Why The Astros Farm System is Underrated and Full of Potential
Explore why the Astros' farm system is often underrated despite its deep talent pool. With promising prospects, strong pitching arms, and a proven track record of development, there's much to look for
During the rebuilding years, the Astros' farm system was consistently regarded as one of the top in baseball. This success can be attributed not only to their high draft picks but also to excellent scouting on the international front and savvy trades made by the front office.
As the Astros returned to competitiveness, they began utilizing their prospects in various ways. The most obvious approach was promoting them to the big league roster, with players like George Springer, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, and others making significant impacts. Additionally, they leveraged their prospects to acquire top-tier major league talent, including Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, Zack Greinke, and Ryan Pressly.
All of this has contributed to the Astros' farm system slipping in the rankings among prospect writers, and that’s understandable. However, what these rankings often overlook is the exceptional development the Astros are known for. Guys like Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, Framber Valdez, Chas McCormick, Jeremy Pena and Ronel Blanco weren't considered "top" prospects. But the Astros were able find and develop these players into top contributors.
While the system may not have that buzz that it once had, there is a clear group of Tier 1 players, high potential arms, underrated arms and some really young talent. Below will be a break down of some of the prospects in the system.