Who's Hot, Who's Not for Astros Double A Corpus Christi

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Mar 8, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Houston Astros shortstop

Carlos Correa

(76) at bat against the Detroit Tigers at a spring training baseball game at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

For the start of my weekly report on the Corpus Christi Hooks, who are the Astros’ AA affiliate, I want to look at who the catalysts are in their red-hot 9-4 start to the season. I will also look at who has room to improve and make the team that much better. Because all these players are at the minor league level, I’ll also look at how their performance is either helping their case to make the majors or sending them towards a demotion to the High-A club.

There are some who believe that the Hooks have players, such as Mark Appel, Carlos Correa, and Colin Moran that should be sent straight up to the Astros sooner rather than later. While there are others who believe that the front office shouldn’t rush the prospects, and let them progress through the minor leagues at their own pace, which would include a stint in AAA Fresno.

I’ll also look at how these prospects fit in with the major league depth chart and give a prediction on when we’ll see them in an Astros uniform. With the Astros doing so well right now, it might be difficult for any of these youngsters to make their debut in the near future, but they have some arguments of their own. Let’s get right to it.

Next: Who's Hot Part 1

May 26, 2013; Hoover, AL, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores infielder

Tony Kemp

(6) tosses his helmet after grounding out in the tenth inning against the LSU Tigers during the championship game of the SEC baseball tournament at the Hoover Met. LSU defeated Vanderbilt 5-4 in 11 innings. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Who’s Hot: Tony Kemp

Not only has Tony Kemp been killing it with the bat, he has also shown some amazing ability with the glove in recent games. On Monday night, he started his first game in the outfield, and a few hours later, televisions all over the country were showing his fantastic catch in center field. The replay was shown on ESPN SportsCenter who called it the top play of the night.

The hitting has always been there for Kemp, as he has become an everyday leadoff hitter for the Hooks. In 2014, combining his stats from Lancaster and Corpus Christi, he had a .314 batting average with 41 stolen bases, eight home runs, 58 RBIs, and a .411 on-base percentage. So far in 2015, Tony has a .340 batting average with 5 RBI and 11 walks.

If he can continue to get on base efficiently and be a weapon on the base paths, I don’t see what can stop him from reaching the major league level very soon. The fielding was the only question mark, but if he keeps making plays like the one he made on Monday night, he’ll become more of an asset and not a liability. I don’t think we’ll see Tony Kemp bypassing the AAA level to come straight to the Astros. However, I wouldn’t put a 2015 MLB debut out of the question for him, as he appears to perform above his peers at every level he’s ever played.

Next: Who's Not Part 1

Feb 26, 2015; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Houston Astros infielder Colin Moran poses for a picture during photo day at Osceola County Stadium Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Who’s Not: Colin Moran

If there’s anyone in the Astros organization that I’m comfortable with not having a productive season so far, it’s Colin Moran. Moran plays every day at third base for the Hooks, and right now the Astros have a pretty solid third baseman playing in Luis Valbuena. As high-profile a prospect as Moran is, he’s not needed at the moment in Houston. I think he’ll be a consistent producer in the future for the Astros, but we don’t need him in 2015.

Right now, Moran has a .200 batting average, 0 home runs, and only 3 walks to 11 strikeouts. A positive so far is that he has five doubles and 7 RBIs, meaning that he knows how to drive the ball to the gaps and get extra base hits, which is always welcomed by any club. Moran has also played well in the field so far this season, with 0 errors and some excellent durability. He has started all 13 games for the Hooks thus far (only him and Tony Kemp have played in all 13 games).

I don’t see Colin Moran wearing an Astros uniform at all in 2015, as he still has Matt Dominguez and Luis Valbuena in front of him. Carlos Correa could also have a lot to do with his progression. If the Astros trade Valbuena around the deadline for a starting pitcher, which is something I could see happening, and then Jed Lowrie would probably move to third base. Maybe the Astros would bring up Dominguez as insurance.

Next: Who's Hot Part 2

Jun 18, 2013; Dayton, OH, USA; West pitcher

Lance McCullers

throws against the East All-Stars in the first inning during the Midwest League-All Star Game at Fifth Third Field. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Who’s Hot: Lance McCullers

Everyone knows about Mark Appel and is tracking his progress, but I want to talk about Lance McCullers. McCullers is off to a near perfect start to the 2015 season and seems improved from 2014. McCullers’s start looks like a guy who is hungry to pitch in the major leagues. If he keeps pitching the way he is now, it won’t be long before he takes the mound for the Astros.

McCullers pitched for the High-A Lancaster Jethawks for all of the 2014 season, where he had a 3-6 record, a 5.47 ERA and gave up 18 home runs. Starting off 2015 in Corpus Christi, he owns a 0.00 ERA through 10 innings pitched with only six hits allowed and striking out 12 hitters. The early stages of 2015 has been a perfect start to the season for Lance, who I bet feels like he can compete with Mark Appel to be the ace of the Astros in the future. This competition will be one to keep an eye on, but I still expect Mark Appel to make the majors first, partly because management is so high on him, and he’s a bigger name.

Lance McCullers, as well as all the other minor league pitchers in the Astros system, will have a good shot at making the majors this season and next season. Because of with the lack of starting pitching talent in the back-end of the rotation. Roberto Hernandez is a solid stopgap pitcher, but he definitely doesn’t have a long-term future in Houston, and Brad Peacock is battling all sorts of injury issues, so there are openings definitely there for the taking.

Next: Who's Not Part 2

Apr 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; A general view of Minute Maid Park during the game between the Houston Astros and the Oakland Athletics in the second inning. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Who’s Not: Teoscar Hernandez

If there’s been one complete disappointment so far this season, it’s Teoscar Hernandez. The Dominican centerfielder has been struggling at the plate in the first 13 games, and is at risk of losing his spot in the outfield with the emergence of Tony Kemp. He didn’t get much of a chance to prove himself during Spring Training, only getting 3 at bats, so it would have been a big plus if he were able to get off to a hot start in Corpus’ regular season.

Through only 13 games, Hernandez has a .143 batting average and a .200 on base percentage while striking out 16 times and only walking 3 times. He only has 6 hits in 42 at bats, which is not very good at all. This comes as a little bit of a surprise as he actually finished last season on a high note for the Hooks, batting .284 with 4 home runs and 10 RBIs in 23 games. I’m sure Teoscar knows that these numbers are not good enough to advance to the AAA level, and definitely not the major leagues. With the Astros stocked in the outfield and other outfielders performing at the AA level, Hernandez will have to do enough in the field and with his bat to stand out above the competition.

Next: How Astros Bullpen Stacks Up With Rest of MLB

Who’s Hot, Who’s Not for Astros Double A Corpus Christi

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