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Loperfido, Brown can help maintain Astros' dynasty

Houston's All-Stars built by mix of youth, World Series contributors
@Gerard_Gilberto
November 23, 2022

Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2022 Organization All-Stars series are the Houston Astros.

Prospect Q&A: Astros outfielder Dirden

Houston’s No. 12 prospect discusses his plan at the plate
@Gerard_Gilberto
September 22, 2022

The shortened Draft in 2020 created some unique circumstances for players like Justin Dirden. The Astros' No. 12 prospect was in the midst of a breakout senior season at Southeast Missouri State before the shutdown, batting .414 with nine homers and 26 RBIs in 17 games. He was in a

Six arms combine on no-no for Fayetteville

Woodpeckers finish off second no-hitter in franchise history
@RobTnova24
September 8, 2022

Baseball's evolution has brought about the emergence of what has become known as the "bullpen game." Usually an "opener" starts on the hill before giving way to another short-inning arm, and the pattern continues as nine innings are essentially pieced together. It's proven to be effective at the Major League

Lee slugs three home runs for Sugar Land

Seventh-ranked Astros prospect leads club's nine-homer barrage
@MavalloneMiLB
August 24, 2022

With his club beginning a road trip in Las Vegas on Tuesday night, it's only appropriate Korey Lee hit the jackpot. With a final score befitting a football game, the No. 7 Astros prospect left his mark by homering three times and driving in a career-high five runs to power

The Road to The Showâ„¢: Astros righty Brown

No. 80 overall prospect moving quickly for a late bloomer
@Gerard_Gilberto
August 9, 2022

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at top Astros prospect Hunter Brown. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. After years of compiling one of the game’s best

Valdez clubs trifecta for Space Cowboys

Astros infield prospect third player in club history to achieve feat
@RobTnova24
June 16, 2022

Enmanuel Valdez has been with Triple-A Sugar Land for exactly one week, but he's already established a reputation in his new clubhouse -- and a legendary one at that. After notching a multihomer game in his debut, the Astros infield prospect clubbed three home runs for the first time in

18 up, 18 down for Chaidez in first pro start

Astros righty made six career relief appearances coming into game
@RobTnova24
April 21, 2022

It had been three years since Adrian Chaidez took the hill to start a game. But the Astros organization decided last week it was time to stretch the 22-year-old out. So Chaidez got the ball for High-A Asheville on Wednesday, and he responded with authority -- and perfection.

Astros' farm system still bubbling at the top

Upper-level talent could help sustain Major League success
@Gerard_Gilberto
November 18, 2021

Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each system and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in their organization. Click here to locate your favorite club. The Astros have undeniably been among the sport’s most successful organizations in recent

The Road to The Showâ„¢: Forrest Whitley

Astros righty on the cusp of Major Leagues if health allows
March 5, 2021

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken to reach the brink of realizing his Major League dream. Here's a look at Houston Astros right-hander Forrest Whitley. For more player journeys on The Road to The Show, click here. All too often on the path

Toolshed: Sugar Land, Somerset park factors

Previewing how two Atlantic League stadiums will play in Minors
@SamDykstraMiLB
February 26, 2021

Two weeks ago, change came to Minor League Baseball in many forms with the new 120-team structure. Last week, another piece of the puzzle fell into place with the 2021 schedules. The view of the Minor Leagues' return feels like it's getting clearer and clearer -- pandemic-pending, of course --

2021 Prospect Projections: AL West rookies

How Astros, Halos, M's, A's, Rangers prospects could fare in 2021
@SamDykstraMiLB
February 10, 2021

This is the fifth in a six-part Toolshed series that uses FanGraphs' Steamer 600 projections to look at how prospects would fare over a full Major League season in 2021. The system bases its forecast on 600 plate appearances for position players, 450 plate appearances for catchers, 200 innings for

State of the System: Houston Astros

Whitley leads developing group of high-potential talent
November 18, 2020

Starting in October and running through the end of the year, MiLB.com's State of the System series will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each Major League organization, highlights prospects who've made the biggest strides in 2020 and offers a peek at 2021. This year was an unorthodox one, to

Garcia, Astros survive Arozarena's latest fireworks

Astros No. 13 prospect posts two zeros in start; slugger ties record
October 15, 2020

Luis Garcia gave the Astros exactly what they needed from him in a win-or-go-home scenario Thursday. Houston's No. 13 prospect worked around two walks and a hit batsman while fanning one in two scoreless frames as the Astros survived the latest power display by Tampa Bay's No. 19 prospect Randy

Astros' Javier throws a one-hit gem

No. 6 prospect faces one over minimum in six-inning stint
@jtbloss
August 16, 2020

Cristian Javier made a habit of putting up miniscule ERAs in the Minor Leagues. Five outings into his Major League career, nothing’s changed. The Astros’ No. 6 prospect navigated six one-hit innings in a 2-1 victory over the Mariners on Saturday at Minute Maid Park. He lowered his ERA to

Prospects reflect on debuting in 2020

Bailey, Stephenson, Brubaker shine in first stints with big clubs
August 3, 2020

The words "new normal" have become a major part of the lexicon eight months into 2020. They apply to just about every aspect of daily life and baseball by extension. With the abbreviated Major League season underway, a slew of promising prospects seem to be making their debuts nightly. A

Astros' Whitley experiencing arm soreness

No. 19 overall prospect throwing at alternate training site
@jtbloss
August 1, 2020

Seven pitchers have made their Major League debuts for the Astros this season, but No. 19 overall prospect Forrest Whitley has notably not been one of them. Now we know why. Whitley, who is training at the Astros' alternate site in Corpus Christi, has been dealing with soreness in his

Prospects in the Astros’ 2020 player pool

Houston bringing plenty of experienced prospects to 60-man roster
July 14, 2020

As part of the new rules for the 2020 Major League season, each of the 30 organizations will maintain a 60-man player pool for the duration of the campaign. Some members of the player pool will feature on the active Major League roster while others will work out at an

Toolshed: Astros' Whitley ready, standing by

Top prospect preparing for potential MLB role after 2019 bumps
@SamDykstraMiLB
July 10, 2020

Prior to Wednesday, the last time Forrest Whitley stepped on the mound at Houston's Minute Maid Park was March 25, 2019 in a late-spring exhibition game against the Pirates. That three-inning outing was meant to provide the Astros faithful with a promising glimpse of the future. A lot has happened

2020 Draft recap: Houston Astros

Astros maximize overall depth with limited selections
June 24, 2020

Following the five-round 2020 MLB First-Year Player Draft, MiLB.com takes an organization-by-organization look at each pick with help from team scouting executives. With the 2020 season on hold, the sting of the multiple punishments levied against the Astros from the 2017 sign-stealing scandal didn’t quite take effect until last week’s

Toolshed: Nothing irrelevant about Whitcomb

Last pick in 2020 Draft has solid bat to make it in Houston system
@SamDykstraMiLB
June 19, 2020

In normal times, Shay Whitcomb's move to the Astros wouldn't make many waves. The UC San Diego infielder was selected with the 160th overall pick in the 2020 First-Year Player Draft. In 2019, there were 1,057 selections made after that one. In 2020, there were none. In a five-round Draft

Past generations guide Astros' Kessinger

Shortstop's grandfather, dad and uncle all played pro ball
@jtbloss
June 15, 2020

Somewhere around Grae Kessinger’s sophomore year of high school, in between games of a summer league doubleheader, the young shortstop sat down with his dad, Kevin Kessinger. Grae had made a great play in the field during the first game. It came up in their conversation. Then he walked away,

First things first for Hooks' All-Star Jones

Astros prospect's breakout leads him to Texas midseason classic
June 26, 2018

MIDLAND, Texas -- Corpus Christi Hooks first baseman Taylor Jones made a life-changing decision before his junior season at Gonzaga in 2015. The two-way player decided to drop pitching to solely focus on being a full-time position player."They were always super supportive at Gonzaga," Jones said. "They just wanted whatever

PCL witnesses ties for first time in 20 years

New Orleans, Fresno draws mark league's first deadlocks since 1996
May 30, 2016

It had been 20 years since there was a tie in the Pacific Coast League. Within a span of 80 minutes Monday, there were two. Around 4:15 p.m. ET, the Tacoma Rainiers and New Orleans Zephyrs halted play for good after five-plus innings due to rain, and the game ended

Legends' Devenski fans 16 in no-hitter

Astros prospect allows one baserunner in 13th career start
September 1, 2012

Chris Devenski remained on the field a little longer than usual Saturday night, soaking in the pitching experience of a lifetime. The Astros prospect tossed the first individual no-hitter in the history of the Class A Lexington Legends, recording a career-high 16 strikeouts in a 10-0 rout of playoff-bound Rome.

JetHawks' Springer has Hamilton-esque night

Astros No. 3 prospect homers in four consecutive at-bats
May 12, 2012

George Springer had a nice game. And than he had the game of his life hours later. The Astros' No. 3 prospect homered in his final at-bat of Lancaster's Game 1 win over Lake Elsinore, then went yard in his first three plate appearances of Friday's nightcap as the JetHawks