GOTC - Houston Astros 2014 Top 15 Prospects

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#15

Japhet Amador

Date of Birth: January 19, 1987

Height/Weight: 6’4 315 lbs

Acquired: International Free Agent

2013 Stats:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
2013	26	2 Teams	2 Lgs	AAA	HOU	114	492	443	78	160	22	0	36	123	0	1	38	67	.361	.409	.655	1.063	290	19	3	0	8	0
2013	26	Mexico	MEX	AAA		104	449	400	76	147	22	0	36	121	0	1	38	59	.368	.419	.693	1.111	277	16	3	0	8	0
2013	26	Oklahoma City	PCL	AAA	HOU	10	43	43	2	13	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	8	.302	.302	.302	.605	13	3	0	0	0	0

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/3/2014.

Analysis: Losing over 105 games for three consecutive can make a team desperate for talent, which is what brought Houston to the Mexican League and Japhet Amador. When he was signed to a minor league deal last August, the 26 year old first baseman had ranked second in the Mexican League in home runs and slugging percentage, and third in OPS. He has power to all fields, as evidenced by his MLBfarm.com hit chart and he doesn’t strikeout much (15% k rate). That being said, his numbers are artificially inflated by the hitter-friendly Mexican League, and at an unmuscular 315 pounds, he probably lacks the athleticism to play the field. Still, Amador has a shot  - however remote – to be a decent DH/pinch hitter.

2014 Prognosis: Armador will contend for a DH spot out of spring training, but it’s hard to see him bringing much more to the table than incumbent Chris Carter.

#14

Preston Tucker

Date of Birth: July 6, 1990

Height/Weight: 6’0, 217 lbs

Acquired: 7th round, 2012 draft

2013 Stats: 

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
2013	22	2 Teams	2 Lgs	A+-AA	HOU	135	601	535	97	159	32	2	25	103	3	1	56	91	.297	.368	.505	.872	270	10	6	0	4	2
2013	22	Lancaster	CALL	A+	HOU	75	333	298	61	97	18	1	15	74	3	0	29	45	.326	.384	.544	.928	162	4	2	0	4	1
2013	22	Corpus Christi	TL	AA	HOU	60	268	237	36	62	14	1	10	29	0	1	27	46	.262	.347	.456	.803	108	6	4	0	0	1

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/3/2014.

Analysis: Listed by MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo as a 20 runner on the 20 – 80 scouting scale, Tucker is slow, but he can flat out rake. As he showed last year with 25 home runs and a .297 average between Lancaster and Corpus Christi, the University of Florida standout has the potential to hit for both power and average. His approach at the plate is advanced, as evidenced by his slightly above MLB average 9.3% walk rate and slightly below average 17% strikeout rate. Tucker’s instincts and arm are adequate enough to make him a passable fielder in right or left, but with his speed, he’ll never be much more than that.

2014 Prognosis: After starting 2014 in Double-A, Tucker should reach Triple-A by the summer.

#13

Josh Hader

Date of Birth: April 7, 1994

Height/Weight: 6’3 160 lbs
Acquired: Trade, Baltimore Orioles
2013 Stats:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	BK	WP	BF	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2013	19	2 Teams	2 Lgs	A	BAL,HOU	5	6	.455	2.77	22	22	0	0	0	0	107.1	81	49	33	4	54	0	95	10	1	8	462	1.258	6.8	0.3	4.5	8.0	1.76
2013	19	Delmarva	SALL	A	BAL	3	6	.333	2.65	17	17	0	0	0	0	85.0	67	41	25	4	42	0	79	6	0	7	369	1.282	7.1	0.4	4.4	8.4	1.88
2013	19	Quad Cities	MIDW	A	HOU	2	0	1.000	3.22	5	5	0	0	0	0	22.1	14	8	8	0	12	0	16	4	1	1	93	1.164	5.6	0.0	4.8	6.4	1.33

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/3/2014.

Analysis: The centerpiece of last summer’s deadline deal that sent Bud Norris to Baltimore, Hader is a projectable lefty who could be mid-rotation starter down the road. He has a solid three pitch mix, with a low-90’s fastball that should only get harder as he adds to his rather thin 6’3’ 160 lb frame, and a curveball and changeup that should soon be major league quality. Although his 4.5 BB/9 in A ball last season seems to indicate control issues, it is a predictable number for a teenager fresh out of high school, and he should have better command going forward.

2014 Prognosis: Hader will probably spend the vast majority if not the entirety of 2014 with High-A Lancaster.

#12

Vincent Velasquez

Date of Birth:  June 7, 1992

Height/Weight: 6’3, 203 lbs

Acquired: 2nd round, 2010 Draft

2013 Stats: 

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	BK	WP	BF	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2013	21	2 Teams	2 Lgs	A-A+	HOU	9	6	.600	3.54	28	19	4	0	0	3	124.2	104	53	49	9	41	0	142	8	1	6	518	1.163	7.5	0.6	3.0	10.3	3.46
2013	21	Quad Cities	MIDW	A	HOU	9	4	.692	3.19	25	16	4	0	0	3	110.0	90	43	39	7	33	0	123	6	1	5	453	1.118	7.4	0.6	2.7	10.1	3.73
2013	21	Lancaster	CALL	A+	HOU	0	2	.000	6.14	3	3	0	0	0	0	14.2	14	10	10	2	8	0	19	2	0	1	65	1.500	8.6	1.2	4.9	11.7	2.38

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/3/2014.

Analysis: After missing all of 2011 and half of 2012 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, velasquez pitched well in his full-season debut last year. His 3.19 ERA was encouraging, but his peripherals – 10.1 SO/9, 2.7 BB/9 – were outstanding and warranted him his late season promotion to High-A.  With three potentially above average pitches in his fastball, changeup, and curve, he’s ready for a harder challenge.

2014 Prognosis: Velasquez will start the year in High-A Lancaster, but should reach Double-A if he continues to miss bats as he has.