Houston Astros: Top Four Players to Protect in Rule V Draft

Astros 17th top prospect

Teoscar Hernandez

After two straight offensive breakout seasons, Hernandez got off to a rocky start in 2015 with the Hooks. The 23-year-old outfielder was showing the making of a five-tool player in 2013-14, but his average took a big dip in 2015. However, his other tools were still present including 33 steals and 17 homers, but his OPS took a dive from his .897 in 2014 to .637 in 2015.

The Astros, fresh off of losing DeShields last year in the Rule V draft, you have to think that someone who hit .292/ 21 homers/ 85 RBI/ 33 stolen bases one year ago would be for sure picked by another team. Something that he does do very well in score runs, indicating that he has speed and the right hitters hitting behind him. Like most Astros prospects, he does have a tendency to strikeout a lot.

One thing he has going against him is that he plays the outfield, which the Astros have plenty of potential starters down the road in Kyle Tucker, Daz Cameron, Derek Fisher, and Jon Kemmer just to name a few. Will this hurt Hernadez’s chances of being added to the 40-man roster, not after what happened last year.

2015 Stats from Baseball-Reference: .219/ 17 homers/ 45 RBI/ 33 steals.

Verdict: Protect, but I can see them leaving him off too.

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