Astros Prospects Who Just Missed The Top 30
Last week I released the Astros top 30 prospects for 2017 (found here). The system is very deep and there are guys I hated to leave off the top 30. This article is for the prospects who just missed and have the chance to jump up next season.
Drew Ferguson, OF
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2018
DOB: 08/03/92
Another late round pick for the Astros that has blossomed. Ferguson, drafted in the 19th round in 2015, had a phenomenal 2016 season. After making his full season debut for Quad Cities just months after the draft last season, he started this year in High-A. Ferguson dominated the California League, especially late. He hit .348 in July and .398 in August. His final 10 games in the California League he hit .488 with 5 HR and 20 RBI. He was promoted to Corpus in late August and improved on his numbers hitting .327 with 3 HR in 15 games. He has very good speed and is a solid defender. He hit for power, stole bases, and posted a very good on base percentage. Ferguson also mentioned in this interview, that he has always been interested in analytics so the Astros were a great fit for him.
2016 Stats: 105 G, .315 BA/.408 OBP/.542 SLG, 29 2B, 3 3B, 17 HR, 76 RBI, 30 SB, 51 BB/95 SO
Myles Straw, OF
Current Level: A+
ETA: 2019
DOB: 10/17/94
Straw was drafted by the Astros in the 12th round of the 2015 draft. In the 2016 season he played in 76 games in the outfield with 31 games in RF, 26 games in CF, and 20 games in LF. Straw made his full season debut on May 20th and it didn’t take him long to get going. He finished May hitting just .257 but hit .326 in June and then hit .423 in July. On August 11th, Straw was promoted to Lancaster and still managed to hit .385 between two different levels that month. Straw is one of the fastest players in the Astros system and showed off a very good hit tool this season. He finished the season with a .358 BA and 124 hits in his 87 games played. While he doesn’t have a ton of power, he has a solid hit tool and will take a walk. He also has 43 SB in 145 career MiLB games. You can read more about Straw here.
2016 Stats: 87 G, .358 BA/.423 OBP/.454 SLG, 18 2B, 6 3B, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 21 SB, 40 BB/75 SO
Dean Deetz, RHP
Current Level: AA
ETA: 2018
DOB: 11/29/93
While Deetz had a good season, there is still more potential for him to grow. He possesses a big time fastball and a very good curve. Deetz was drafted by the Astros in the 11th round of the 2014 draft. He had a very good 2015 season posting a 1.70 ERA over 63.2 innings. In 2016 he improved his strikeout rate averaging nearly 9 per nine innings. He was eventually promoted to Double-A where he made two starts and dominated allowing zero runs and 2 BB/17 K in 12 innings. Deetz is a very athletic pitcher at 6’1″ 195 lbs. Deetz has a mid 90s fastball and a smooth delivery. He has a wipeout slider but still struggles with his command at times.
2016 Stats: 8-5, 3.76 ERA, 105.1 IP, 93 H, 47 BB, 103 K, 8.8 K/9
Hector Perez, RHP
Current Level: A
ETA: 2019
DOB: 06/06/96
Perez was an international signing by the Astros out of the Dominican Republic in 2014. Perez pitched with the DSL Astros and Greeneville in 2015 posting a 1.64 ERA with 50 K in 55 IP. Perez had a semi-breakout 2016. He started the season with Tri-City and had a 1.57 ERA with 12 BB/36 K in 28.2 IP. He was promoted to Quad Cities where he struck out 44 in 31.1 IP, though he walked 22. Perez possesses a mid-90s fastball and a very good slider. He also has a curveball, though the slider is his best secondary pitch. His control still needs work but he is just 20 years old and has a good pitcher’s build at 6’3″ and 190 lbs.
2016 Stats: 4-1, 3.15 ERA, 60 IP, 47 H, 21 ER, 34 BB, 80 K, 12.0 K/9
Jon Kemmer, OF
Current Level: AAA
ETA: 2017
DOB: 11/17/90
Kemmer, a 21st round pick in 2013, has moved his way through the minors hitting at every stop. He had a breakout 2105 season when he hit .327 with 18 HR and 65 RBI for the Corpus Christi Hooks. Kemmer started out the 2016 season slow but really picked it up in the second half of the season. The left handed hitter finished with 18 HR in 120 AAA games. In the 2nd half of the season he hit .274 with 13 HR and 42 RBI in 52 games. He might not be a gold glove outfielder but he takes pride in his defense and won’t be a glaring weak spot in the outfield. He has also stolen 17 bases in the last two seasons. He is a career .282/.355/.493 hitter in the minors. Kemer has been invited to spring training and should get a chance to compete for a spot with Houston.
2016 Stats: 120 G, .265 BA/.334 OBP/.477 SLG, 24 2B, 18 HR, 69 RBI, 8 SB, 38 BB/128 SO
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**Photo Credit: Tammy Tucker**
