Adopt a Prospect

For the first time in quite a while, the Astros have a respectable farm system. Not just that, but the Astros have a farm system filled with several top prospects that could become stars at the big league level.  For the last five or six years, our farm system generally only had one or two prospects per year worth following, so I’m going to start something new this year and I encourage you all to do the same; Adopt a Prospect. Choose an Astros prospect and follow that prospect’s minor league year this year. This doesn’t mean that you can’t follow more than one, but choose one to follow more extensively than others.

The prospect I am choosing to adopt is Jarred Cosart. Cosart, as most of you will remember, was acquired by the Astros in the Hunter Pence deal along with Jonathan Singleton, Domingo Santana and Josh Zeid. Cosart was a highly touted pitcher in the Phillies system but had been plagued by various injuries throughout his brief career. Last year was the first time he had gotten through a season injury free. Cosart has an electric arm and throws a fastball that can hit the mid to upper 90’s.  However, he struck out just 6.3 hitters per nine innings this past season in an injury free year. His 12-6 curveball seems to be his true “out pitch” and he likes to throw it when he is up in the count.  Scouts seem to be split on his long term projection as some say that he profiles best as a closer as he can use his power arm more frequently than if he were a starter. Others say he should be a starter and if he stays healthy, could be a legitimate ace.

Cosart’s lack of dominanace in the minors isn’t that big of a concern for me, although I would like to see his numbers match up with his stuff. The Astros have no reason to rush him to the big leagues so he should get a full year at AA/AAA which makes him the perfect “Adopt a Prospect” candidate for me. Which Astros prospect will you adopt this year?