.
Zach Kroenke has given up 14 runs in his first 3 outings, sporting an ERA north of 7. While he is growing into his new HR talent, the team expects to see his numbers stabilize over the next few sims. Christmas can't come fast enough for this prospect.
Matt Capps is the most MLB ready reliever in the group. It looks like the team will keep him in AAA for the season but it is likely he will be called up next year. His first 7 innings of the year have been relatively solid as he settles in to a new team and new surroundings.
Tony Barnette's numbers are off the chart bad to start the AAA season. He will be closely watched to see if AAA was too big of a step too quickly. However, with his age and talent ability, he should be able to make the transition to AAA.
Will Harris is another one that is struggling to adjust to live in AAA. While his numbers aren't as bad as Barnette's he still needs to get things figured out as teams are hitting .333 off of him over his first 3 appearances and he has a 2.60 WHIP, yikes.
Zach Britton has been dominant in his first AAA sim. He has 3 saves and a win in 4 games, without giving up a single earned run. Of all our MR prospects in AAA, it appears he has made the easiest transition to the highest level of minor league ball.
AA
Not surprisingly, 16 Julio Teheran struggled in his first AA appearances. There isn't any panic in Houston however, there is no doubt that over the next decade, Julio will develop into the ace that the team drafted him to be.
CL Mark Melancon got one more opportunity to close at the AA level as he didn't make the jump to AAA with the other relievers from the draft class. It looks like he should be getting a call to AAA before too long.
C Rupp, SS Arcia, LF Garcia, CF Perez, all joined 2B Carlos Herandez as the children of tomorrow played their first games together. Notably, Garcia has started out of the gate hot hitting over .300 while Carlos Hernandez is hitting like he got a talent bump in hits instead of homeruns during the off season, hitting .397 over his first 58 at bats of the young season. Since the launch of the Points for the Children campaign none of the AA prospects have received boosts, but from the clackity clack coming from this keyboard, that is likely to change in the near future.
A
Nothing Notable
Astros Top 10 Prospects
# Name Age Pos Hits Homeruns Walks Speed Range Level AVG HR RBI
2 Billy Butler 21 LF Good Good Good E C Majors .167 0 2
4 Jason Heyward 17 RF Good Good Good E B AA .231 1 8
8 Jesus Flores 25 C Good Average Average D E AAA .319 1 5
Pitchers
# Name Age Role Hits Homers Walks K's Level Rec ERA IP HA BB K
1 Zach Kroenke 22 SP Good Good Brilliant Fair AAA 0-2 7.27 17.1 24 4 4
3 Julio Teheran 16 SP Good Good Good Good AA 0-2 12.91 7.2 13 10 5
5 Dontrelle Willis 25 SP Good Good Good Good AAA 0-1 3.10 20.1 15 8 35
6 Zack Britton 19 CL Brilliant Brilliant Average Brilliant AAA 1-0 0.00 4.2 4 3 4
7 Mark Melancon 22 CL Good Brilliant Good Good AA 0-0 0.00 0.2 0 0 0
9 Tony Barnette 23 MR Brilliant Good Good Brilliant AAA 0-0 12.79 6.1 12 7 5
10 Matt Capps 23 MR Good Good Brilliant Brilliant AAA 1-0 2.45 7.1 6 4 7
