Houston Astros Organization Discussion
by John Sickels on Jan 10, 2026 6:00 PM EST
49 comments
I am now working on the Seattle Mariners, to be followed by the Houston Astros, then the Tampa Bay Rays.
Use this thread to discuss the Houston Astros organization. The system is obviously thin, but there looks like improvement is coming at the lower levels. Point out any sleepers you see in this system.
0 recs |
49 comments
Email
Print
Comments
Don't sleep on Mier
They’re a solid trio.
by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 10, 2026 7:40 PM EST up reply actions
Forgot about Mier.
But beyond that is still pretty light.
[url=http://jasonsbaseballblog.wordpress.com]Jason's Baseball Blog
by jumperjah on Jan 10, 2026 10:37 PM EST up reply actions
I think he is 3rd
But not far behind Castro/Lyles. I actually think Mier is pretty safely the 3rd best SS prospect in baseball. Some other guys have higher ceilings maybe, but a much higher chance to crash (or change positions).
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 10, 2026 6:05 PM EST up reply actions
Castro/Lyles/Mier
All of them could be B+ guys in my opinion.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 10, 2026 7:39 PM EST up reply actions
Players I'd like to see aggresively ranked...
1. Dallas Keuchel - Could be a C+ guy maybe.
2. Julio (J.D.) Martinez - Very good college hitter. Couldn’t ask for much more in his first year offensively. He was slightly old for his level, but still. Don’t know much about him defensively.
3. Edgar Ferreira - Reports of a fastball topping out at 94 and he just turned 17. Not sure how dependable ages are from the Dominican though.
4. Fernando Abad - He has been moved up pretty slowly, but he pitched very well in Lancaster last season, and pretty well in the AFL this fall. Very good numbers, but I’ve heard he is doing it without the greatest stuff. I haven’t seen him pitch.
5. Enrique Hernandez - Lots of errors in his debut at SS/2B but a pretty promising bat. Didn’t walk a ton but also low K%. Good overall numbers for a 17 year old middle infielder in the GCL though.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 10, 2026 6:16 PM EST reply actions
Martinez
Not much defensively. He’ll have to improve to be viable at 1B/LF. The bat was fine, but DH is his best position currently. Abad is being transitioned to the rotation after having been a reliever. If he can put up the same numbers as a starter, we’ll have something.
by astrosfan76 on Jan 11, 2026 10:05 AM EST up reply actions
What have you read about Hernandez's defense?
I mentioned that he had a lot of errors, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be moved off the position. Is he too big or slow?
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 11, 2026 10:07 AM EST up reply actions
GCL Top 20 Chat
Here’s an excerpt from BA’s GCL chat:
“Hernandez did get some consideration. There are lot of questions in the queue about why a certain player didn’t make it. Mostly, it comes down to there are 16 teams in the league and only 20 spots. A lot of talented players were left off the list. Hernandez is one of them. Overall he’s raw but he’s a high-energy guy. He projects as an offensive middle infielder. He can handle short but lacks the range to play there every day. He has an above average arm and would be a good defender at second base. He’s more of a doubles guy than home run power but can make good, hard contact.”
by astrosfan76 on Jan 11, 2026 10:16 AM EST up reply actions
yep
It would be nice if he had good defensive skills at SS with some pop, as they are more valuable than a similar 2B. But , since 2B is a position where we don’t have much depth, I’ll take it. He’ll probably be at another short-season club this year, but at 18, there’s nothing wrong with that. He has plenty of time time to develop.
by astrosfan76 on Jan 11, 2026 10:30 AM EST up reply actions
Names that have interest/possible CALL ups
Batters
Jose Vallejo - only 22,received in the Ivan Rodriguez deal,possible SS in 2010/11
Yordanny Ramirez 24 OF - already 1 AAA behind him & closest OF to the majors,some power & can handle all 3 positions
Castro - top position prospect
Wladimir Sutil - on 40 man,maybe to old to consider ?
Einertson/DeLome - grouping together as they have the same age (23) same BA in AA & similar skill sets - although DeLome had a power surge in Corpus Christi….
T.J.Steele/Jack Shuck - 08 draftees whose stats were awesome in the launchpad called Lancaster - are they for real ?
Jonathan Gaston another toolsy pick from 08 with a nasty canon arm
Jay Austin - only 18 & still learning but has speed & good D
Brian Pellegrini - old for A ball but hit 35% of his team’s bombs! (27)
Jiovanni Mier - simply best SS in the system (& pushing Castro hard as the best position player) - B+ possibly ?
J.D.Martin - was Tri City audition for real ?
Jonathan Meyer - bad debut but highly regarded
Brandon Wikoff - not as highly rated as Mier but nice debut at 2 levels - could be forced off SS to 2B in the future
Enrique Hernandez - 17 yr old whose future maybe at 2B (like WIkoff) but more upside
Pitchers
Sammy Gervacio - already has some MLB action,BA’s #4 rated prospect
Chia-Jen Lo - solid AA season,could move quickly
Polin Trinidad - has good control but maybe close to his ceiling…possible option in 2010 as a swingman or lefty specialist in the future
Patrick Urckfitz - came out of nowhere & became Lexington’s best RP
Jordan Lyles/Ross Seaton - Lexington’s 1-2 combo & also Houston best 2 P prospects
Ed Fereira - 17 yr old D.R. signed for 350K — obviously can only be C rated but in this system that could mean top 20 sadly
Dallas Keuchal - nice debut with outstanding BB/9
Kirk Clark - 11.4 K/9 & 1.4BB/9 but EXTREME small sample size
Tanner Bushue - 2nd round drafted HS P
by frenchredsox on Jan 10, 2026 7:46 PM EST reply actions
Hmmm
I don’t have Yordanny, Urckfitz, Clark, or Wikoff in my top 40. Wikoff would probably be the closest I suppose, but I don’t see a lot to get excited over with him. I considered Clark as well, but I think that was a mistake.
Here is my top 40 ranked….
https://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/1/4/1233709/astros-top-40-yes-you-read-that
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 10, 2026 7:53 PM EST up reply actions
I DID say possible call ups (Yordanny/Bogusevic fill those roles)
Urckfitz - simply was lights out in Lexington FAR better than say your #36 Duncan OR #27 Greenwalt….
The system is thin & very barren at AAA/AA level - but as I said just names/numbers that looked interesting….:)
by frenchredsox on Jan 10, 2026 8:16 PM EST up reply actions
I wasn't criticizing you
Just adding to the conversation. I have a feeling we’ll have about 5-6 posters at most that have anything to say about anybody other than the top 3 guys.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 10, 2026 8:21 PM EST up reply actions
Duncan is actually a pretty solid C type prospect
Was drafted high, has some good stuff, is projectable. He was simply out of his league in the Cal, he pitched much better in tri city and Lexington. I think he’s a sleeper for 2010, he’ll begin in either Lancaster (again) or Corpus.
by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 10, 2026 9:53 PM EST up reply actions
Chia-Jen Lo
I see him as a B-, potentially B. Also think he could rise pretty quick thru the Astros system and be helping my the end of the year. A personal favorite of mine.
by LawBe on Jan 11, 2026 8:17 AM EST up reply actions
Woops!
Forgot the converted Bogusevic ! Who is better than Yordanny
by frenchredsox on Jan 10, 2026 7:50 PM EST reply actions
So basicly 3 guys in the B to B+ range
and then a whole lot of guys in the C to C+ range…
The system pretty much falls off the cliff after the first 3
JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook
by laxtonto on Jan 10, 2026 7:59 PM EST reply actions
Chia Jen-Lo
He’s a B- guy. I think John liked him in the futures game. If he has the top 3 rated B+, he could have Lo and Seaton as Bs.
by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 10, 2026 8:09 PM EST up reply actions
Well.
There are about 7 better than average C+ guys in Seaton, Austin, Gervacio, Lo, Bushue, Gaston and Steele (a couple that could be considered B- maybe), then another 4 or 5 that could at least be argued as C+s in Dydalwicz, Keuchel, Chris Johnson, Koby Clemens and Collin DeLome. There are also a good amount of interesting C types that have very little pro experience that could develop into much better prospects in Shuck, JD Martinez, Meyer, Hernandez, Ferreira, and maybe Telvin Nash.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 10, 2026 8:09 PM EST up reply actions
I particularly like Meyer.
His BB rate coming out of high school was phenomenal.
by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 10, 2026 8:27 PM EST up reply actions
Lo....
B- possibly #4 or #5 best prospect……(depends if Seaton continues to progress)
by frenchredsox on Jan 10, 2026 8:32 PM EST up reply actions
yeah
any of those 7 better than average C+ guys i listed could be considered B- prospects i think. i seriously doubt all 7 get the nod though. i’d give a B- to Seaton and Austin. i hope John thinks some of the others are B- types too (including Lo) but i think he just barely misses the cut.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 10, 2026 8:49 PM EST up reply actions
no way on Austin
I think it speaks to how raw he was/is that a lot of people were surprised at how well he did in the Sally League this year . . .with a line of .267/.320/.360.
by mrkupe on Jan 10, 2026 9:51 PM EST up reply actions
"Pre Allstar" and "Post Allstar" splits for Austin according to milb.com
pre:
208 ABs .245/.296/.308/.604
post:
189 ABs .291/.346/.418/.764
That’s quite an improvement over the course of one season—and yes, he’s still very raw. Extremely young and athletic, though and has shown he can make adjustments and improve his game.
by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 10, 2026 10:08 PM EST up reply actions
that was actually
a very nice age adjusted stat line. look at what wilmer flores did. or tim beckham. they play a slightly more difficult position than CF but they weren’t really any better. he is 7 months younger than beckham. he is a year older than flores but definitely outhit him.
i’d rank their performances 1) flores 2) austin 3) beckham considering their age and position.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 10, 2026 10:08 PM EST up reply actions
It's not "nice"
Neither of those other guys had a good year statistically, but are more or less getting mulligans based on scouting reports.
by aCone419 on Jan 11, 2026 1:10 AM EST up reply actions
disagree
those are good seasons in the sally for very young players.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 11, 2026 9:14 AM EST up reply actions
they're "okay", not good
Flores’ .637 OPS is just plain bad, no getting around that. It’s substantially below-average even by the low standards of the Sally League. The best thing to go on with Flores are the scouting reports that say he wasn’t totally overwhelmed by league competition . . .but that sure didn’t show up in his statline.
Austin did okay . . .but let’s be realistic here, the guy surprised the hell out of everybody by performing up to a level that was STILL below league-average. There’s reason to be optimistic here, but he’s still so raw that I can’t see more than C+. Anthony Gose got a C+ from John, and Gose beats Austin in just about every way possible.
by mrkupe on Jan 11, 2026 10:28 AM EST up reply actions
again...
flores actually did well considering his age. not many players can survive at that age in the sally. if in were in rookie ball, i would have held him to a higher standard (austin as well). but these guys are playing against much older competition. lots of players that played 4 years of college.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 11, 2026 10:34 AM EST up reply actions
adjustments
Austin was able to make them. He made adjustments in his swing and adjustments to what pitchers were trying to do and the numbers reflected that. I’m not going to debate grades, but Austin showed promise.
Austin will never put up a high OPS, that’s just not the kind of player he is. His OPS can increase by virtue of a higher OBP, which can be a way to measure his performance going forward. But, as the lower-levels are, in face, developmental leagues, you have to be happy with the progress he’s made and the way he’s developing.
by astrosfan76 on Jan 11, 2026 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
don't get me wrong
I’m happy with the progress he’s making. But it’s okay to be content on that front and yet recognize how far he has to go.
by mrkupe on Jan 11, 2026 6:31 PM EST up reply actions
he has a long way to go yes
but ignoring his makeup or upside, and just focusing on his age and league, austin had a nice year offensively. certainly not jaw-dropping, but better than so-so.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 11, 2026 6:38 PM EST up reply actions
Big chance for this system to keep improving
if they do get the first-round + comp. pick from losing Valverde (depends who he signs with).
Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.
by jonthefon on Jan 10, 2026 10:36 PM EST reply actions
These plus the #8 pick would be a huge help.
In Heck We Trust (Castro, Lyles, Mier)
by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 10, 2026 11:24 PM EST up reply actions
Considering how basically everyone was confused
at the time of the draft about what the Astros were picking:
Castro (solid but not spectacular backstop)
Lyles (what the hell?)
Mier (Tommy Manzella clone)
Remember to retire Fin's number, Mark.
by jonthefon on Jan 11, 2026 11:12 PM EST up reply actions
Good chance
The only guys at the top who should graduate are Gervacio and probably Castro. Losing your #1 and a Top 50 overall prospect will hurt a system, but with the number of guys who were in the lower levels last year, the progression of those guys will help. Having (potentially) 3 of the top 40 picks in next year’s draft will be a boost, as well.
by astrosfan76 on Jan 11, 2026 10:25 AM EST up reply actions
Thoughts on DeLome?
Is his power for real? Can he be a 4th OF type in Houston? I don’t know much about him but he seems to have some promise.
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.
by Savoy on Jan 10, 2026 11:14 PM EST reply actions
DeLome is a tough one. I have him just outside the group of players that might be arguably C+ types. He needs to cut down on the Ks and start walking a little more before I’d see him as a C+ or potential semi-regular. Plays some CF, so his defense is probably serviceable enough. Just my 2 cents. I would love it if John was more optimistic about him though.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 10, 2026 11:27 PM EST up reply actions
CF
The organization likes to move their OF around and get experience at all 3 positions. From what I’ve read, Delome is really limited to LF, though.
by astrosfan76 on Jan 11, 2026 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
Top 11
Castro
Lyles
Mier
Lo
Austin
Gaston
Bogusevic
Bushue
Seaton
Gervacio
Steele
Think Mier could be flip flopped with Lyles. And 5-11 could pretty much go anywhere.
by LawBe on Jan 11, 2026 8:23 AM EST reply actions
Altuve & J. Perez
Having seen this kid play and improve over the last two seasons. I am pulling hard for him. only 5’ 5" but hustles, makes plays. Very quick and smooth. In 08 he played with a composite bat (allowed in SS leagues) in 09, played with a true wood bat. Didn’t see much drop. Has some gap power and the speed to turn doubles in to triples. Those in Lex will enjoy seeing him and Mier in the middle of the Lex defense almost as much as the Lex pitchers will enjoy having them behind them.
BTW, the error count for Mier, Meyer and Altuve is slightly lower than indicated. 09 G’ville was with out a true 1st baseman for much of the year. Just something to keep in mind.
Also liked Juri Perez. Has a very lively arm but was injured at the end of the season.
by G-StrosFan on Jan 11, 2026 8:53 AM EST reply actions
Altuve
I like what he did offensively. I don’t know what the general feelings are about a guy that small in the majors though. If he was 5-9, I think he’d be a top 20 prospect for this organization without much question.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 11, 2026 9:17 AM EST up reply actions
Jonathan Mejia?
Anyone know much about him? I’ve read nothing more than a blurb or two about him being quite promising. I put him on the back end of my top 40, but it is more of a guess than anything else.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 11, 2026 10:40 AM EST reply actions
Henry Villar
Hasn’t been mentioned, but the ‘stros added the 22-year old to their 40-man roster. He’s performed well as a starter, but had difficulty going deep into games…he continued putting up good numbers as a relief pitcher. The few eyeball reports I’ve seen say that he’s got a great FB/SL combo.
A lot (too much?) of the Houston’s pitching talent is in relief: Gervacio, CJ Lo, Villar, Nevarez, Meszaros.
by AstroAndy on Jan 11, 2026 7:38 PM EST reply actions
Actually
I think only Gervacio and Lo are top relief talents at this point. I like Villar (and have him as the Astros 3rd best pure RP prospect, assuming Lo is an RP only at this point), but I have him far below the top 2, not even really sniffing the top 20 (Meszaros, Cespedes, and Nevarez are not far behind Villar in my opinion, but for some reason I like Villar the most).
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 11, 2026 7:43 PM EST up reply actions
DeLome
I agree that DeLome need to improve his plate discipline; walk more and K less. I know the kid can run well and can play all three OF positions. A raw talent with 48 HR’s and 25 triples in 2 years without playing in Califorina; ain’t bad. I see DeLome in RR or out the door Rule 5 or trade via Jordan Parraz.
by jalchz on Jan 26, 2026 5:47 PM EST reply actions
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
