Junius Worth
David Kerr
Charlie Nehl
gawlowskib
Andrew Martin
Jonathan C. Mitchell
johnczech
Daniel Marino
Michael Schwartze
mlbdirtstaff
Spencer Schneier
William J. Tasker
Just a few short years ago the Houston Astros had one of the worst farm systems in baseball. General Manager Jeff Lunhow and his crew have changed the way this franchise thinks and, via trades and the draft, he has turned this system into one of the best in all of baseball.
Below are our top 16 prospects with 2013 opening day age, position, and comments on each player. This is a collaborative effort and the final outcome does not mirror mine, Mikey’s, nor Spencer’s personal lists. Below the top 16 is a small list of additional notable names to keep an eye on. Enjoy. -Jonathan C. Mitchell
| Player | Comments | |
| 1 | Carlos Correa (18-SS) | The Astros shocked the world when they took Correa first overall in last years draft but I was a fan of the pick. Correa has the potential to be one of the leagues best and an all-star regularly. He has good quick hands and strong arm but I think we eventually see him grow out of shortstop and shift over to third. He has a big physical athletic build and is a good athlete. He has a special bat and should hit for a good average at the next level and put up impressive power numbers. He has the highest ceiling in the system and the potential to star in the middle of the Astros lineup. -Michael Schwartze |
| 2 | Jonathan Singleton (21-1B) | He can flat out hit & has great discipline and patience for a kid his age. He has incredible raw power & quick hands but struggles against LHP although hitting will never be a problem for him. I have my doubts about him defensively, even at 1B. He was slow moving in all directions but he did pick balls well. Even if he is below-average at 1B his bat should more than make up for the poor defense. -Jonathan C. Mitchell |
| 3 | George Springer (23-OF) | There is a lot to like about Springer’s game. He flashes the tools to develop into a 5 tool player with an interesting combo of power and speed. He has explosive bat speed helping him have above average power potential but his approach at the plate and swing need to be worked on. He has the defensive skills to stick in center field long term which really adds to his value. Springer has the tools to be an impact player and potential all-star but he’ll need to become more consistent at the plate to reach that ceiling. -Michael Schwartze |
| 4 | Delino DeShields Jr. (20-2B) | DeShields’ prospect stock really shot up this year as he put together a very impressive year. The loudest tool in DeShields’ game is his 80 speed which helped him swipe 101 bases in 2012. He has a compact swing with quick hands and has shown promising strides in his approach at the plate. His defensive game is a bit raw but he had good hands and should develop into a good defensive second baseman. DeShields has a ways to go but he has the potential to be an impact player at the top of the Astros lineup. -Michael Schwartze |
| 5 | Lance McCullers Jr. (19-RHP) | Armed with a plus-plus fastball that has hit triple-digits & a plus breaking ball McCullers, who won the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year after posting a 0.18 ERA & striking out 140 batters in only 77.1 innings, has the ceiling of a number two starter & the floor of a high-leverage reliever. I view him as a starter & if he develops at least an average third pitch his small frame will not hinder his future as a starter in the majors. -JCM |
| 6 | Jarred Cosart (22-RHP) | Armed with a fastball that sits in the mid-90s & reaches the upper-90s in short stints & an above-average curveball that will flash plus at times, his floor is of a high-leverage reliever but if his change-up improves & he learns how to pitch he has top of the rotation ability. His frame leaves him room to add muscle and be a durable innings-eater as well. His numbers do not match his stuff due to lack of command & control thanks to his inability to repeat his mechanics. Again, at worst he is a high-leverage power reliever but I hold hope for much more. -JCM |
| 7 | Mike Foltynewicz (21-RHP) | I was a little harsh on Folty last year but he made positive strides this year. At worst he is a high-leverage reliever if he can get his breaking ball to be more consistent but he does have the frame to be a starter & I would not move him out of that role. His fastball varies, sitting low-90s some innings then mid-90s other innings. His change-up could improve to average & his command is inconsistent at best right now but it did improve. There is potential #3 starter who can eat innings but there is risk here. -JCM |
| 8 | Domingo Santana (20-OF) | Santana has some loud tools in his game but also areas that really need to develop. He stands His 6’5″ 230lb and has very impressive strength. He has big time plus raw power which is his best tool and a strong arm in the outfield. Santana swings and misses way too much which is one of his biggest issues and he is not much of an athlete. The power potential Santana has though is enticing but he’ll have to crack down on the swings and misses to reach his potential. -Michael Schwartze |
| 9 | Nolan Fontana (21-SS) | Fontana cracked our top 10 because I view his skill set higher than most. He does not have any one tool, outside of patience that rates above average but he does everything at an average or slightly better rate and has the instincts and ability to stay at SS while providing good on-base skills and excellent base running. He is very polished and could be ready to contribute very soon to the parent club. -JCM |
| 10 | Nick Tropeano (22-RHP) | Tropeano has an ideal pitchers frame standing 6’4″ 205lb and has some room to fill out a bit more. He throws a fastball that sits in the lower 90s that has some natural sink and he commands it well. His best pitch is by far his change up and is a potential plus pitch. He has a developing slider that still has work to do and if it comes around he could develop into a solid number two or three starter. He has a floor of a late inning reliever or a back of the rotation starter. -Michael Schwartze |
| 11 | Robbie Grossman (23-OF) | I am higher on him than others thanks to his across-the-board tools that all rate as at least average & his mature approach at the plate. When I saw him in 2011 I thought he could stay in CF but reports I have read see him as a corner OFer and that hurts his stock. I still see a potential 15+ homerun hitter who gets on base, can steal 20+ bases, & plays solid defense. I think he is being underrated because his lack of plus tools. -JCM |
| 12 | Jonathan Villar (21-SS) | Villar ranked a bit higher on my list in large part thanks to his impressive defensive tools that will allow him to stick at shortstop long term. He has an above average to plus arm and plus defensive abilities at short. The big questions marks in Villar’s game are with his bat. He strikes out way too much and really struggled with making contact. If the bat comes around he could develop into a solid starting shortstop but at this point that seems to be a big “if”. I think the glove alone will carry him to the bigs but whether his bat comes around will really determine the type of player he develops into. -Michael Schwartze |
| 13 | Rio Ruiz (18-3B) | The blood clot in his arm scares me a bit & one scout I spoke to questioned his ability to stick at third and noted his limited range but said he has plus hit-tool and power potential and if he can improve to just be an average defender at third he could be a major steal from June’s draft. -JCM |
| 14 | Carlos Perez (22-C) | Perez has great contact ability and gap power to go with solid discipline at the plate. Behind the plate he possesses an above-average arm (career 34% caught-stealing rate) to go with above-average receiving skills. At worst he profiles as a big league back-up who will likely play for a long time in the majors but has the upside of an above-average regular behind the plate. -JCM |
| 15 | Asher Wojciechowski (24-RHP) | I wrote last year that he has a “big frame to eat innings but his mechanics are a bit out of whack and could lead him to a bullpen role” and I still feel the same about him. He has the ceiling of a number four starter and could reach it if he improves his change-up & cleans up his delivery. -JCM |
| 16 | Ariel Ovando (19-OF) | Ovando is a big projectable frame that should be able to hit for a lot of power. As he fills out he will probably end up in left field or at first base. He has the offensive profile to be able to have value at either position. -Spencer Schneier |
A few that just missed: Brady Rogers (RHP), Vincent Velasquez (RHP), Adrian Houser (RHP).
Be sure to follow @Mike_Schwartze, @FigureFilbert, and @BaseballSpencer on Twitter, all of whom collaborated to put together these rankings.
Filed under: On the Farm - Prospects Tagged: | 2013 Top Prospects, Adrian Houser, Ariel Ovando, Asher Wojciechowski, Brady Rogers, Carlos Correa, Carlos Perez, Delino DeShields Jr., Domingo Santana, George Springer, Houston Astros, Jarred Cosart, Jeff Lunhow, Jonathan Singleton, Jonathan Villar, Lance McCullers, Lance McCullers Jr., Mike Foltynewicz, Nick Tropeano, Nolan Fontana, Prospects, Rio Ruiz, Robbie Grossman, Vincent Velasquez
Good list, guys. I would have put Velasquez on the list myself. I saw him pitch several times this season, and he looked great considering the time off- mid-90′s fastball and really nasty breaking ball. I understand he still needs to prove himself before people will view him as the same prospect as when he was drafted.
A sleeper guy I saw this past season and loved was Aaron West. Not a highly drafted guy, but really surprised me with his stuff.
Thanks! I personally had Velasquez ranked #16 and think he is a great guy to follow but this system is getting loaded and ranking inside the top 20 means you’ve got some talent. I didn’t see him in person or any video but from what you have seen he seems like a guy who could jump into the rankings.
A great job as always by the guys at MLB Dirt!
-Mike McGinnis
New York
Thanks, brother! These lists are a lot of fun but a lot of work. Glad we have a solid group of independent scouts here and some solid sources to help us.
What do you guys think about Telvin Nash?
Power is his only tool. He has no idea what plate discipline is and he is not a good defender. Reminds me of Randall Simon. Could be usefull in bench role one day.
Thanks for getting back to me Jonathan. Do you see Miles Head as a similar profile, or are his tools better?
Less power but far better overall tools. Much rather have Miles Head than Telvin Nash.
Great choice. These players are a fortress in the field. There are reservations in some case but the opportunity is important..Success for next 2013.