Astros Prospect Stock Report 2021: Volume 3
Just like the stock market, prospects’ stock will go up and down throughout the season. Here is the Astros Prospect Stock Report: Volume 3.
Disclaimer – Being on the stock down part of this list does not necessarily mean the player is a bad prospect. More just noting the rough patch they are experiencing this season.
Previous Stock Reports:
⇑ Stock Up ⇑
Hitter – Jake Meyers
Meyers was a 13th round pick by the Astros back in 2017. He has since turned himself into an elite defender but the bat has also made huge strides. This season he is slashing .338/.413/.621 with a career high of 14 HR in 49 games (which destroyed his previous career high of 9 in 111 games). He has also done this while maintaining good walk and strikeout rates too. Meyers stock was already trending upward with the glove and arm in the outfield, but with a 147 wRC+ in AAA and showing off power, his stock will continue to rise.
2021 Stats: 49 G, .338BA/.413OBP/.621 SLG, 12 2B, 3B, 14 HR, 35 RBI, 7 SB, 147 wRC+
Pitcher – J.P. France
France is looking like another under the radar pick for the Astros. Originally a 14th round pick back in 2018, he has made his way up to AAA already. He started the year in Corpus Christi and while he had a 4.28 ERA, he also had a 2.51 FIP and 50 K in just 33.2 innings. That’s good for a 35.2 K%. He got promoted to AAA and there he has a 2.03 ERA while striking out 22 in 13.1 innings, good for a 35.5 K%. He has walked 12 for the Skeeters but if he can get that under control, his stock will soar. Either way, he is sitting at 72 K in 47 innings in 2021.
2021 Stats: 11 G, 3.64 ERA/2.76 FIP, 47.0 IP, 38 H, 19 ER, 26 BB, 72 K, 13.8 K/9
⇓ Stock Down⇓
Hitter – AJ Lee
It’s tough to knock a 34th round pick who is still playing in the minors, the odds were already stacked against him. Unfortunately though, Lee has really struggled this season. In 24 games at High-A and 8 at AAA (32 total) he has struck out 54 times and is hitting just .144 with a .439 OPS. Overall he has struck out 49.5% of the time and has a 24 wRC+.
2021 Stats: 32 G, .144BA/.222 OBP/.216 SLG, 4 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 24 wRC+
Pitcher – Ernesto Jaquez
After a dominant 2018 season between DSL and GCL in which he had a 1.75 ERA with 74 K in 56.2 innings, I thought Jaquez was primed to start his rise in the Astros system. After missing the 2019 season and 2020 (COVID) he came back this year and was assigned to Fayetteville. Things haven’t gone well though as he has a 7.80 ERA with 17 BB in 15 innings.
2021 Stats: 15 G, 7.80 ERA, 15.0 IP, 13 H, 13 ER, 17 BB, 17 K
Be sure to subscribe to receive weekly updates on the Astros minor league system. Also be sure to follow on Twitter,@AstrosFuture, and like my Facebook page,facebook.com/AstrosFuture.
**Photo Credit: Ryan Dunsmore**
